About me

Photo: Pia-Christina Roth

Adjunct Professor, playful and game-based learning, 2017
Ph.D. in Education, University of Lapland, 2010
Master of Education, University of Jyväskylä, 1996

Completed non-academic programs:
REACH Acceleration program provided by Nordic Innovation House in Silicon Valley, 2018-2019, Palo Alto, California

I’m a forerunner of the research on playful learning in Finland, and a co-developer of a “playful learning environment” (PLE) at the university of Lapland. The PLE is an innovative play and game-based learning environment designed for 21st century education. My doctoral dissertation “The School of the Future: Theoretical and Pedagogical Approaches for Creative and Playful Learning Environments” (Kangas, 2010), was rewarded by professor Lea Pulkkinen Award in 2012. I’ve worked as a consultant and cooperator in several organizations and companies, such as Lappset Group Ltd., ROVIO Learning, YALP, The Mannerheim League for Child Welfare, YLE Lapset, and Save the Children, and trained hundreds teachers in Finland and the United States on playful and game-based learning.

My research has mainly focused on understanding teaching and learning processes in various learning contexts, especially on the use of play, games and digital tools in 21st century education. Playful learning pedagogy, students’ and teachers’ agency, out-of-school practices, playfulness in human life and creative collaboration are examples of my research interests. During university years, I have done research in many multidisciplinary research teams and  projects, funded by European Social Fund, Business Finland, Ministry of Education or Finnish National Agency for Education:

I am very inspired by pure nature in Finnish Lapland where I live.

Contact information:
Marjaana Kangas
University of Lapland
Faculty of Education/ Media Education Hub
PO Box 122, FI-96101 ROVANIEMI, FINLAND
email: marjaana.kangas(at)ulapland.fi

Twitter.com/marjaanakangas
academia.edu/MarjaanaKangas
Linkedin: Marjaana Kangas