Emotions matter for learning – but how can we conceptualize and work with emotions in our teaching?

Johanna Lönngren (UMU)

Abstract: 

Emotion researchers use a wide range of conceptualizations of emotions, each of which provides a unique entry point for exploring the role of emotions in STEM education. In this seminar, I will briefly introduce some of the most common conceptualizations of emotions, which will then serve as a background for discussing what and when emotions can support or hinder learning in STEM. Drawing on our ongoing research on engineering students’ emotions in sustainability learning, I will especially focus on students’ emotional responses to epistemic challenges (e.g., uncertainty, ambiguity) and on ways in which teachers can provide emotional support to help students deal with such challenges.