Minna Törmänen, Prof. Dr.
Category Persons
Senior Researcher
- Telephone
- +41 44 317 13 43
- minna.toermaenen [at] hfh.ch
- Room
- 328
- Institute
-
- Institut für Professionalisierung und SystementwicklungTo the institute
Tätigkeit an der HfH
- Mitarbeiterin Institut für Professionalisierung und Systementwicklung
- Senior Researcher
- Dozentin
- International collaboration
- A reviewer in journals on learning and neuropsychological disabilities, interventions and teacher education, in addition to representation in scientific committees
Profil
My research interests lie in development and individual learning and educational capabilities within persons from early education to adult education having either special needs or being at-risk. The core for my research interests is in learning processes and especially in cognitive processing, like executive functioning and its development, and importantly, in research-based practices i.e., in interventions. I have researched both cognitive and curriculum-based interventions in school settings in several different countries and educational systems. Intervention studies in school settings are also connected to broad interests in teacher education and educational systems.
Besides multidisciplinary research on learning competences and its background factors I have applied my research in the field of different pedagogical methods and quality of learning environments including ideologies of inclusion. My research on inclusive education is based on multidisciplinary and international approach when developing inclusion and equity. Here are keywords for my research interests:
- Children with learning and neuropsychological disabilities and being at-risk
- Cognitive development and learning environment
- Using interventions in school settings
- Teacher education (early and primary education, and special needs education)
- International approach on inclusive education, inclusion and equity
Ausbildung
- Associate Professor in Special Education, Åbo Akademi University, Finland
- Principal Investigator, University of Helsinki, Finland
- PhD in Special Education, University of Helsinki, Finland
- Master of Education, University of Helsinki, Finland. Degree of Class teacher: Specialization: Special Education, Music, Mother tongue Finnish
- Doctoral studies in Music Education, Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts, Finland
Forschung zu
- Children’s Development and the Role of Learning Environment: Developmental Progression, Pedagogical Methods and Inclusive Education
- Research-based interventions and children with learning/neuropsychological disabilities, at-risk or typical development: Cognitive development, executive functions and comorbidity
- Inclusive Education: Multidisciplinary and international approach when developing inclusion and equity
Forschungsprojekte
Das Forschungsprofil ist multidisziplinär und international und wurde in verschiedenen Projekten zu drei thematischen Themen umgesetzt
1. Children's Development and the Role of Learning Environment: Developmental Progression, Pedagogical Methods and Inclusive Education
- «Longitudinalstudie ZEPPELIN (the Zurich Equity Prevention Project with Parents’ Participation and Integration) - Förderung ab Geburt» (PI: Lanfranchi, Neuhauser, Schaub, Ramseier & Törmänen, HfH Zürich, CH). My main topic: Children with preterm birth and their cognitive development and executive functions in families with social burdens.
- «Inclusive Education and Special Needs Educational Governance in Europe – Multidisciplinary approach when developing inclusion and equity» (PI: Törmänen and Wicki, HfH) My main topic: Inclusive education in Finland and international aspects on educational systems.
- «Inclusive education or segregated special education: Longitudinal study of developmental outcomes of children in classes for special educational needs» (PI: Törmänen, University of Helsinki, Finland (UH) and Roebers, University of Bern, CH)
- «Enhancing Children’s Learning through Intent Participation – Understanding Relationship between Pedagogical Sensitivity and Stress Regulation» (PI: Sajaniemi, Suhonen, Kontu, Törmänen et al; UH)
- «Playful Learning in the Brain», multi-disciplinary research project in early education, neuroscience and special education. (PI: Huotilainen, Törmänen & Roebers; UH and University of Bern).
2. Research-based interventions and children with typical development, learning disabilities or at-risk: Background factors and comorbidity
- «Early numeracy intervention study for low performing children in South African schools» (PI: Aunio, Ragpot, Törmänen, Korhonen & Henning; University of Helsinki (UH), Finland and University of Johannesburg, SA)
- «Longitudinal intervention study Arts@School in inclusive education: Musical and movement activities and their effects on children`s academic achievements and cognitive functioning» (PI: Tervaniemi & Anttila, Juntunen, Törmänen, Linnavalli, Tiippana; UH and University of Arts, FI)
- «An intervention study on executive functions with pre- and primary school children with severe developmental disabilities» (PI: Törmänen, Roebers, Kontu; UH and University of Bern, CH).
