University of Lapland

About: University of Lapland is a education organization based out in Rovaniemi, Finland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Arctic & Context (language use). The organization has 665 authors who have published 1870 publications receiving 39129 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Rovaniemi & Lapin yliopisto.

Older people’s use and learning of new media: a case study on remote rural villages in Finnish Lapland

Abstract: People aged 65+ generally use new media technologies less, in less mobile ways, and for less versatile purposes than younger age groups do. This has raised concerns about older people’s potential exclusion from the digital society. In this paper we present a case study on how older people, who were living in small rural villages in Finnish Lapland, use new media in their everyday lives. According to the participants, how do they use new media in their everyday lives? How do they learn to use new media? Our results point to the diversity in terms of the participants’ self-reported Internet use and related skills. The results also indicate that the participants’ social networks, especially grandchildren, play a more important role in their use of and learning about new media technologies than formal instruction does. Therefore, it is important to recognize that older people who lack social networks are most vulnerable in terms of being excluded from the digital society.

Reindeer herders from subarctic Finland exhibit high total energy expenditure and low energy intake during the autumn herd roundup

Abstract: OBJECTIVE High levels of total energy expenditure (TEE, kcal/day) have been documented among numerous human populations such as tropical climate horticulturalists and high-altitude agriculturalists. However, less work has been conducted among highly physically active cold climate populations. METHODS In October 2018, TEE was measured using the doubly labeled water (TEEDLW , N = 10) and flex-heart rate methods (TEEHR , N = 24) for 6-14 days among reindeer herders (20-62 years) in northern Finland during an especially physically demanding, but not seasonally representative, period of the year for herders-the annual reindeer herd roundup. Self-reported dietary intake was also collected during TEE measurement periods. TEE was then compared to that of hunter gatherer, farming, and market economies. RESULTS During the herd roundup, herders expended a mean of 4183 ± 949 kcal/day as measured by the DLW method, which was not significantly different from TEEHR . Mean caloric intake was 1718 ± 709 kcal/day, and was significantly lower than TEEDLW and TEEHR (p < .001). Herder TEEDLW was significantly higher than that of hunter gatherer (p = .0014) and market (p < .0014) economy populations; however, herder TEEDLW was not different from that of farming populations (p = .91). CONCLUSION High TEE and low caloric intake among herders reflect the extreme demands placed on herders during the annual herd round up. Although TEEDLW was similar between cold climate herders and hot climate farming populations, there are likely differences in how that TEE is comprised, reflecting the local ecologies of these populations.

Tourism at the Crossroads of Contesting Paradigms of Arctic Development

Abstract: Tourism, like oil and gas development, has made the Arctic a hub of industrial activity. A lot of Arctic tourism is built around nostalgic ideas of frontier expeditions, creating curiosity for a sparsely or uninhabited and untamed environment, enriched by special treats such as Aurora Borealis, whale-watching, and other fruits of nature that professional tourism operators aspire to turn into safe and luxurious experiences. The perceived weakening of the presence of indigenous peoples and their cultures, as well as unspoiled nature has led to these becoming objects of tourist desire. Imaginaries, spread through media and social networks, create a rush due to a growing awareness of “last-chance-to-see” landscapes.

Good Teachers and Good Teacher Educators: A Glance at the Current Teacher Education in Finland

Abstract: In this article, our purpose is to discuss two perspectives of the current teacher education: teacher selection and teacher education in their pursuit of preparing good teachers at Finnish universities. How to define a good teacher? How to educate good teachers? The core question is how to draw from the history of teacher education and combine the new knowledge to serve the current demands of the profession in the best possible manner.