Marianna Sydänmaanlakka

Finland - US

Comparisons

WHO AM I ?

Marianna Sydänmaanlakka, Guidance Counselor, Leader of the learning environment project

Sotunki General Upper Secondary School, Sotunki Distance Learning CenterCity of Vantaa, Finland

Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching, University of Maryland, Fall 2012

My Family

• Experiences and observations by my kids

Recess

Recess – enhancing learning

• 45min lessons – 15min recess after every lesson• Elementary: everybody has to go out regardless of weather

• Middle: students usually stay inside

• Upper sec: length varies from school to school

Tenetin koulu, Sotkamo, Northern FinlandTenet School, Sotkamo, Northern Finland

Assessment – testing – evaluating

• Teacher responsible to give/make assessments • No standardised testing– