Frida Skagerström Olsson

About Frida Skagerström Olsson

Biography

Frida Olsson is a lecturer specialising in art and is affiliated with the Research in Science Education unit at the MTM Research Centre, Örebro University. She is a member of the STEAM Education research group at the university’s School of Science and Technology, where she works to make traditional STEM education more holistic by incorporating creativity and aesthetics.

In 2020, she participated in a research project on drawing as a tool for learning led by Sofie Areljung at Umeå University. The project, Rita för att lära och lära sig att rita i lågstadiets NO-undervisning, was a collaboration between Örebro University and Umeå University. Its aim was to develop knowledge about how and why drawing can contribute to teaching and learning in primary school science education. The project also led Frida Olsson to conduct her own study based on existing material from the research project, A Mosquito Wing: A Study of Primary School Pupils’ Investigation of a Mosquito Wing Supported by Drawing.

As a result of her interest in drawing in science education, she has also led one of the regional collaboration platform for education RUC’s network meetings on science education research and practice.

Teaching

Frida Olsson teaches in the Early Years and Primary Education programmes, as well as within the government CPD initiative Lärarlyftet for prospective teachers of science and technology. She is the course coordinator for courses in early years education.

Previously, she taught mathematics and arts for pupils in grades 7–9 and worked as an atelierista across a number of local collaborating preschools. In that role, two of her main responsibilities were to provide professional development for practicing preschool teachers and childcare workers in aesthetic forms of expression and aesthetic learning processes, and to work directly with children in studio-based educational activities.

Collaboration and academic assignments

Drawing on her interest in STEAM education, Frida Olsson has been invited to give presentations at events including Swedish Science Centers’ National Conference 2025. She has also contributed to the development of the teacher’s guide for the Swedish educational broadcasting company UR Play’s educational series on inventions, Förstå och hitta på – uppfinningar, with the aim of inspiring pupils and stimulating their interest in learning more about STEM subjects.

At the international research conference PATT43 (Pupils’ Attitudes Toward Technology), she presented a study on technological literacy and understanding together with Ulrika

Sultan and Erik Sjöstedt, exploring art as a pedagogical approach in technology education.