early change project

Evridiki Zachopoulou, Ph.D.

She is a Professor in Music and Movement Education in the Department of Early Childhood Care & Education, Faculty of Health and Medical Care at the Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki (Greece). She teaches in this Department since 2003, when she was elected to the position of Associate Professor. She began her academic career at the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science of Democritus University of Thrace, where she was Lecturer from 1999 to 2003. She has published over 40 papers in international scientific journals covering the topics of the implementation of intervention movement programs for preschool aged children and their effects on children’s development, evaluation of the quality of early childhood education and creativity in teaching and the creative child. She has more than 75 presentations at World Conferences, and she was participated in a number of National and European Transnational Projects. She has also organized in-service training seminars for early childhood educations and physical educators in various European countries.

E-mail: ezachopo@bc.teithe.gr

Personal web-site address: http://www.bc.teithe.gr/Zachopoulou

Athanasios Gregoriadis, Ph.D. 

Athanasios Gregoriadis is a Lecturer of Early Childhood Education at the Department of Education at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, inGreece. His research focuses on various early childhood themes such as: teacher-child relationships, peer rejection, early childhood curriculum, sociometry and the evaluation of early childhood environments. He teaches courses both in Bachelor and Master’s Degrees and he is in charge for the practicum of the pre-service early educators in his university.  He is also a scientific advisor in the Experimental He has participated and is currently participating as a coordinator and key staff member in 4 funded international and national research projects during the last seven years. He has published over 15 research papers in peer review international journals, and he  is a member of the American Educational Research Association.

E-mail: asis@nured.auth.gr

Personal website address: http://auth.academia.edu/AthanasiosGregoriadis

He is a Lecturer in Educational Evaluation at the University of Crete, Department of Preschool Education, Greece. In the past, he was a Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow at Liverpool Hope University, UK and University of Macedonia, Greece. He was also an Academic Scholar at the University of Thessaly, Greece for nine years. He has participated in nine funded national and international research projects during the last 13 years, and his main research interests are: educational evaluation, early childhood education evaluation, physical activity in early childhood education. He has published over 20 research papers in peer reviewed international journals and is a member of the American Evaluation Association and American Educational Research Association.

E-mail:   gramvas@edc.uoc.gr

Personal web-site address: http://crete.academia.edu/VasilisGrammatikopoulos

CV

Ana Madalena Gamelas is an Educational Psychologist who developed her Education at the Faculty of Psychology and Sciences of Education in the University of Porto. Here she got a Master and a Doctoral degrees in Psychology of Child Development and Education. She is an Assistant Lecturer in the Special Education Department at the School of Education – Polytechnic Institute of Porto, teaching courses both in Bachelor and Master’s Degrees. She is a researcher, PhD, at the Centre of Psychology of Oporto University, where she has been participating, since 1992, in different European and national research projects. During the period 1994-2006 she worked directly, as an Educational Psychologist, with children and their families, and preschool institutions. Since 2002 she has organized and teached several in service-training courses on preschool quality environment (namely ECERS-R training), emergent literacy and social skills in educational settings. Ana Gamelas is one of the translators of the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale – Revised Edition, into Portuguese (published in 2008). She has presented her work on preschool education nationally and internationally. Her main research interests are: inclusive education; quality dimensions in childcare education; teachers’ beliefs on school/classroom practices; literacy development; mixed methodology and Q methodology.

E-mail: agamelas@ese.ipp.pt

CV

She is a Lecturer in the scientific area of Psychology at the School of Education – Polytechnic Institute of Porto. Teaches courses both in Bachelor and Master’s Degrees. Is a member of the scientific coordination of the Master in Social Education and Intervention. Is responsible for a Continuing Education Programme (i.e., Lifelong Education) for preschool teachers. She is a researcher, PhD, at the Centro de Psicologia da Universidade do Porto. Is one of the translators of the Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale – Revised Edition, into Portuguese (in press). Previously, had a research fellowship (PhD) from the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), with the doctoral project Child Care Quality: Ideas and Practices, at the University of Porto (2002-2006); was a student participant in the Transatlantic Consortium in Early Childhood Early Intervention (2003-2004), funded by the European Commission and the U.S. Department of Education, with attendance of three intensive institutes [(1) Mälardalen University, Sweden; (2) University of North Carolina at Chapel-Hill, USA; and (3) Porto University, Portugal]; and had a Professional Internship and Research Fellowship in a project developed by the Center of Psychology at the University of Porto. Participated on the organization of the 2009 ECERS’s meeting and of the Porto Intensive Summer Institute – Transatlantic Consortium in Early Childhood Early Intervention (2004). Has been publishing nationally and internationally.

