Marit Kjærnsli

Marit Kjærnsli is a Professor in the Department of Teacher Education and School Research at the University of Oslo's Faculty of Educational Sciences. With a career spanning nearly two decades of research in science education, she has established herself as a leading expert in PISA studies and inquiry-based science teaching methodologies. Her work primarily focuses on understanding the relationship between teaching approaches and student outcomes in science education.

Dr. Kjærnsli's research interests center on science education, particularly inquiry-based teaching methods, student attitudes toward science, and educational assessment. She has conducted extensive research on how teaching practices affect student achievement, interest, and enjoyment in science subjects. Her work often examines the implementation of inquiry-based approaches in primary and lower-secondary schools, identifying both the opportunities and challenges teachers face when adopting these methods. She has also investigated practical activities in science classrooms and how they can enhance student engagement and academic depth.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on empirical studies of science teaching quality, with particular attention to video-based classroom observations. Her research demonstrates consistent engagement with international comparative studies, especially PISA data, while maintaining a strong Norwegian context. She frequently collaborates with researchers across Nordic countries, contributing to regional educational research initiatives.

Throughout her career, Dr. Kjærnsli has been actively involved in major PISA assessment cycles, contributing to Norwegian reports and analyses since at least 2006. She has served as editor for several significant publications related to science education and has consistently published in high-impact journals in the field of science education research.