Personal profile
Research Interests
Quality teaching, Didaktik, Writing pedagogy, L1 research, subject-specific didactics, digitalization, school research on primary, lower-secondary and upper-secondary education levels, environmental and sustainability education, ethnographic research, longitudinal studies, practice-oriented and systemic school research.Curriculum
See CVs on portals:
SDU: https://portal.findresearcher.sdu.dk/da/persons/nikolaj-elf
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikolaj-elf-8294b414/
Current external positions
Member of steering committee, Nordisk Netværk for Modersmålsdidaktisk Forskning (NNMF)
2014 → …
Keywords
- Subject-specific Theories of Teaching
- General Theories of Teaching
- IT and Learning
- Language and Education
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Research output
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Preface I: Shared Histories, Problems and Potentials of Welfare Professions and Education: Ethical and Sustainable Perspectives
Christensen, A.-M. S. & Elf, N., 2026, Professional Ethics in Welfare Work and Education Nordic Perspectives. Ribers, B. & Warring, N. (eds.). Taylor & Francis, p. xvii-xxiResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Preface/postscript › Research › peer-review
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Textual practices in Nordic Language Arts: What texts do teachers bring into the classroom, how are they enacted, and for what purposes?
Magnusson, C. G., Blikstad-Balas, M., Nissen, A., Hansen, T. I., Oddsdóttir, R., Elf, N., Tengberg, M. & Gabrielsen, I. L., 2026, Investigating Teaching Quality through Video Capture: Equity and Quality in Nordic Classrooms. Klette, K., Gudmundsdatter Magnusson, C. & Örn Sigurjónsson, J. (eds.). Cham: Springer, p. 143-166Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research › peer-review
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Vi har en historisk mulighed for at få bæredygtighed med i de nye fagplaner
Elf, N., Skovgaard, T., Jensen, N. J., Lange, D., Andreas, D. & Ravn-Pedersen, T., 19. Mar 2026, In: Folkeskolen.Research output: Contribution to journal › Contribution to newspaper - Comment/debate
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Conceptions and dimensions of quality in environmental and sustainability education
Brückner, M., Lysgaard, J. A., Elf, N. & Reid, A., Dec 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Environmental Education Research. p. 1-38Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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Conceptualising and (re)modelling ESE teaching quality
Lysgaard, J. A., Elf, N., Laugesen, M.H.-L., Brückner, M. & Reid, A., 2025.Research output: Contribution to conference without publisher/journal › Paper › Research › peer-review
Activities
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Fagplaner i Fagfornyelsen – med fokus på danskfaget og LIFE
Elf, N. (Guest lecturer)
7. Apr 2026Activity: Talks and presentations › Talks and presentations in private or public companies
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Grundtankerne i fagplanen for dansk – med afsæt i regeringens Kvalitetsprogram, Fagfornyelsen og arbejdet med at lave fagplan for dansk
Elf, N. (Speaker)
Jan 2026Activity: Talks and presentations › Conference presentations
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Bæredygtig skoleudvikling?: Om legitimiteten af lederes facilitering af læreres arbejde med bæredygtighed i skolens undervisning
Laugesen, M.H.-L. (Guest lecturer) & Elf, N. (Speaker)
14. Nov 2025Activity: Talks and presentations › Conference presentations
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The Sustainable school lives project: Research vision, infrastructures and practices about, with and for sustainable school lives
Elf, N. (Lecturer)
29. Oct 2025Activity: Talks and presentations › Guest lectures, external teaching and course activities at other universities
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Redesigning L1 Education: Nordic research and development, and how it may impact curricular processes in Denmark and beyond
Elf, N. (Lecturer)
28. Oct 2025Activity: Talks and presentations › Guest lectures, external teaching and course activities at other universities
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Cultivated Wilderness
Bahadori, M. (PhD student), Elf, N. (Co-PI) & Laugesen, M.H.-L. (Project participant)
01/01/2026 → 31/12/2028
Project: Research
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ClimateBlue: ClimateBlue: Co-creating climate adaptation in coastal zones