- «Cognitive Interventions in Swiss Schools - Transfer effects and multidisciplinary perspectives» (PI: Studer, Törmänen, Margelisch & Perrig; University of Bern and UH).
- «Auditory - Visual Matching in Learning Disabilities: Intervention Studies from Finland and Sweden» (PI: Törmänen, Takala & Karma; UH and Sibelius Academy, FI)
3. Special Music Education: Cognitive Processing in Developmental Disabilities & Inclusion, Equality and Interaction
- «Music for All». Definitions and outlining of special music education in the framework of inclusive education (PI: Kontu, Törmänen, Pirttimaa, et al.; UH and University of Jyväskylä, FI).
Zeitschriftenartikel (peer-reviewed)
- (2024).The associations between mathematical skills, cognitive performance, and language background in elementary school children. a two-year follow-up study.Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research,1–15.
- (2022).Children’s inhibition skills are associated with their P3a latency – results from an exploratory study.Behavioral and Brain Functions,18,Article 13.
- (2022).Effects of Working Memory Training on Children’s Memory and Academic Performance: the Role of Training Task Features and Trainee’s Characteristics.Journal of Cognitive Enhancement.
- (2021).An early numeracy intervention for first graders at risk for mathematical learning difficulties.Early Childhood Research Quarterly,55(2nd Quarter),252–262.
- (2019).Multi-factorial approach to early numeracy—The effects of cognitive skills, language factors and kindergarten attendance on early numeracy performance of South African first graders.International Journal of Educational Research,97,65–76.
- (2018).Developmental outcomes of children in classes for special educational needs: Results from a longitudinal study.Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs,18(2),83–93.
- (2016).Early numeracy performance of South African school beginners.South African Journal of Childhood Education,6(1),Article 496.
Bücher und Buchbeiträge
- (2023).Inclusion and Special Needs Support for Immigrant Students in Finland.In N. Bahdanovich Hanssen, H. Harju-Luukkainen, & C. Sundqvist (Hrsg.),Inclusion and Special Needs Education for Immigrant Students in the Nordic CountriesRoutledge.
- (2011).Learning disabilities can be treated by a computer program based on auditory-visual matching.In T. P. Long, & L. R. Eifert (Hrsg.),Speech Processing and Auditory Processing Disorders: Causes, Diagnosis and TreatmentNova Science Publishers.
Weitere Publikationen
- (2023).Difficulties in reading and writing of the candidates of the Matriculation Examination. Difficulties in reading, writing and foreign languages as described in dyslexia diagnostic assessment reports of candidates.Acting as opponent in PhD Thesis, (1st of June 2022). Defendant: MA Liisa Vesterinen, University of Helsinki, Educational Sciences, Special Education, Finland.
- (2023).Lessons Learned from Horses. Three Pedagogical Interventions Promoting Well-being of Students with Special Educational Needs.Acting as opponent in PhD Thesis, (27th of January 2023). Defendant: MA Ritva Mickelsson, University of Helsinki, Educational Sciences, Special Education, Finland.
- (2019).Inclusive Education and Special Needs Education Governance in Europe: Scientific exchange for comparative analysis.EARLI SIG 15 – Special Educational Needs Newsletter,Volume 2,12–15.
- (2017).”Lasten kielten oppimiskyky”, Asiantuntijapyyntö HE 114/2017 VP, Hallituksen esitys eduskunnalle laiksi toisen kotimaisen kielen kokeilusta perusopetuksessa. [The Expert report for proposal of Finnish Government concerning the law of second obligatory language in Finnish school system at compulsory education HE 114/2017 VP. Title: Children’s ability to learn languages].A Requested Expert Report for Finnish Parliament, Committee for Education and Culture.
- (2017).Supporting learning and social cohesion through arts education. Interventions in Finnish schools.unbekannter Quelle.
- (2015).”Kielten oppimiskyky”, Asiantuntijakutsu M 2/2014 VP, Kansalaisaloite Ruotsin kielestä, [in English: The Human Ability to Learn Languages, Requested expert report and presentation concerning M 2/2014, A civil petition on compulsory Swedish language].A Requested Expert Report for Finnish Parliament, Committee for Education and Culture.
