Froebel Research Committee
Research Strategy, 2006-2011
The Froebel Research committee has recently approved a new Research Strategy
for the five years, September 2006 to August 2011. Its overall objective
is
To promote and support research in early childhood and early years education with a view to ensuring that Froebelian principles and practice are monitored, developed and refreshed in the light of new knowledge and changing social and cultural contexts.
To that end it determines
1. That the FEI Research Committee should consider research proposals
under two broad heads:
(i) applied research, which will have implications for developing and validating
or changing, where appropriate, pedagogic understanding and practice and/or
government policy in relation to children 0-7;
(ii) pure research, which may, for example, include aspects of the history
of the Froebel movement here or abroad.
BUT that priority, and the majority of funding, in any year should be given
to applied research, or to pure research which is directly concerned with
children 0-7, and so could indirectly influence pedagogic practice.
2. That a minimum of two 3-year bursaries be offered to persons who would be required to register as full-time PhD students at Roehampton University, and who would be supervised by appropriately qualified staff at Roehampton University.
3. That applications for smaller research grants of one or two years duration also be invited, particularly from practitioners in early years education, and that it be a condition of an award of grant that specific targeted outcomes be agreed, and the results be published where possible and disseminated, where appropriate, among scholars and practitioners.
It also agrees that partnerships in research be established with staff in universities or other institutions in the UK or abroad with Froebelian credentials, with a view to promoting and developing innovative pedagogic practice.
Membership of the Froebel Research Committee
Dr Peter Weston (Chair), former Principal of Froebel College; Trustee of the National Froebel Foundation; President of the International Froebel Society
Professor Kevin Brehony, Froebel Professor of Early Childhood Studies, Roehampton University, http://www.roehampton.ac.uk/staff/Kevin%20J.Brehony/index.asp
Mrs Rita Brown, former Governor of Froebel College
Professor Tina Bruce, Visiting Professor of Early Childhood Studies, Roehampton University; Early Childhood Consultant
Margaret Carter-Pegg, Chair of the Froebel Archive Advisory Committee
Professor Maurice Craft, former Dean of Education and Pro Vice-Chancellor, University of Nottingham
Peter Elfer, Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies, Roehampton University
Professor David Hargreaves, Froebel Research Fellow; Director of the Centre for International Research on Creativity and Learning in Education [CIRCLE], Roehampton University, http://www.roehampton.ac.uk/staff/davidhargreaves/
Margaret Harrop, former Chair of Governors of Froebel College
Mark Hunter, Principal, Annan Farm Small School, Uckfield, East Sussex
William Macintyre, Chair of Council of the Froebel Educational Institute
Alan Montefiore, Emeritus Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford; President of the Forum for European Philosophy; Joint President of the Wiener Library; former Chair of Council of the Froebel Educational Institute
Kristen Nawrotzki, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Roehampton University
Professor Neil Taylor, Dean of Research and Dean of the Graduate School, Roehampton University, http://www.roehampton.ac.uk/staff/NeilTaylor/
Professor Graham Welch, Professor of Music Education and Head of the School of Arts & Humanities, University of London Institute of Education, http://ioewebserver.ioe.ac.uk/ioe/cms/get.asp?cid=4591&4591_0=4934
Group Captain Laurence Barnes, Secretary
Recent individual research projects
Analyses of results of two large projects: (i) the Early Childhood Education Society of Korea’s project investigating the conflicting expectations that parents and teachers bring to nursery and kindergarten education and, (ii) the British Council sponsored exchange of British and American ITE teachers.
Archival research into: (i) the expropriation of Froebel kindergartens by the German National Socialist Party and, (ii) the pioneering of Froebel education in Korea, Taiwan and Japan.
Comparative investigation into: (i) the effects of the Foundation Curriculum in child-centred nurseries and classrooms and, (ii) the variation and its consequences in carer/child relationships in Day Nurseries.
Critical review of: (i) illustrated stories in children’s books, with special reference to the Depression Years in America and (ii) half a century of children’s educational television programming from 1950 to the millennium.
Practica project: building a multi-media, multi-lingual, multi-ethnic library for deaf children and their families.
Froebel Research Fellowship (jointly funded with NFF), 2002-2008 [outcomes]
The Froebel Research Committee requires as a condition of the award of Small Grants or other financial support, that the recipients make interim presentations and updates to the Committee. A copy of subsequent publication(s), and acknowledgement of the Committee’s financial support is also expected.
Froebel Research Fellowship
The Froebel Research Fellowship project has been running since 2002, when David Hargreaves was appointed as the first Research Fellow by the Froebel Research Committee and the National Froebel Foundation, who have jointly funded the project since then. Phases 1-3 of the project, 2002-5, were carried out by Sue Robson and Veronica Towers, from the Early Childhood staff of Roehampton University’s School of Education, working alongside David Hargreaves: during that period Dr. Hiroko Fumoto replaced Veronica Towers in the team, which has subsequently been joined by Sue Greenfield in Phases 4-5 of the project, running from 2005-8.
Previously funded research projects
Please Note that under its previous funding policy, the Froebel Research Committee was prepared to fund a wider range of topics related to education than is permitted under its 2006-11 Research Strategy.
Please click [HERE] for a list of the projects in PDF format.
Grant Applications
The Froebel Research Committee has recently approved an outline statement, ‘Elements of a Froebelian Education’, which it keeps under review. Any application for a research grant which addresses and interrogates any of these ‘elements’ or their implications for practice, would be welcome. Please use the online application form, and, in the case of applications for Small Grants, please read the Guidelines for Applying for Small Grants.
