ROLE – Research On Learning Environments
The ROLE research group in educational science is interested in educational environments as holistic phenomena. The focus is on didactic and pedagogical aspects of educational environments, especially how physical environment, organization and working methods can be made to interact for better learning and teaching in schools and preschools.
Ongoing research projects
New concepts for tomorrow's learning environments
Funders: KKS, Fagerhult and Lekolar
Created social values in school buildings
Funder: Vinnova
A testbed for evaluating LED lighting in learning environments beyond retrofitting
Funder: Swedish Energy Agency
Command: Erasmus+ Teacher Academy
Completed research projects
Pre-requisites for functional pre-school premises
Year: 2020-2023
Funder: R&D fund for municipalities' real estate issues
Research study on learning environments
Year: 2020-2022
Funder: R&D fund for municipalities' real estate issues.
Pedagogical evaluation of school environments
Year: 2021-2022
Funder: Ifous/Stockholm City
More information about Pedagogical evaluation of school environments
Report from the project:
Pedagogical evaluation of school environments: Walking tours in four school buildings in the city of Stockholm with a 
External link.
appendix: Pedagogical evaluation of school environments External link.
Multifunctional building south Hemlingby
Year: 2019-2020
Funder: Gavlefastigheter
An innovative and unique project is under development in Södra Hemlingby in Gävle with planned co-utilization of parts of the premises in the same multifunctional building.
Year: 2018-2019
Funder: Swedish Research Council
Network grant for Nordic cooperation within the European network DRAPES External link..
Year: 2017-2020
Funder: Vinnova
Laboratory activity-based school environment in Hudiksvall / Vässa skolan - The Vässa skolan project follows teachers during the process of introducing activity-based learning environments.
Year: 2018-2019
Funder: Ifous
The project, in collaboration with architect Suzanne de Laval, evaluated school environments from different time periods.
How to build a sustainable learning environment
Year: 2015-2016
Funder: University of Gävle
The pilot project studied a newly opened school that aimed to reduce segregation.
Year: 2012-2015
Funder: Afa Insurance
Preventing threats and violence in schools through sustainable relationships - a study of teachers' relationship work in the school classroom
The Innovative Learning Environments and Student Experience Scoping Study
Year: 2021-2023
Funder: University of Gävle + other funders
The Innovative Learning Environments and Student Experience Scoping Study External link.
News from the Research Group
A selection of news from the research group and its members.
- Article: Light and furniture in the creation of future learning environments External link.
- Researcher visit from Australia: "Want to develop collaboration with the University"
- Eight million for research that breaks new ground
- Around-the-world classroom trip inspires Wesley Imm's research External link.
Research program Learning Environments of Tomorrow
The ROLE research group is strongly linked to the Learning Environments of Tomorrow research program, which is part of the Innovative Learning strategic research area.
What will tomorrow's learning environments look like?
What will tomorrow's learning environments look like and why? Anneli Frelin, professor of didactics, describes and shows new learning environments and the opportunities they provide, with a focus on schools. The recording is made by SVT/UR in the fall of 2021. (In Swedish)
Members of ROLE
Anneli Frelin, Professor
Contact: anneli.frelin@hig.se
Jan Grannäs, Associate Professor
Contact: jan.grannas@hig.se
Tobias Fredlund, Senior Lecturer
Contact: tobias.fredlund@hig.se
Lena O Magnusson, Senior Lecturer
Contact: lena.o.magnusson@hig.se
Wenche Mörck Riekki, Assistant Professor
Contact: wenche.morck.riekki@hig.se
Anna Sjölin, PhD student
Contact: anna.sjolin@hig.se
Therese Östlin, Assistant Professor
Contact: therese.ostlin@hig.se
Publications of the research group
Here you will find a selection of recent publications from the members of the research group. To see all publications from the research group, visit DiVA External link.
Peer-reviewed articles
Grannäs, Jan, Frelin, Anneli & Östlin, Therese (online) Unpacking flexibility in innovative learning environments – teachers’ experiences in practice. Educational Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/03055698.2024.2448781 External link.
Angelaki, S., Frelin, A., Grannäs, J., Besenecker, U. & Danielsson, C. B. (2024). Methods for inclusive design processes at the early stages of a research project in School Environments. IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 1320 012027. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/1320/1/012027 External link.
Liljestrand, J. (2024). (Non-)Conceptualisations of teaching and learning in innovative learning environments – a meta-narrative review. SN Social Sciences, 4 (57). 10.1007/s43545-024-00856-2 [Mer information]
Magnusson, L. & Elm, A. (2023). The Entangled Intersection of Children’s and Educators’ Engagement in the Educational Environment of a Preschool. Early Childhood Education Journal. 10.1007/s10643-023-01533-4 [Mer information]
Frelin, A. & Grannäs, J. (2022). Teachers’ pre-occupancy evaluation of affordances in a multi-zone flexible learning environment - introducing an analytical model. Pedagogy, Culture & Society, 30 (2), 243-259. 10.1080/14681366.2020.1797859 [Mer information]
Conference contributions
Frelin, A., Grannäs, J., Sundholm, M. & van de Meulebrouck, T. (2023). Evaluation of a School Building Program using Pedagogical Walk-throughs. . [Mer information]
Frelin, A., Grannäs, J. & Mörck Riekki, W. (2023). Innovative learning environments as a place for examination of the concept of team teaching. [Mer information]
Reports
Elm, A. & Magnusson, L. (2024). Framgångsfaktorer för funktionella förskolelokaler: Slutrapport FOU-fonden för kommunens fastighetsfrågor. Stockholm: Sveriges Kommuner och Regioner. 80 s. Länk External link. [Mer information]
Elm, A. & Magnusson, L. (2022). Framgångsfaktorer för funktionella förskolelokaler : Delrapport 2021. Stockholm: Sveriges Kommuner och Regioner. 46 s. Länk External link. [Mer information]
Engström, A., Elm, A. & Magnusson, L. (2022). Förskolans lärmiljöer : möjligheter och begränsningar. Gävle: 28 s. (FOU-rapport 58) Länk External link. [Mer information]
Frelin, A. & Grannäs, J. (2022). Nya Lärmiljöer : Från vision till pedagogik i två innovativa skolor. Stockholm: (Sveriges Kommuner och Regioner) Länk [Mer information]
Frelin, A., Grannäs, J., Sundholm, M. & Van de Meulebrouck, T. (2022). Pedagogisk utvärdering av skolmiljöer : Gåturer i fyra skolbyggnader i Stockholms stad. Gävle: Gävle University Press. 117 s. (FOU-rapport 57) Länk External link. [Mer information]
Book Chapters
Woolner, Pamela, Frelin, Anneli & Grannäs, Jan (2024). Postdigital manifestations of schooling: Entrenching the old or enabling the new? In: Lamb, James and Carvalho, Lucila (eds). Postdigital Learning Spaces. Towards Convivial, Equitable, and Sustainable Spaces for Learning. Springer.
Contact
Contact Anneli Frelin for questions about the research project or read more about her research and see publications in the researcher presentation.
Contact Jan Grannäs if you have questions about the research project or read more about his research and see his publications in the researcher presentation.
This page was last updated 2025-03-27