Join participants who traveled on an ISSN International Study Tour to Finland this spring to learn about their experiences meeting with the University of Helsinki, Ministry of Education, National Board of Education, and visiting local schools. Panelists will share their key take-aways from this professional learning experience and lead informal discussion based on these main themes.
2. Re-Cap of IBnerary
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
University of
Helsinki - Welcome
Dr. Kirsi Ke)ula,
Head of
Transna4onal
Educa4on
Evalua:on and
assessment of
Finnish pupils
Ms Najat Ouakrim-
Soivio, PhD
The Ministry of
Educa4on
Visit to Kilonpuisto
Comprehensive
School
Visit to the
Kasavuori School in
the City of
Kauniainen
Cultural Immersion
– Visit to
Suomenlinna
Department of
Teacher Educa:on -
Teacher Educa/on
in Finland
Dr. Heidi Krzywacki,
Associate Professor
Visit to the Playful
Learning Centre of
the Department of
Teacher Educa:on
Visit to the Na:onal
Board of Educa:on -
Global approach in
teaching and
learning in Finland
Paula MaGla,
Counsellor of
Educa4on
University of
Helsinki – Debrief
Dr. Kirsi Ke)ula,
Head of
Transna4onal
Educa4on
3. Look Fors/Group’s QuesBons
§ What is it that Finland does that I can actually implement within the parameters that principals control?
§ Teacher prepara4on – what supports are in place for teachers to be truly ready?
§ Struggling students – what does Finland do with students who are coming from other educa4on systems
who haven’t come up through the Finnish system (especially refugees)?
§ How are the school days structured?
§ How does the homework situa4on func4on? How does it work to have so li)le homework?
§ Personaliza4on from students’ perspec4ve – what does it look like?
§ Consistency and con4nuity of teacher performance over years – how to keep teachers performing well
year over year and maintaining a low a)ri4on rate.
§ Inclusion structure – what are the supports for all students to be included in mainstream?
§ Non-tes4ng culture.
§ What data does Finland collect on students.
§ What is next for Finland’s educa4on system?
§ The world is looking at Finland but who is Finland looking at for innova4ve ideas?
§ System-level - How does govt policy relate to teacher prepara4on and school prac4ce?
§ Integra4on of global competence.
§ Accountability – how does it work when teachers hold themselves accountable (innate rather than
external)?