Signe Siklander | Educational Research | Innovative Research Award

Published on by Top Teachers

Innovative Research Award

Signe Siklander
University of Oulu, Finland
Signe Siklander
Affiliation University of Oulu
Country Finland
Scopus ID 57192978700
Documents 25
Citations 730
h-index 11
Subject Area Educational Research
Event Top Teachers Awards
ORCID 0000-0003-4437-4541

Signe Siklander — University Researcher, University of Oulu, Finland. Her academic work concerns educational research, playful learning, collaborative learning, learning environments, early childhood education, teacher education, educational technology, and the development of research-based teaching and learning practices.

Signe Siklander is a Finnish educational researcher whose academic career combines research, teaching, supervision, research leadership, international collaboration, and development of learning environments. Her research profile includes playful learning and playfulness, collaborative learning, early childhood education, teacher education, educational technology, and learning in diverse environments. Her work has also addressed the relationship between pedagogical practices, learner engagement, well-being, agency, and professional expertise. Her academic qualifications include a PhD in Education from the University of Lapland, an adjunct professorship in technology-enhanced teaching and learning, and earlier degrees and professional qualifications in education, cognitive science, sociology, educational technology, hospitality and teacher education. Her research and teaching activities have included positions at the University of Oulu and University of Lapland, as well as international research and educational networks.[1]

Abstract

Signe Siklander is an educational researcher at the University of Oulu whose academic profile encompasses playful learning, playfulness, collaborative learning, early childhood education, teacher education, learning environments, educational technology, and higher education. Her research combines empirical investigation with the development of research-based educational practices and international collaboration. Her publication record includes studies of playful pedagogy, collaborative engagement, higher education, teacher expertise, educational artificial intelligence, and learner well-being. Her documented research activity includes principal-investigator responsibilities, doctoral supervision, curriculum development, international research networks, conference organization, editorial service, peer review, and invited academic presentations.

Keywords

Educational Research; Playful Learning; Playfulness; Early Childhood Education; Teacher Education; Collaborative Learning; Learning Environments; Educational Technology; Higher Education; Pedagogical Expertise; Learner Engagement; Well-Being; Agency; Research Leadership; Finnish Education.

Introduction

Signe Siklander has developed an academic career spanning research, teaching and educational development. Her current position as a University Researcher at the University of Oulu follows a period as Associate Professor in early childhood education at the Faculty of Education and Psychology. Earlier appointments included university research and associate professorships at the University of Oulu and University of Lapland, together with responsibility for international Learning, Education and Technology (LET) programme development.

Her academic trajectory is interdisciplinary. Her doctoral research at the University of Lapland examined affordances of playful learning environments for tutoring playing and learning, while subsequent work has extended toward collaborative learning, technology-supported learning, teacher education, early childhood education, and the pedagogical dimensions of play and playfulness. Her publication and presentation activities indicate continuing engagement with these themes across Finnish and international research communities.[1]

Research Profile

The research profile is characterized by an emphasis on learning as an interactive, situated, and socially mediated process. Major themes include playful learning, playfulness as a pedagogical competence, collaborative problem solving, learning environments, educational technology, early childhood education, and teacher education. Her research activities also address learner engagement, professional expertise, agency, well-being, and the ways pedagogical environments can support meaningful participation.

Signe Siklander has participated in and led research groups addressing play, learning, gamification, maker education, collaborative learning, and educational technology. Her research leadership has included the PlaPlaGa “Play, Playfulness and Gamification” international research group, MAKE: Maker Education for Lifelong Learning, collaborative learning and teaching research within the Learning and Educational Technology Research Group, and PROMO research concerning teacher students’ learning and interaction skills.

Her international profile includes affiliation with the Global Research Institute for Finnish Education (GRIFE) at The Education University of Hong Kong, where she has served in leadership activities associated with teacher education. She has also participated in international research communities associated with play, learning, development, early childhood education, educational research, and learning sciences.[1]

Academic qualifications

  • Adjunct Professor, Technology-enhanced Teaching and Learning, University of Lapland, 2014.
  • PhD in Education, University of Lapland, 2008. Dissertation: Affordances of playful learning environment for tutoring playing and learning.
  • MA in Education, University of Lapland, 2002.
  • Bachelor of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management, Lapland University of Applied Sciences, 2000.
  • Teacher in Hotel, Catering and Home Economics, Teacher Education College, 1986.
  • Hotel, Restaurant and Catering Service Manager, Oulu Vocational College, 1982.
  • Chef, EduLappi, 1980.
  • Matriculation examination, Ounasvaara High School, 1978.

