معرفی
Maile Käsper (born November 29, 1988) is currently a Lecturer of Teacher Education at the Institute of Educational Sciences, Tallinn University, a position she has held since 2023. Previously, she served as a Visiting Lecturer at Tallinn University (2021-2023) and as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Tartu (2021). She earned her Doctoral Degree in 2021 from the University of Tartu with a dissertation on supporting primary school students' text comprehension and reading interest through teaching strategies, supervised by Krista Uibu and Jaan Mikk.
Education:
- PhD in Education, University of Tartu (2014-2021)
- MA in Primary School Teacher Education, University of Tartu (2008-2013)
- Secondary Education, Paide Gymnasium (1996-2008)
Dr. Käsper's research program centers on the cognitive and pedagogical aspects of reading comprehension in primary education. Her work systematically investigates how specific teaching strategies influence both reading outcomes and students' intrinsic motivation to read. She has developed a comprehensive framework connecting language semantics with text comprehension, demonstrating how semantic knowledge development serves as a foundation for deeper textual understanding. Her recent work has expanded to address contemporary educational challenges including crisis education during the pandemic, linguistic diversity in classrooms, and the integration of technology in teaching practices.
Her publication pattern reveals an evolution from foundational research on word semantics and text comprehension to broader investigations of sustainable educational processes, particularly for vulnerable student populations. The most recent publications show increasing attention to practical classroom applications, teacher training, and the adaptation of educational approaches to rapidly changing social contexts including refugee integration and AI-assisted learning.
Scientific Recognition:
- Supervised master's thesis awarded 2nd place in student research competition for educational innovations (2025)
- Course author for "Studying in Higher Education" which received e-course quality mark from Estonian Agency for Quality in Education (2025)
Dr. Käsper actively contributes to academic governance as Chair of the Thesis Defense Committee for the Class Teacher Master's Program (2025) and through participation in entrance examination committees. She has supervised multiple master's theses, with one receiving notable recognition. Her collaborative research project "Preparing assistant teachers and enhancing their availability for schools and preschools" (2023) received 62,500 EUR funding from the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research. She has also developed significant educational resources including the learning object "The importance of self-management and metacognition in the development of entrepreneurial competences" and has contributed to textbook reviews for Koolibri Publishing House.