E-mail: silviabarros@ese.ipp.pt

CV

She is a Professor in the scientific area of Psychology at the School of Education – Polytechnic Institute of Porto. Teaches courses both in Bachelor and Master’s Degrees. Is the Coordinator of the scientific area of Psychology and member of the scientific council at the School of Education – Polytechnic Institute of Porto. Is responsible for a Continuing Education Programme (i.e., Lifelong Education) for preschool teachers. Between 2000 and 2004, she has participated, as a PhD student at the Psychology Centre – University of Porto, in the project entitled “The quality of child interactions in family and day care centre and its impact in child sociocognitive development”, funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (POCTI/PSI/35207/2000, and between 2005 and 2008, she has participated, as a researcher, PhD, at the Psychology Centre – University of Porto, in the project entitled “Longitudinal Study of Children’s Engagement and Adaptation” funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (POCI/PSI/58712/2004). Is one of the translators of the Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale – Revised Edition, into Portuguese (in press). Has been publishing nationally and internationally.

E-mail:Pessanha@ese.ipp.pt

CV

Date of birth 12.03.1956

Education
PhD, Sport Sciences, University of Jyväskylä 1998; Main subject: Sport psychology
Docent in Pedagogy 2005 (Specific field: Physical education)
Docent in Sport Psychology 2000 (Specific field: Physical activity and psychological well-being)
Licentiate in Sport Pedagogy 1994 (Sport Pedagogy) (Nuorisovalmentaja kasvattajana ja opettajana – Valmennustoiminnan pedagoginen analyysi [Title: Youth sport coach as educator and instructor - Pedagogical analysis of coaching behaviours]
Master in Sport Sciences 1982 (Sport Pedagogy)
Laudatur (master level) studies in Health Sciences
Cum laude (Bachelor) studies in Psychology (incl. master thesis)

Current position
University of Jyväskylä, Department of Sport Sciences, Professor of Sport Pedagogy
Major previous professional appointments
Physical Education teacher in Vantaa and Espoo 1980-1988
Manager of the Psychological Training Center, Sports Institute Kisakeskus 1990-1992
Researcher/Sport Pedagogy in the LIKES Research Center and University of Jyväskylä 1988-1989,
1992-2000, 2004-2006
Manager of Likes Occupational Wellbeing Services (Likestep Oy) 2000-2002
Lecturer/University of Jyväskylä 2002-2003
Senior Departmental Researcher (yliassistentti), Sport Pedagogy/University of Jyväskylä 2003-2006

Major grants
Research grants for Sport Pedagogy Studies:
1988 Ministry of Education 18 000 FIM
1989 Ministry of Education 147 000 FIM
1990 – 1991 Ministry of Education 92 000 FIM
1993 – 1994 University of Jyväskylä (Rector’s researcher grant for full-time PhD studies)
2005 – 2007 EU-Comenius (action 2.1; Early Steps preschool PE curriculum Project) 18 217 €
2006 Peurunka Foundation/University of Jyväskylä (JYPE) 3 000 €
2007 – 2008 Peurunka Foundation/ University of Jyväskylä (JYPE) 11 000 €
2007 – 2009 Ministry of Education 75 000 €
2007 Urheiluopistosäätiö (Sport Institute Foundation) 10 000 €
2009 Urheiluopistosäätiö (Sport Institute Foundation) 5 000 €
2010 Urheiluopistosäätiö (Sport Institute Foundation) 3 000 €

Research grants for doctoral students under supervision
2011 University of Jyväskylä (Arto Gråsten annual salary)
2007 – 2009 Ministry of Education (Sami Kalaja 3 x 30 000 €)
2007 – 2009 Ministry of education (Sami Yli-Piipari 3 x 25 000 €)
2008 – 2009 (Kaivo Thomson 43 000 € + 35 000 €)

Grants to the Department of Sport Sciences (having personal key role)
2007 Ministry of Education grant (to the MBRU) for organizing the International Motor Behaviour Congress 16 000€
2007 – 2009 University of Jyväskylä Foundation of Motor Behaviour Research Unit 150 000 €
2008 Ministry of Education grant (to the MBRU) for organizing the International Motor Behaviour Congress (Jyväskylä)
2009 Ministry of Education grant to organize the International Congress on Enhancement of Physical Activity of Children and Youth (www.icepa.fi; Vuokatti 7.-9.4.2010)
2012 Ministry of Education grant to organize the International Congress on Enhancement of Physical Activity and Motor Skilla (www.icepa.fi; Jyväskylä 1.-3.11.2012)

Scientific projects to lead
The head of “Students functional capasity -project. The financial support comes from Ministry of Education and Culture, years 2010-2011 (60 000€ + 140 000€).
The head of Research in the “Sotkamo – moving municipality” –project. The financial support comes from European Unity and the Ministry of Education and Culture, years 2010-2011 (40 000€).

Major memberships in scientific and academic societies
Managing Council member of the European Federation of Sport Psychology 1991 – 2003
Managing Council member of the Finnish Association of Sport Psychology 1989 – 2008 (President during several phases)

Jarmo Liukkonen web-site address

Raija Raittila

Doctor of Education 23.4.2008
University of Jyväskylä
Major subject: Education
Secondary subjects: Sociology, Psychology
Doctoral Theses: Retkellä. Lasten ja kaupunkiympäristön kohtaaminen [Making a visit. Encounters between children and urban environment]
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Leena Alanen and Prof. Dr. Helena Rasku-Puttonen, University of Jyväskylä

Current position
Lecturer, University of Jyväskylä, Department of Education, Early Childhood Education 1.8.2006–

Previous professional appointments

•  Kindergarten teacher, City of Jyväskylä 1981–1990

• Teacher, College of Early Childhood Education, Jyväskylä 1990–1995

• Teacher, University of Jyväskylä, Department of Early Childhood Education 1995–2003

• Research Assistant, University of Jyväskylä, Department of Early Childhood Education 2003–2006

• Senior assistant, University of Jyväskylä, Department of Educational Sciences, Early Childhood Education 1.9.2009-31.12.2009

Other academic and professional activities
Vice member of the Ethics committee of University of Jyväskylä 1.1.2009–
Member of EECERA SIG group Children’s perspective

Supervisor for two doctoral dissertations 2011-

Supervisor for Master’s theses 2007-
16 Master’s thesis ready
16 Master’s thesis under way

Visits abroad

• Teaching visit, University of Thessaloniki, Greece, 28.4.–5.5.2004

Personal www-page
City of Jyvaskyla day care www-page

PERSONAL DETAILS

EDUCATION

WORK EXPERIENCE

2005 – today Head of the Degree Program in Sport and Leisure Management, International coordinator, Kajaani University of Applied Sciences
2004 − 2005 Education Planner, Kajaani University of Applied Sciences
2001 – 2004 Lecturer in Physical Education, University of Oulu, Kajaani
1995 – 2001 Lector in Physical Education, Kajaani-Institute
1994 – 1995 Lector in Physical Education, Kajaani Upper Secondaty School (Linna)
1993-1994 Lector in Physical Education, Kuortane Sport Institute

PUBLICATIONS

Takala, K. 2004. Kaikki linnut lentämään – päivittäinen liikuntakasvatusohjelma alle 4-vuotiaille, Oulun yliopisto, Kajaanin Opettajainkoulutusyksikkö.

Takala, K., Kokkonen, M., Liukkonen, J. 2006. Observational Analysis of 3˗4-year-old Children`s Socioemotional Skills during PE lessons in Kindergarten. AIESEP World Congress, 5-8 July 2006, Jyväskylä, Finland.

Takala, K., Kokkonen, M. & Liukkonen, J. 2009. Päiväkotilasten sosioemotionaalisten taitojen kehittäminen liikuntatuokioiden avulla. (The Development of Preschool Children’s Socio-
emotional Skills through Physical Exercise Sessions). Liikunta ja tiede 46 (1), 22˗29.

Takala, K., Oikarinen, A., Kokkonen, M., Liukkonen, J. 2010. The Development of Preschool Children’s Socio-emotional Skills through Physical Exercise Sessions. International Congress on Enhancement of Physical Activity, 7-9 April 2010, Vuokatti, Finland.

