About

Leisure-time Pedagogy: The Network´s points of departure

The network will focus on three main areas. Firstly, the network aim at shedding light on the experiences of children, parents and professionals within after-school centres and schools and how stakeholders as children, pedagogues, parents and politicians define leisure-time pedagogy and the activities in after-school centres.

Secondly, emphasis will be set upon research in regard to professional identity and how pedagogues working within after-school centres define their work. The requirements for pedagogues varies within the nordic countries. The network will thus probe questions such as: What are the requirements to personnel in after-school centres and what defines their professional knowledge? How is education for the staff organized and how can it be further developed?

Last, but not least, the network will highlight research on the organizational identity of after-school centres and the status of after-school centres within (or outside) the school-system. In most countries the operation of after-school activities is organized on school grounds and often under school authority. Thus, it is important to deal with questions such as: What is the link between the after-school centres and the school? What is the boundaries between the two, and how are boundaries drawn, negotiated and contested?

The network will contribute to theories from diverse areas such as; socio-cultural theories of childhood, theories of learning and development, theories of professional identities and production of power and knowledge, new institutional theories, hermeneutical and philosophical theories.