Minna Lakkala

Ph.D., Title of Docent (Adjunct Professor) in Educational Psychology

1986 …2025

Research activity per year

Personal profile

Description of research and teaching

I am an adjunct professor (Title of Docent in Educational Psychology) at the University of Helsinki and do research in the Technology in Education Research Group. I am also a partner and pedagogical expert in a small company Heuristica Oy. My background is in general psychology and computer science with an extensive experience of consultation and teacher training in the educational use of ICT for over 30 years. I have published several articles, book chapters and reports nationally and internationally. My doctoral thesis (2010) focussed on teachers' practices in scaffolding and organizing students' technology-enhanced collaborative inquiry. I have participated in large national (Educational technology projects of Helsinki and Espoo cities, OPTEK, ProWo, CLiC, ARONI, Opettajana virtuaaliluokassa, dLearn.Helsinki) and international (Netd@ys, ITCOLE, P2P, Celebrate, Ernist, KP-Lab, FICTUP, Linked, KNORK, HEFSESE, HEI ICI PARFORM, DETECT, iHub4Schools, SELFIEforTEACHERS case studies) research and development projects concerning the use of technology at schools and universities. My research interests:

  • Evaluating pedagogical design solutions in implementing collaborative inquiry and knowledge creation practices in schools and universities.
  • Designing pedagogical infrastructures for collaborative inquiry and knowledge practices in educational settings; see my doctoral thesis.
  • Pedagogy for building students’ knowledge work and global competencies.
  • Modelling and evaluating the features and practices of innovative, progressive school in multiple levels.
  • Expertise of teachers in pedagogical usage of ICT.

External positions

Partner & CSO, TeamFluent Oy

20202024

Partner & Chairman of the Board, Heuristica Oy

1987 → …

Fields of Science

  • 515 Psychology
  • Psychology
  • 516 Educational sciences
  • Educational sciences

International and National Collaboration

Publications and projects within past five years.