Learning Environments in Swedish Leisure-time Centres: (In)equality, ‘Schooling’, and Lack of Independence

Abstract

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to describe and analyse how teachers perceive the internal learning environment at Swedish leisure-time centres and set it in relation to steering documents. The empirical data is based on a comprehensive web-survey of 4,043 leisure-time teachers in Sweden. The methodological approach is a qualitative directed content analysis. The results show large differences and inequalities in the quality of leisure-time centres’ premises, an educational form characterized by integration with school and therefore to some extent lost autonomy. Activities in leisure-time centres combine individuality and social community in creative forms of play and social relationships. Because of this there are complex requirements for premises and dysfunctional premises reduce the opportunities to create good learning environments. The existing conditions for the majority of leisure-time centres do not correspond to the intentions in the steering documents concerning good learning environments. Leisure time centres have started to reproduce the (environmental) logic of ‘traditional teaching premises’ and to ignore their own (environmental) potential, which is even prescribed in specific steering documents. These results have implications for policy decisions and educational development.

Keywords: comprehensive survey, internal learning environment, leisure-time centres, Sweden, teachers’ perceptions

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Bibliography: Boström, Lena/Augustsson, Gunnar: Learning Environments in Swedish Leisure-time Centres: (In)equality, ‘Schooling’, and Lack of Independence, IJREE, Vol. 4, Issue 1-2016, pp. 125-145.
https://doi.org/10.3224/ijree.v4i1.24779