ILE at “Education and Research – Towards Sustainable and Global Future” FERA 2025 conference in Rovaniemi, Lapland
Innovative Learning Environments (ILE) research group members Dr. Tiina Mäkelä and Maria Fisk were presenting ILE’s ongoing research at the annual Finnish Education Research Association (FERA) conference at Rovaniemi 5th to 7th of November 2025.
Arto O. Salonen discusses the significance of science and art in relation to learning and education and beyond.
The conference theme was “Education and Research – Towards Sustainable and Global Future”. Among the key note speakers were Professor Gert Biesta with his opening conference “A Sustainable Future for Education Itself?” and Professor Arto O. Salonen who gave a presentation on “A planetary civilization as a solution to the challenges of a time of crisis”. It was wonderful to hear how our group’s research topics resonated with the ideas on planetary wellbeing and sustainability presented in this conference. The voice of the only recognized indigenous group in Europe, namely the Sámi people were also strongly represented at FERA 2025.
Ayla Gáren and Nilsa Aleksander performing a Joik named "Áddjá" at the opening of the conference.
Mäkelä and Fisk were co-chairing a thematic group “Teaching and Learning in Innovative Learning Environments” with Professor Laura Hirsto and Dr. Sanna Väisänen from the University of Eastern Finland. During the conference and particularly during the two ILE thematic groups sessions, we had a chance to present our ongoing research projects, such as Collaborative Learning Communities for Redesigning Primary Education Towards Innovative & Sustainable Learning Environment (ISLE) Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Learning Environment Design (MultiLED) and Impact of Learning Environment Design on Teaching, Learning, and Wellbeing: A Nordic Perspective(LED Nordic) and Joyful schools focusing on holistic wellbeing at school.
Tiina Mäkelä presenting a study conducted with Markku Lang and Sari Lehtonen entitled Exploring the intended and actual uses of shared learning spaces.