- (2015).ThinkMath-verkkopalvelu - tietoa ja harjoitusmateriaalia lasten matemaattisten ja ajattelun taitojen tukemiseen, [in English: ThinkMath Webservice – supporting children`s mathematical and thinking skills].Kielikukko,34(4),31–33.
Konferenzbeiträge
- The development of executive functions (EF) in pre-school aged children with early-term births from families with psychosocial stress. Longitudinal intervention study[Poster].European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction, EARLI, Special Needs Education SIG15 conference ,Valencia, Spain.
- Support from birth - the long-term effectiveness of “Parents as Teachers” program in families under psychosocial stress.[Poster].World Congress for Infant Mental Health, WAIMH, titled: ”Looking for the best care for babies, young children, and their families”,Tampere, Finland .
- Inclusion and special needs support for immigrant students in Finland: in symposium organized by Prof. Hanssen, N.B. “Inclusion and special needs education for immigrant students in the Nordic countries”, selected as being the NERA contribution at the AERA conference 2024.[Konferenzvortrag].AERA world conference 2024,Philidelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Scientific Exchange: Evidence-based development of inclusive schools.[Konferenzvortrag].Scientific Exchange: Evidence-based development of inclusive schools,University of Teacher Education in Special Needs, Zurich, (HfH), Switzerland .
- The development of Executive Functions with early term toddlers from families with psychosocial stress. Using Baileys Scale III as a measurement for executive functions in children between 0 and 3 years[Konferenzvortrag].Presentation in symposium “New procedures to assess Executive Function and predict learning outcome in Special Educational Needs”, EARLI Conference 2023,Thessaloniki, Greece.
- (2022).European perspectives on Inclusive Education and Special Needs Educational Governance.In Schweizerisches Zentrum für Heilpädagogik (Hrsg.),12. SZH Kongress, 6. September 2022.
- How early term birth and social burdens of the family are affecting on development of children`s executive functions? A longitudinal study between 0 and 3 years[Konferenzvortrag].Swiss Society for Early Childhood Research, Annual Meeting 2022: "Family well-being - moving on from the pandemic",Lausanne, Switzerland.
Andere Referate/Vorträge (im Berufsfeld, Vorlesung an Hochschule etc.)
- Organisation und Steuerung inklusiver Bildung.HfH Impuls,Zürich, Schweiz.
- Brain, learning and Music.Expert on a public program Finland Arena at Pori,Pori, Finland.
- Flerspråkighet, mångfald och social rättvisa i skolan [in English: Diversity, multilingualism, and social justice at school].Demonstration Lecture for position of Professor Educational Sciences,Helsinki, Finland.
- Multidisciplinäritet i specialpedagogik - ”Music for All” leder till inklusion, jämställdhet och interaktion? [in English: Multidisciplinary in Special Education – “Music for All” leading to inclusion, equality and interaction?].The 25th year jubilee for Special Education Program at Åbo Akademi University,Turku, Findland.
- Music and Learning.Expert on a public program at SuomiAreena (Finland 100 years Arena at Pori, Finland),Pori, Finland.
- Playful Learning in the Brain. Multi-disciplinary research project in early education, neuroscience and special education.Sino-Finnish collaboration seminar,Helsinki, Finland.
- The Human Ability to Learn Languages and Finnish language policy: Political issues concerning Finnish school system.Expert on a public program Finland Arena at Pori,Pori, Finland.
Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
- (2022, July 5).How students with dyslexia are managing at Finnish «Gymnasium»[Webseite].HfH, Institut für Professionalisierung und Systementwicklung.
- (2018, January 1).Paper in the Picture: Developmental outcomes of children in classes for special educational needs: Results from a longitudinal study.EARLI SIG 15 – Special Educational Needs Newsletter,1
- (2015, January 1)."ThinkMath": Ajattelun ja matemaattisten taitojen kehitystä tukeva verkkopalvelu esi- ja alkuopetusvaiheeseen, 2015 [in English: “ThinkMath": Web Service which produce teaching materials for educators to be used to support children’s (aged approximately 5-8 years) cognitive development, more precisely thinking and cognitive skills and mathematical skills].[Webseite].University of Helsinki.