Mernild, S. (PI), Jaffari, S. D. (Project manager), Tomej, K. (Coordinator), Autzen, C. (Project participant), Quintana, C. O. (In charge of work packages), Löscher, C. (Project participant), Schlangen, I. (Project participant), Iversen, S. M. (Project participant), Rasmussen, L. T. (Project participant), Kaarsted, T. (Project participant), Julia Priess-Buchheit , J. (Co-PI), Sørensen, C. (Project participant), Lyse Brandt, A. (Project participant), Bange, H. W. (Project participant), Hansen , H. H. (Project participant), Philipsen, H. (Project participant), Elf, N. (Project participant), Bechshøft, T. Ø. (Project participant), Niesel, D. (In charge of work packages), Knudsen, A. S. (Project participant), von Oesen, M. (Project participant), Vindum, J. (Project participant), Gediehn, L. (In charge of work packages), Fehling, D. (Project participant), Lund, S. (Project participant), Holmegaard, L. (Project participant), Rominikan , S. (Project participant), Negev, G. (Project participant), Harboe, L. M. S. (Project participant), Skovgaard, P. N. (Project participant), Brønsbæk, K. H. (Project participant), Nielsen, M. H. (Student Assistant), Olesen, V. O. V. (Student Assistant), Kjærsgaard, M. (Project participant) & Lenskjold, T. U. (Project participant)
01/03/2025 → 29/02/2028
Project: EU
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Writer identity and writing development in grades 6-7: An explorative study of student writing in Danish as a school subject [Skriveridentitet og skriveudvikling i 6.-7. klasse]
Elf, N. (PI), Christensen, V. (Co-PI), Troelsen, S. (Project participant) & Molbæk, L. (Project participant)
01/09/2024 → 31/08/2027
Project: Research Councils
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CUHRE: Elite Centre CUHRE
Paulsen, M. (PI), Elf, N. (Co-PI), Andersen, D. R. (Coordinator), Qvortrup, A. (Co-PI), Iversen, S. M. (Co-PI), Svabo, C. (Co-PI), Emontspool, J. (Co-PI), Feldt, L. (Co-PI), Frank, S. (Co-PI), Rosenbæk Reetz, K. E. (Project participant), Philipsen, H. (Project participant), Hejl, C. D. K. (Project participant), Nøjgaard, M. Ø. (Project participant), Nielsen, A. G. (PhD student), Bahadori, M. (PhD student), Brückner, M. (PhD student), Nielsen, M. B. (PhD student), Laugesen, M.H.-L. (Project participant), Skiveren, T. (Project participant), Borch, K. B. (PhD student), Henriksen, M. P. (PhD student), Wolsing, P. (Project participant), Graulund, R. (Project participant), Christensen, T. S. (Project participant), Andersson, R. (Project participant), Klausen, S. H. (Project participant), Andersen, M. E. (Project participant), Christiansen, J. L. (Project participant), Staffeldt, D. C. V. (PhD student), Grønning, A. (Project participant), Govindan, K. (Project participant) & Skovsgaard, M. (Project participant)
01/06/2023 → 31/05/2027
Project: Research
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Nordic basic schools as past, present and future sites for solving the challenges of making diverse inclusive knowledge-based societies
Elf, N. (Project participant), Sahlström, F. (PI), Nilsberth, M. (Co-PI), Asplund, S.-B. (Project participant), From, T. (Project participant), Hansen, J. J. (Project participant), Laihonen, P. (Project participant), Prieto, H. P. (Project participant), Rusk, F. (Project participant) & Samuelsson, J. (Project participant)
01/04/2022 → 01/04/2026
Project: Research
Press/Media
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Naturvidenskab er for vigtig til at overlade til naturfagene: Fond bag forløb til humanistiske fag
26/02/2026
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Professionshøjskoler og universitet får millioner til at udvikle nyt dannelsesbegreb
09/02/2026
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
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HistorieLab og partnere skal udvikle nyt dannelsesbegreb på tværs af naturfag, dansk, historie og samfundsfag
05/02/2026
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Idéhistorie med nøglerolle i nyt forskningsprojekt, der skal gentænke dannelse
04/02/2026
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Teaching to the test Hvad står der i Folkeskolens kvalitetsprogram om prøver og karakterer?
05/11/2025
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
Prizes
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Shortlisted for the UKLA Academic Book Award 2018
Elf, N. F. (Recipient), Feb 2018
Prize: Prizes, scholarships, distinctions
Teaching & Supervision
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Master i Gymnasiepædagogik - 3. semester
Piekut, A., Drejer, S. N., Høegh, T., Elf, N., Qvortrup, A. & Bøje, J. 18/08/2025 → 19/12/2025
Course: Teaching and supervision › Teaching
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Ph.d.-kurset Skrivning i ph.d.-forløb - processer og produkter
Elf, N. 25/02/2025 → 08/10/2025
Course: Teaching and supervision › Teaching
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Ph.d.-kurset Fag, skole og profession
Elf, N. 15/01/2025 → 16/01/2025
Course: Teaching and supervision › Teaching
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Master i Gymnasiepædagogik - 3. semester
Høegh, T., Piekut, A., Qvortrup, A., Bøje, J. & Elf, N. 14/08/2023 → 19/12/2024
Course: Teaching and supervision › Teaching
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Ph.d.-bivejleder for Elin Aaness, ph.d.-stipendiat ved Universitetet i Nordland, Norge
Elf, N. 01/06/2021 → 31/12/2023
Course: Teaching and supervision › Supervision