True Interaction Project research study on Mother-Daughter communication in Finland, Romania, Turkey and Italy presented at Educational Sciences conference at the University of Rovaniemi, Finland 25.11.2010

Sastamala College Open University coordinator Mr Kari Kotiranta spoke at the annual Finnish Educational Sciences conference at the University of Rovaniemi http://www.ulapland.fi/Suomeksi/Ajankohtaista/Tapahtumat/Tapahtumia_2010/Kasvatustieteen_paivat_2010.iw3 on "Mother-Daughter Communication in Italy, Romania, Finland and Turkey" on 25.11.2010. His paper is attached in Finnish in the following address:

http://trueinteraction.posterous.com/true-interaction-tutkimus-esitelty-rovaniemen

A photo album and an English summary on the paper are following for the project consortium.

True Interaction Project research study paper presented at the University of Pitesti, Romania 9.10.2010

Sastamala Community College Open University Coordinator Mr Kari Kotiranta presented a study on Mother-Daughter meaning relationships at a psychology conference at the University of Pitesti, Romania October 9th, 2010. This study is based on information gathered in True Interaction project. The co-author of this study is Ms Alina Cucu from our True Interaction Romanian partner institution in Onesti.

The study can be found here:
http://trueinteraction.posterous.com/project-research-study-paper-university-of-pi 

Web album:  http://picasaweb.google.com/K.J.Kotiranta/EduWorld2010?authkey=Gv1sRgCJbboez90q7jNg&feat=email#

Finland TI activities: Make up & Health course for Mothers and Daughters

Another True Interaction Project Course took place at Sastamalan Opisto (Sastamala Community College): Make-up course for mothers and daughters.

The course instructor was a Sastamala college teacher, a dance teacher and a beautician Mrs Marianne Laitala. This course was one of a series of Sastamala college courses for mothers and daughters between 13-18 years. During the course both the mother and the daughter had a chance to test what kind of make-up would suit them best. The course was specifically aimed at young daughters, who are just starting to do make-up. One aim of the course was to increase mother-daughter interaction and learning from each other.

Teacher's comments from the course:

"Working together in pairs liberated rethinking everyday life and this time in a completely new area [doing make-up]. The daughters saw her mother as a woman - and not as the domina in the family."
"... Also, the mothers learned to see to the future womanhood of her daughter => adoption process to acceptance started."

Photos: Mr Ilari Mehtonen

Photo album:

http://picasaweb.google.com/tuijamh/TrueInteractionMakeUpCourseSCC#

Finland TI activities: Photography Course II for Mothers and Daughters

The second True Interaction Mother-Daughter Photography course was held 16.9.-14.10.2010 (15 lessons) with four mother-daughter pairs participating. 

Course Description:  The course is designed for mothers and adolescent daughters. We study the use of digital cameras, imaging technology and also image and photo processing. The photos taken on this course will be published in project dissemination. 

Course Goal:  The course aims to increase mutual understanding and respect between a mother and her daugher as well as learning from each other through a shared activity. 

The two web album  photos are all taken by the course participants themselves.

Teacher's observations during the course (Teacher Mr Ilari Mehtonen):

"The liberation of social restrictions culminated in the portraiture photos. No unfiltered instructions of taking the photos or being photographed were saved from either side. The motherhood of mothers and the puberty of daughters was realized in action - in a positive spirit. A lot can be seen in the photos, even though time was very limited. All this artwork - this footage material - is designed and taken by the the course participants themselves.The common photography projects according to a certain theme directed to communicate and reflect through images and oral expression - perhaps some of those things being out of discussion in everyday life.” 

Here are some verbal reflections on the motives of the images by the participants: 

"I like my mother's ears because she listens."

"I like my daughter's toes because they are curved in the same way as mine. That always makes me remember to think that she is my daughter."

"I like my daughter when she is doing her homework."

"I like it when she plays music."

“During the course we thought of and discussed the elements of a good photograph and studied the technical principles of a camera as an automated device. We analyzed the theme photos and tested the effect of image processing to the photos taken. Two out of the four pairs bought new camera equipment as the course went along - the other two said that they will be acquiring new optics as a result of the discussions during the course. This spare time activity bringing the mother and the daughter closer together therefore continues in time and deepends."

Photo albums:

http://picasaweb.google.com/tuijamh/TrueInteractionPhotographyCourseIISCC#

http://picasaweb.google.com/tuijamh/TrueInteractionPhotographyCourseIISCC02#