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Riikka Hofmann

Position/Status
  • Research Associate
E-mail Address

rjph2@cam.ac.uk

Phone

(+44) 01223 767538

Qualification
  • MA (University of Helsinki)
  • PhD (University of Cambridge)
Membership of Professional Bodies/Associations
  • British Educational Research Association (BERA)
  • International Society for Cultural and Activity Research (ISCAR)
  • Finnish Educational Research Association (FERA)

Profile

Riikka Hofmann is a Research Associate working on the ESCR-funded epiSTEMe project, which investigates and aims to redesign aspects of maths and science teaching and learning in lower secondary school. Her other research, including her PhD research, has focused on examining pupils' agency and engagement, and their sense of 'ownership', in narrative and collaborative classroom learning in primary settings from a socioculturally grounded perspective. Prior to her studies and work at the Faculty, she studied Education Studies, Sociology, Psychology and Social science research methods at the Universities of Helsinki and Munich (LMU) and worked as a research assistant and project researcher at both universities, in projects investigating inquiry and problem-based learning and learning with ICT.

Research Topics

  • Learner engagement and identities in school
  • Learner agency and ownership in classroom learning
  • Pupil experiences of learning in school
  • Collaborative, narrative and inquiry approaches classroom learning
  • Sociocultural and activity theory approaches to classroom learning
  • Qualitative approaches for classroom based research
  • STEM Education

Current Research Project

Effecting Principled Improvement in STEM Education (epiSTEMe): Student Engagement and Learning in Early Secondary-School Physical Science and Mathematics, ESRC Principal Investigators: Kenneth Ruthven, Christine Howe, Neil Mercer, Keith Taber (University of Cambridge)

Course Involvement

MPhil/MEd:
Science Practitioners Researching Practice (core team member: teaching, supervising research)
Educational Research

Undergraduate:
Supervisions

Publications

Hakkarainen, K., Bollström-Huttunen, M., and Hofmann, R. (2008). 'Teacher-researcher dialogue and expansive transformation of pedagogical practices'. Nordic Journal of Digital Literacy, 3, 156-177.

Hofmann, R. (2008). 'Rethinking 'ownership of learning': Participation and agency in the Storyline classroom'. In: S. Bell, S. Harkness and G. White (Eds.), Storyline: Past, present and future (pp. 64-78). Glasgow: University of Strathclyde.

Hofmann, R. and Rainio, A.P. (2007).'It doesn't matter what part you play, it just matters that you're there'. Shared Agency in Narrative Play Activity in School. In: R. Alanen and S. Pöyhönen (Eds.), Language in Action. Vygotsky and Leontievian legacy today (pp. 308-328). Newastle-upon-Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

Hakkarainen, K., Bollström-Huttunen, M., Pyysalo*, R. and Lonka, K. (2005). Tutkiva oppiminen käytännössä: Matkaopas opettajille (Progressive Inquiry in Practice: A guide for teachers). Porvoo: WSOY.

Pyysalo*, R. (2002). Using multiple representations to scaffold distributed learning in virtual university. In: H. Niemi and P. Ruohotie (Eds.), Theoretical understandings for learning in virtual university (pp. 91-118). Hämeenlinna: Research Centre for Vocational Education and Training (RCVE).

*now: Hofmann.

Some recent conference presentations

Rainio, A. and Hofmann, R. (2006, Nov). Yhdessä vai jaetusti? Juonellista oppimista tutkimassa (Together or jointly? Researching narrative learning) . Paper presented at theFinnish Educational Research Association Conference, University of Oulu, Finland, Nov 23.

Hofmann, R. (2006, Oct). What and where is 'ownership of learning'? Storyline, modes of participation and bringing ownership out of pupils' heads. Paper presented at the International Storyline Conference 3, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, Oct 29.

Hofmann, R. and Rainio, A.P. (2006, Jun). 'It doesn't matter what part you play, it just matters that you're there'- analysing the formation of collective agency in pupil talk and activity in school. Paper presented at the Language in Action Conference, University of Jyväskylä, Finland, June 10.

Hofmann, R. (2006, May). Ownership as belonging: Examining shared learning and agency in school. Paper presented at the SlaTe seminar, Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, May 2.

Hofmann, R. (2005, Sep). Rethinking learner agency: From individual autonomy and self-discovery to participation, risk-taking and creativity. Paper presented at Iscar Congress in Sevilla, Spain, Sep 21.