Takala, K., Oikarinen, A., Kokkonen, M. & Liukkonen, J. 2011. Päiväkotilasten sosioemotionaalisia taitoja liikuntatuokioilla edistävät tekijät varhaiskasvattajien kokemana. (Factors Promoting Preschool Children’s Socioemotional Skills as Experienced by Preschool Teachers). Kasvatus 42 (1), 69˗80.

Takala, K., Oikarinen, A., Kokkonen, M. & Liukkonen, J. 2011. Päiväkotilasten sosioemotionaalisia taitoja liikuntatuokioilla edistävät tekijät varhaiskasvattajien kokemana. (The Development of Preschool Children’s Socio-emotional Skills through Physical Exercise Sessions).  Pohjois-Suomen Hoitotiedepäivät 24.11.2011, Kajaani, Finland.

Takala. K., Oikarinen, A., Kokkonen, M. & Liukkonen, J. 2011. Sosioemotionaalisia taitoja kehittävän liikuntaintervention ilmapiiri päiväkodeissa. (Climate during a Physical Education Intervention Aimed at Development of Socioemotional Skills in Day Care Centers). Liikunta ja tiede 48 (6), 40-45.

The Development of Preschool Children’s Socioemotional Skills through Physical Exercise Sessions. 2011. Licenciate Thesis of Sport Pedagogy. University of Jyväskylä.

ELENI LOIZOU is an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education at the Department of Education at the University of Cyprus. She has also taught as an Assistant Professor at Hunter College – CUNY, NY (2002-2003) and as an Instructor at Teachers College, Columbia University New York (2001-2002). Her research focuses on an array of early childhood themes such as: young children’s humor, empowering young children and teachers, language and early literacy, early childhood curriculum, infant, toddler development and practice, teacher education and professional development. In 2009 she was appointed as the Co-ordinator of the Committee for the Early Childhood Curriculum which was part of the Educational Reform in Cyprus and is one of the principal authors of the New Early Childhood Curriculum. Also, she is the director of the Early Childhood Education Research Centre (EENA) of the Department of Education. She has published over 15 research papers in peer reviewed international journals and presented in multiple conferences with an early childhood focus.

Personal Web-site
Personal Photo

Laura Elena Ciolan Ph.D.

Laura Ciolan is a Senior Lecturer at the Department for Teacher Training, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences (University of Bucharest). She is especially involved in the study programs for preparation of future kindergarten and primary school teachers, delivering courses and undertaking research activities in the following disciplines: Early Cildhood Education, Classroom / educational group management, Pedagogy of play / Play management etc.

Laura is also invoved in different research and development project related to teacher education, one of the most importnat currently being called Good start for schooling. She is coordinating practical training of students outside university  (in kindergartens and primary schools) and she is involved in teaching activities at Master level.

E-mail: laurcupi@yahoo.com

Anca Petrescu Ph.D.

Anca Petrescu is a graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree from the Philology College (Romanian-French Department), at the University of Bucharest, and from October 2008 until September 2011 she was a Ph.D. candidate in the Sciences of Education. Since 2006 she has been serving as an university assistant professor within the Departament for Pedagogy of Primary and Preschool Education in Bucharest, teaching seminars of French Language, Romanian Literature, Methodology of language learning activities in the preschool education and the Methodology of Romanian language and literature in the primary education. Since 2002 till now, she has attended national and international conferences, various traineeships in the country and abroad, publishing two textbooks for the French Language, as well as a series of articles and studies in professional magazines and in the bulletins/copybooks of some major scientific events. In May 2009, she was a member of the team that organized the ENTEP European Conferences – Quality Assurance in Teachers Continuing Professional Development – Priorities and Perspectives.

Her doctoral thesis is focused on a topic of great interest debate at present – Training of the foreign languages teachers in the Romanian primary and preschool education, paying attention to the changes of paradigm occurred in terms of the professionalisation of this category of teachers.

Camelia Radulescu Ph.D.

