CV

Curriculum Vitae
Name: Kangas Pia Marjaana (née Juujärvi)
Occupation: Researcher in the field of learning and learning environments
Date and place of birth: 1969, Göteborg, Sweden
Marital status: Married, two children

Research experiences

Since 2003 I have worked as a researcher and project manager at the University of Lapland where my research fields have related to the following themes: learning through play and games, playful learning, technology-enriched playgrounds, playful learning environments (PLEs), future school and learning environments, collaborative and creative learning processes, and conceptions of learning. Currently, my doctoral dissertation “The School of the Future: Theoretical and Pedagogical Approaches for Creative and Playful Learning Environments” is in review process.

I received my Master Thesis in Education from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, in 1997. The Master Thesis focused on university students’ metacognitive awareness of their own learning strategies.

Academic experience

2010 Doctoral dissertation in review, University of Lapland, Faculty of Education, Centre for Media Pedagogy
2008–2009 Member of Graduate School for Multidisciplinary Research on Learning; Environment, University of Turku (1.7.2008–28.2.2009)
2005- Status member of Graduate School for Multidisciplinary Research on Learning Environment, http://www.edu.utu.fi//opmon.
2001- Special Needs education (cum laude), University of Jyväskylä, Open University
1998
1997
Postgraduate Certificate of Education, University of Jyväskylä
Master of Education, University of Jyväskylä, Finland

Professional experience and scientific activities

2007–2010 Project Manager, researcher, University of Lapland, Faculty of Education, InnoPlay Project, (1.1.2007–30.9.2010)
2006 Project Manager, researcher, University of Lapland, Faculty of Education, LEVIKE project (1.12.2006–31.12.2006)
2006 Project Manager, University of Lapland, Faculty of Education, PlayIT project (1.9.–30.11.2006)
2006 Project Manager, University of Lapland, Faculty of Education, LEVIKE project (1.8.2006–30.8.2006)
2006 Researcher, University of Lapland, Faculty of Education, LEVIKE project (1.4.2006–31.7.2006)
2003–2006 Researcher, University of Lapland, Faculty of Education, Let’s Play project (1.9.2003 –31.3.2006)
2001–2002 Special education teacher (upper level of comprehensive school), Jämsänkoski, Finland
1997–1998 Teacher, Institute of Health Care, Jämsä, Finland
1995 Assistant, University of Jyväskylä, Open University, Finland
1991 Substitute Lecturer, basic education, Kemijärvi, Finland
1989–1990 Teacher, Special education (upper level of comprehensive school), Kemijärvi, Finland
1988–1989 Teacher, basic education, Kemijärvi, Finland
1987 Teacher, summer school for 3-6 years old children, Rovaniemi
1985 Teacher, summer school for 3-6 years old children, Kemijärvi

Awards & Honors

Best Paper Award, 2008, Interaktiivinen Tekniikka Koulutuksessa (ITK ‘08), Tutkijatapaaminen [Interactive Technology in Education Conference, Researcher's Workshop], Hämeenlinna, Finland.

  • Randolph, J. J., & Kangas, M. (2008). A scale for measuring sense of community in online courses: Preliminary psychometric results, predictors of course satisfaction, and predictors of sense of community. In J. Viteli and S. Kaupinmäki (Eds.), Tuovi 6: Interaktiivinen tekniikka koulutuksessa 2008 -konferenssin tutkijatapaamisen artikkelit [Proceedings of the Scholars' Meeting at the Interactive Technology in Education Conference 2008]. Hypermedia Laboratory Net Series 19, (pp. 94–118). Finland: Tampere University Press, available online.

Scholarship from the Doctoral Programme for Multidisciplinary Research on Learning Environments (OPMON) was granted in 2008, http://www.edu.utu.fi/tutkijakoulut/opmon/.

  • The purpose of the Doctoral Programme for Multidisciplinary Research on Learning Environments (OPMON), is to train top-level researchers with multidisciplinary competence regarding technological learning environments and the learning and interaction that occurs in them. Focus is on technological learning environments in school and in working life. The disciplinary basis of the Doctoral Programme involves educational research, psychology, computer science, hypermedia, work research, future research, information and communication research and art research. The Doctoral Programme, which involves a total of 11 universities, is chaired by Professor Erno Lehtinen from the University of Turku and funded by the Finnish Academy and the Ministry of Education.

Other professional activities

Conference organisations

Member of the organising and programme committees of NBE – Network-Based Education 2007 Conference: The Power of Media in Education. Second International NBE Conference to be held in Rovaniemi 13–15 June 2006, Finland.

Peer Reviewer

  • Journal of Thinking Skills and Creativity, November, since 2007
  • Journal of Educational Research Review, April, since 2007
  • IDC International Conference on Interaction Design and Children 2007
  • Reforms and Innovations in Estonian Education, Mikk, J., Veisson, M. & Luik, P. (Eds.)

Member

EARLI European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction

AERA American Educational Research Association

FERA Finnish Association of Educational Sciences

Languages

English – fluent
Finnish – native language
Swedish – good