Current and previous academic employment

  • University Researcher, University of Oulu, from 1 August 2026.
  • Associate Professor (tenure), Early Childhood Education, University of Oulu, Faculty of Education and Psychology, 2021–2026.
  • University Researcher, Learning and Educational Technology Research Unit, University of Oulu, 2017–2021; leader for the international LET master’s degree programme.
  • Associate Professor, Collaborative Learning and Diverse Learning Environments, University of Lapland, 2015–2017.
  • Post-doctoral Researcher and Principal Investigator in collaborative learning, University of Oulu, 2007–2015.
  • Researcher, University of Lapland, Faculty of Education, Centre for Media Pedagogy, including the InnoPlay and LEVIKE projects and the Graduate School for Interdisciplinary Research on Learning Environments.
  • Project Manager, Let’s Play Project, University of Lapland, 2003–2006.
  • Planning Officer, Connet Cognition Science Network, University of Lapland, 2002–2003.
  • Teacher in home economics and hotel and catering in secondary and vocational schools, 1984–2002.

Research Contributions

A central contribution of Signe Siklander’s research concerns the conceptualization and empirical examination of play and playfulness as components of learning and pedagogy. Her work has considered how playful learning environments can support engagement, interaction, agency, creativity, and learning across educational contexts. Recent work extends this perspective to early childhood teacher education, where playfulness is considered in relation to pedagogical expertise and teachers’ professional development.

A second contribution concerns collaborative learning and collaborative problem solving. Research involving international master’s students has examined exploratory talk, engagement, collaborative problem solving, and the relationship between learning activities and students’ perceptions of successful engagement. These studies connect interactional processes with the design of higher-education learning environments.[2][3]

A third research strand addresses contemporary educational technologies. Collaborative work has examined teacher acceptance of educational chatbots, instructional technology, maker education, and technology-enhanced learning. Such research contributes to understanding how technological innovation intersects with teachers’ trust, professional judgments, social norms, and educational practice.[4]

A fourth contribution is the systematic study of relationships between play and well-being. Recent work has synthesized literature concerning how play and playfulness connect with children’s well-being, providing a research basis for considering playful pedagogical practices in early childhood and educational settings.[5]

Research leadership and supervision

  • Principal Investigator for the 2026 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).
  • Principal Investigator and research leader in the PlaPlaGa international research group on play, playfulness and gamification.
  • Principal Investigator for MAKE: Maker Education for Lifelong Learning, 2018–2021.
  • Research leadership in computer-supported collaborative learning and teaching within the LET research group.
  • Research leadership in PROMO, concerning teacher students’ learning and interaction skills with collaborative ICT tools.
  • Line manager at the CHIMES research unit, with responsibility for an international and Finnish research team.
  • Principal supervisor for defended doctoral researchers at the University of Lapland, including research on competence-based vocational education, citizen engagement, and digital game-based learning.
  • Principal supervisor for approximately 60 master’s theses, co-supervisor for approximately 25 master’s theses, and external evaluator for approximately 40 master’s theses.
  • Supervision and follow-up responsibilities involving doctoral and postdoctoral researchers across educational research topics.

Teaching and educational development

Signe Siklander’s teaching profile includes international Learning, Education and Technology education, teacher education, early childhood education, and education and psychology. Her teaching has been assessed as excellent in relevant academic appointments, including an Associate Professor assessment at the University of Oulu and an Associate Professor assessment at the University of Lapland. Her educational-development work has included curriculum development, longitudinal data collection, learning materials, and the integration of research-based approaches into higher education.

The LET programme represents a substantial part of this educational-development work. During 2007–2021, research and educational activities associated with the programme generated conference presentations and publications concerning working-life expertise, student engagement, collaborative learning, and higher education. The programme’s international orientation also contributed to cross-cultural research and collaboration.

Publications

Signe Siklander’s publications address playful learning, collaborative engagement, teacher education, early childhood education, educational technology, and well-being. Recent peer-reviewed work includes studies of exploratory talk and collaborative problem-solving, playful learning design, instructional leadership, educational chatbots, and children’s well-being, demonstrating a multidisciplinary research profile connecting pedagogy, technology, engagement, and learning. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Selected publications illustrate the breadth of Signe Siklander’s current research, including playful learning, higher education engagement, collaborative problem solving, educational technology, teacher development, and children’s well-being. The following works are representative rather than an exhaustive bibliography.

  • Li, X., Kangas, M., Siklander, S., & Ruokamo, H. (2025). Pedagogical design of playful learning in English as a foreign language learning: Chinese teachers’ perspectives. International Journal of Chinese Education, 14(3).
  • Siklander, P., Brauer, S., & Thangaperumal, P. (2025). Orientation towards a master’s degree and working life: Higher education students’ perceptions of successful engagement. Student Engagement in Higher Education Journal, 6(1), 148–177.
  • Thangaperumal, P., Siklander, S., Haque, S., & Brauer, S. (2025). Variations and possibilities of exploratory talk in triggering collaborative engagement during collaborative problem-solving process among MA in Education students. British Educational Research Journal, 51(4), 1853–1879.
  • Celic, I., Muukkonen, H., & Siklander, S. (2025). Teacher–artificial interaction: The role of trust, subjective norm and innovativeness in teachers’ acceptance of educational chatbots. Policy Futures in Education. Advance online publication.
  • Siklander, S., Wang, L., & Moilanen, J. (2025). What creates children’s well-being? A systematic literature review about the connections of play and well-being. OSF Preprints.