Camelia Radulescu is currently a lecturer at the University of Bucharest, in the Department for Teacher Education, specialised in foreign language education and literature for children. She obtained her MA in English Language Studies and Methods at the University of Warwick (UK) and her PhD in Teacher Education at the University of Nottingham (UK). Her research interests lie with reflective processes involved in teacher learning and systematic approaches to reflective teaching. She has been involved in various project related to blended learning and integrated approaches to teaching as well as early education and successful school start. She has published  a volume on Issues of Professional Development Based on Reflective Processes in Initial Teacher Education in Romania and many research articles in specialised journals and  conference Proceedia on second language learning and teacher education.

Romita Iucu Ph.D.

Romita Iucu is the Vice Rector of University of Bucharest. He is a Professor of Educational Sciences at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences. He studied at theUniversityofBucharest, “Freie Universität” ofBerlinandUniversityofLausanne. He was appointed in 2000 Deputy General Director at the Ministry of Education, in 1998 Director of the Teacher Education College, vice-dean of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences and started with 2004, Vice-Rector of the University of Bucharest. At the European level he has been member of the EU Group “Improving the Quality for Teachers and Trainers” (2002-2005), member of Cluster Teachers and Trainers and since 2006 is member of ENTEP and since October 2010 is ENTEP Coordinator.

His research interests are Teacher Education, Educational Policies, Classroom Management and Higher Education – policies and practices.

E-mail: iucu@unibuc.eu

She is Associate Professor at the University College of Sealand. Her domains of specialization are: a) Professional development of early childhood educators and b) Applications for Early Childhood Education. She participated in the following projects:

• Leonardo project 2006 à 2008 withPoland,France, Lithuania Responsible for Danish partner with filing reports.
• Developing International semester “Youth with social difficulties and at risk of social exclusion” 2007
• IP project withFinland,Germany,England,Poland,Slovenia, Slovakia 2010 and 2011.
• Several exchange periods all overEuropeand overseas. Topics containing amongst others: Quality in elderly care inDenmark.  Gender equality at the labor marked, education and in families. The inner force of music, how music influence our culture, social skills, communication skills and personality

She was invited as a Guest speaker at a European poverty conference inBrusselsin October 2010.

E-mail address : lio@ucsj.dk

Associate Professor, University College Zealand, Denmark, www.ucsj.dk
Email: che@ucsj.dk
Telephone: 7248 2817 (website will follow)

CV:

• Born 27th of January 1954

• Bachelor, Pre-school Teacher, 1976

• Working as a Pedagogue, 1976 to 1985

• Working as a headmaster of Kindergartens from 1985 – 2000

• Project leader at a cross professional/institutional/municipality quality development project under the social ministry 1998 – 2001

• Master Programme, 2001 on a thesis on Learning in Kindergartens

• Associate professor, 2005

• 2008 – 2011: Teaching learning and evaluation for pre-school-teachers in Kindergartens and pedagogues in institutions for children aged 6-12 (For children who attend schools)

• Part of a team that is responsible for evaluation on university level (University Colleges)

• Completing courses in evaluation tied to praxis development in schools and kindergartens for school leaders and staff in 2009/2010 in Holbæk and Slagelse municipalities.

• Courses for leaders of early childhood leaders in pedagogic, quality development in Næstved municipality at diploma level

• Developing International semester “Youth with social difficulties and at risk of social exclusion”

Publications in Danish:

1. Kend dig selv og dine samarbejdspartnere (1997) I: Nyhedsbrev fra Socialministeriet nr. 5, Socialministeriets kvalitetsprogram.
2. Læring i børnehaven, belyst ud fra Niklas Luhmanns operative konstruktivisme (2000).  Kandidatopgave/speciale ved Danmarks Pædagogiske Universitet.
3. Jens Sigsgaard – en børnehavepioner (2001). I: Ni pionerer i dansk pædagogisk historie. Dansk Pædagogisk samling.
4. Musik i en kulturorienteret didaktik (2006). I: Vera nr. 36 2006.
5. Pædagogisk udviklingsarbejde, en mulighed for faglig fordybelse og fornyels (2009) I: Borup, Johan (red): Se nuet og gør noget ved det. University College Sjælland, CFV

Working on articles in Danish, 2012:
”Hvilke problemer og muligheder kan, set fra et underviserperspektiv, identificeres i forhold til øget professionsrettethed og aftagernes øgede og mere formelle inddragelse i bachelorprojekterne?” Articel in a Book.
”Jens Sigsgaard og uddannelserne” Article in ”Socialpedagogy”