HEL - Holistic approaches to Education, Learning and development. The research group focuses on interdisciplinary issues in kindergarten, schools and teacher education that is important for the 21st century. Our main research interests are sustainability, well-being and life skills, Sámi and Kven perspectives and knowledge, and place/land-based education in the Arctic.
Education for sustainability in early childhood and early childhood teacher education
Sámi perspectives in teacher education
Organic gardening, farming and foraging in kindergarten
KINDknow: Being and becoming eco-citizens - research collaboration with HVL https://www.hvl.no/en/about/kindergarten-knowledge-centre/
Life skills, well being, personal leadership and development
Sámi perspectives, outdoor learning, embodied and emplaced learning, place-based education
BRIDGES - Bridging the gaps in teacher education and schools through interdisciplinary work (with public health and life skills, democracy and citizenship, and sustainability). https://www.usn.no/forskning/hva-forsker-vi-pa/barnehage-skole-og-hoyere-utdanning/samfunnsfagdidaktikk/bridges/om-forskningsprosjektet-bridges
Research interests:
Indigeneous knowledge and skills in Science Education
Place-based education in times of digital transformation in higher education
Outdoor chemistry Education
Species knowledge/biodiversity
integrated science teaching vs. disciplinary science thinking
- Children and nature connectedness
- Traditional and sustainable practices in nature/ outdoor life
I am a psychologist and a Professor of Public Health. I have a holistic non-dualistic view of human beings, also in relation to health and disease. I am concerned about how we can support individuals in taking the best care of themselves so that they can live a good life with the highest possible degree of physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing.
Some keywords: eHealth, mHealth, Internet, mobile phones, health behavior, rehabilitation, prevention, health promotion, self-efficacy, physical activity, smoking cessation, diet, alcohol, early intervention, diabetes, heart disease, mindfulness, yoga, self-monitoring, social inequality, social support, health literacy, eterapi, meditation, tailoring, machine learning, empowerment, self-care, recovery, motivation, behavior change, public health
Teacher learning, reading instruction, lower secondary school, dialectic, implementation, nexsus analysis.
Bergan, V., Killengreen, S. & Höper, J (red.). (2024). Special Issue: Approaches to Indigenous Topics, Issues and Perspectives in Teacher Education. Education Sciences.
Bjørndal, K. E. W. & Sørensen, Y. (red.). (2023). Special Issue: Cultivating empowerment in teacher education and school for inqreased quality of life among students. Nordisk tidsskrift for utdanning og praksis.
Bergan, V., Ødegaard, E. E. & Boldermo, S. (red.). (2021). Special Issue : Reimagining Early Childhood Education for Social Sustainability in a Future We Want. Sustainability.
Bjørndal, K. E. W. & Bergan, V. (red.).(2020). Skape rom for folkehelse og livsmestring i skole og lærerutdanning. Universitetsforlaget.
Bergan, V. & Bjørndal, K. E. W. (red.).(2019). Bærekraft i praksis i barnehagen. Universitetsforlaget.
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