Research Impact

The documented impact of Siklander’s academic work can be considered across research, education, supervision, professional networks, and public engagement. Her research has been presented through international conferences and invited talks in Finland, China, Hong Kong, the United States, Greece, Norway, Namibia, and other international settings. Her work has also contributed to research networks concerned with Finnish education, play, learning, teacher education, early childhood education, and the learning sciences.

Her academic service includes editorial responsibilities, peer review for international journals, doctoral thesis examination, conference review, scientific committee participation, recruitment activities, steering-group membership, and organization of research conferences. These activities indicate engagement with the broader infrastructure of educational research beyond individual publications.

Research dissemination has also extended to public-facing educational communication. Her recent activities include contributions to university research blogs, expert interviews, webinars, and public discussions concerning children’s play, playful pedagogy, educational technology, and learning. Such dissemination provides opportunities for research findings and academic perspectives to reach teachers, educational professionals, policymakers, students, and wider audiences.

International networks and academic service

  • Global Research Institute for Finnish Education (GRIFE), The Education University of Hong Kong.
  • Association Internationale des Écoles Supérieures d’Éducation Physique (AIESEP), SIG Early Years.
  • EARLI SIG 28: Play, Learning and Development.
  • Finnish Educational Research Association (FERA), including early childhood and early special education activities.
  • Finnish-Japanese research collaboration with Fuji Women’s University.
  • Finnish-Chinese research and teaching collaboration involving Beijing Normal University.
  • Research collaboration and networking involving universities in Finland, including the University of Oulu, University of Turku, University of Lapland, and University of Helsinki.

Award Suitability

For an academic recognition programme such as the Innovative Research Award, Signe Siklander’s profile presents several documented dimensions of research merit. These include a sustained academic career in educational research, research leadership, international collaboration, peer-reviewed publication activity, doctoral and master’s supervision, curriculum development, and contribution to professional research communities.[1]

  • Research originality: Her research examines playfulness, playful learning, collaborative learning, pedagogical expertise, educational technology, and learner well-being across multiple educational contexts.
  • Research leadership: She has undertaken Principal Investigator and research-group leadership responsibilities, including work associated with play, gamification, maker education, collaborative learning, and educational technology.
  • Research supervision: Her documented supervision includes defended doctoral researchers, doctoral researchers in progress, postdoctoral supervision, master’s thesis supervision, and external evaluation.
  • International engagement: Her activities include research networks, invited talks, conferences, academic collaborations, and educational partnerships across Europe, Asia, North America, and Africa.
  • Educational contribution: Her work in the LET programme and early childhood teacher education demonstrates sustained involvement in research-based curriculum and teaching development.
  • Academic service: Editorial work, peer review, thesis examination, conference organization, scientific committees, recruitment panels, and steering-group responsibilities provide additional evidence of contribution to the research community.
  • Research visibility: The supplied Scopus profile records 25 documents, 730 citations, and an h-index of 11; these figures are presented as profile data supplied for this article and may change over time.[1]

Taken together, these documented activities provide a substantive academic basis for consideration in a research-recognition context. The assessment of award suitability should nevertheless remain subject to the criteria, verification procedures, and comparative evaluation standards established by the awarding organization.

Conclusion

Signe Siklander’s academic profile reflects a sustained contribution to educational research through research on playful learning, playfulness, collaborative learning, early childhood education, teacher education, learning environments, and educational technology. Her work combines empirical research with educational development, international collaboration, research leadership, supervision, academic service, and public dissemination.[1]

Her documented research output and academic responsibilities demonstrate engagement at multiple levels of the educational research ecosystem, from individual studies and doctoral supervision to international research networks, curriculum development, conference organization, editorial work, and research leadership. These dimensions collectively form the scholarly basis for considering her profile within the context of the Innovative Research Award.

References

  1. Elsevier. (n.d.). Scopus author details: Signe Siklander, Author ID 57192978700. Scopus. https://www.scopus.com/pages/authors/57192978700
  2. Siklander, P., Brauer, S., & Thangaperumal, P. (2025). Orientation towards a master’s degree and working life: Higher education students’ perceptions of successful engagement. Student Engagement in Higher Education Journal, 6(1), 148–177. https://sehej.raise-network.com/raise/article/view/1226
  3. Thangaperumal, P., Siklander, S., Haque, S., & Brauer, S. (2025). Variations and possibilities of exploratory talk in triggering collaborative engagement during collaborative problem-solving process among MA in Education students. British Educational Research Journal, 51(4), 1853–1879. https://doi.org/10.1002/berj.4159
  4. Celic, I., Muukkonen, H., & Siklander, S. (2025). Teacher–artificial interaction: The role of trust, subjective norm and innovativeness in teachers’ acceptance of educational chatbots. Policy Futures in Education. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/14782103251348551
  5. Siklander, S., Wang, L., & Moilanen, J. (2025). What creates children’s well-being? A systematic literature review about the connections of play and well-being. OSF Preprints. https://doi.org/10.35542/osf.io/4nqzs_v1