Call for special issue papers

Pedagogical content knowledge and subject didactics in LUMA (STEM) teacher education

LUMAT invites researchers, practitioners, and educators to contribute to the upcoming Special Issue on "Pedagogical content knowledge and subject didactics in LUMA (STEM) teacher education".

This special issue will focus on the current status of the LUMA (STEM/STEAM) teacher in-training and in-field connections. The focus is on implementation of pedagogical developments and methodologies on subject knowledge and competences, as well as everyday educational practices and implementations, curriculum development and quality assurance methodologies in connection with LUMA (STEM) teacher training. Developing LUMA education and teaching requires investing in teaching methods, such as more student-specific models, phenomenon and theme-based models, inquiry-based teaching and learning methods, as well as teachers' good command of pedagogical skills and their own LUMA competence, for example in the new developments in applied and basic research in their subjects of teaching.

Key themes

We welcome submissions exploring the following topics:

  1. Pedagogical LUMA practices and inquiries in pre-school and primary school teacher education
  2. Pedagogical LUMA practices and inquiries in subject teacher education in natural sciences, mathematics and technology
  3. Innovative LUMA teacher training models for higher education educators
  4. New approaches and implementations for LUMA teacher professional development initiatives
  5. Pedagogical innovations in the LUMA field in vocational (VET) teacher training

  6. All papers submitted should be in collaboration with Finnish teacher educators or researchers, or studies connected with the development of the Finnish teacher education practices.

Expected contributions

This special issue aims to advance academic discourse by showcasing innovative research, best practices, and empirical studies on and in Finnish science, technology, and mathematics teacher education. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers, educators, and practitioners, this issue will provide insights into experiential learning, activating and learner-based education, as well as new means of teaching and learning in the digital age. The Special Issue is to showcase the diversity, innovativeness and quality in the Finnish LUMA (STEM) teacher education. Ultimately, it seeks to contribute to the evolving landscape of teacher education reflecting the international and national STEM strategies and the needs of improvement and attractiveness for future multidisciplinary subject teacher education in the changing and complex world.

Guidelines

  • The special issue is published in LUMAT-B (non-reviewed journal).
  • Articles can be written in Finnish, Swedish or English. For all articles abstracts written in English is requested.
  • The special issue can contain reviewed scientific papers, which are then published in LUMAT-A in its general issue.
  • The abstract and link to the reviewed research paper are included in the Special Issue in LUMAT-B.
  • Please visit https://journals.helsinki.fi/lumatb/about/submissions to learn more about the submissions and author guidelines. For LUMAT-A level research articles, please follow these instructions
  • Submission due date for all papers intended for the Special Issue is 31.12.2025.
  • After the due date we will implement continuous publication model.
  • Article publication charge: 0 €.

Editorial team

Guest editors

Prof. Jan Lundell, University of Helsinki, Finland
Dr. Mervi Asikainen, University of Eastern Finland, Finland
Dr. Sari Harmoinen, University of Oulu, Finland,
Prof. Maija Aksela, University of Helsinki, Finland

Editorial assistant

Dr. Johannes Pernaa, University of Helsinki, Finland