New Voices in Norwegian Educational Research

This volume represents the work of 12 authors, all of whom were or are working at the Department of Education at the University of Oslo. This volume aims to provide insights into the diversity of some of the research conducted during the last ten years in Norway, and to shed light on the diverse and broad field of education represented by various new voices from the Department. The contributions have in common that they represent what we can understand as Norwegian voices, at the same time they also show how Norwegian researchers are communicating with and contributing to the international field of educational research. The researchers contributing to this volume are all trained and skilled within a Norwegian tradition, and yet have a broad and international outlook.

Norway is a country built on social democratic values, safely situated in one of the northern most corners of the world. During the last ten years or so, the national educational system has been challenged and adjusted to be compatible with international educational trends and expectations. This has brought Norway one step closer to more internationalized and globalized educational approaches, which is clearly shown in this volume. The major themes in this volume serve to highlight this trend with a focus on issues such as achievement goals, motivation and innovation, digital tools and technology in education and new ways of teaching and learning, which include a focus on issues concerning diversity and democracy.

The editors and the authors have been collaborating since they first started out as PhD students roughly ten years ago. In this volume, the ambition is to bring together the expertise from this period, and to highlight the contribution to research conducted at the Institute. Elisabeth Bjørnestad lives and works in Oslo, where she is an Associate Professor in Teacher Education and Early Childhood Education and Care at Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences. Janicke Heldal Stray is also working and living in Oslo, and is an Associate Professor at the Norwegian School of Theology.