Uppeldi og menntun - 01.01.2014, Side 88

Uppeldi og menntUn/icelandic JoUrnal of edUcation 23(1) 201488
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Kolbrún Þ. Pálsdóttir (kolbrunp@hi.is) er lektor við tómstunda- og félagsmálafræði-
braut við Menntavísindasvið Háskóla Íslands. Hún lauk bakkalárprófi í heimspeki
árið 1997, meistaranámi í uppeldis- og menntunarfræði árið 2001 og doktorsprófi í
menntunarfræðum árið 2012, öllu frá Háskóla Íslands. Rannsóknarsvið Kolbrúnar eru
frístundaheimili, formlegt og óformlegt nám, siðfræði og fagmennska, og samstarf í
skóla- og frístundastarfi.
The emergence and importance of the field of leisure
studies in Iceland: Perspectives articles
abstract
In this Perspectives section, four authors present current status of leisure studies, one
of the youngest fields of research and teaching at the University of Iceland. Kolbrun
Th. Palsdottir, the co-editor of the section, argues that leisure-time pedagogy should be
considered an integral part of the school´s pedagogy, as after-school care has become
part of the school-day for young school children. Kolbrún points out the importance
of integrating informal learning methods, which emphasize the activities and self-
control of the learner, within the formal school environment. Ultimately, individuals
are responsible for their own learning process and need the opportunity to develop
all their capabilities.
In her article, Vanda Sigurgeirsdottir introduces the concept of leisure education
which aims at enhancing the quality of life through leisure, facilitating maximal
leisure well-being and helping persons develop skills to successfully use their free
time to their own benefit. Research shows that people are not born with a natural ten-
dency to successfully use their free time. On the contrary, people often develop nega-
tive habits, such as alcohol and drug abuse, overeating or gambling addictions which
affect their quality of life and are costly for society. Also leisure barriers hinder var-
ious groups of people from participating in leisure activities. Vanda Sigurgeirsdottir
concludes that leisure education should be part of school education and should also
be applied in institutions for vulnerable groups, such as prisoners, the elderly and
disabled people.
In the third article, Jakob Frimann Thorsteinsson outlines the beginning and trans-
formation of the programme of Leisure Studies at the University of Iceland. This initia-
tive began as a response to an increase of youth and leisure activities in municipalities
and at the grass root level. In 2001 the Iceland University of Education launched a
diploma programme in leisure studies, which was a part of the Department of Sport
and Health. From 2003 the programme became an independent field of study in which
students could earn a bachelor´s degree. Students attain knowledge of the value,