This autumn, three new PhD students joined our research group as part of the launch of LärA-AI, a new research school exploring how generative artificial intelligence is affecting teachers’ work environment and professional role. Cora Ljunggren Axelsson is the last of them to be introduced here.
Welcome to the HTO group, Cora! Can you briefly introduce yourself and your background?
I am interested in understanding human needs and how people’s identities and ways of acting are shaped by changing conditions. With a background in Human-Computer Interaction, Behavioural Science and some experience at the Teacher Education Programme, I am particularly interested in keeping people in focus and understanding what shapes their judgements and decisions.
What made you apply to the graduate school?
Doing a PhD has been a dream of mine for a long time, and I have always been drawn to the opportunity to tackle scientific problems and work with others to turn fragmented information into a coherent whole. The theme of the graduate school brings together several of my academic interests, and I found the focus on teachers’ experiences especially important. Teachers are the ones navigating these changes in their everyday work.
The social aspect of the graduate school was also an important factor in my decision to apply, as I value the opportunity to discuss and share ideas with people approaching similar questions from different backgrounds. I look forward to learning from each other and seeing how our different perspectives can complement each other.
What is your focus at the graduate school?
My research focuses on how teachers experience their autonomy and professional judgement in the context of GenAI, and how gendered norms and expectations may influence these experiences. More broadly, I am interested in the human side of decision-making, how people make sense of changing conditions and what creates motivation to act. GenAI is changing the conditions of teaching practice, but people ultimately shape what these changes mean in practice.
What do you hope your research will contribute to?
I hope my research will contribute to a better understanding of teachers’ situations and the challenges they face when navigating GenAI in education. GenAI is introducing new demands into teaching practices, while the direction of future developments remains uncertain. At the same time, research on AI is expanding and new policies and guidelines are continuosly being introduced, creating further changes that teachers need to navigate.
When you’re not working, what do you like to do in your free time?
I sing in a choir, which I enjoy both for the social aspect and the feeling of being part of a community creating something together. To stimulate my brain even more (as if reading for a PhD were not enough), I also enjoy reading fiction with my book club. As a contrast to the intellectual side of work, I find being physically active a good way to switch off, especially when so much of the work happens in your head. You can therefore find me running and skiing, both downhill and cross-country.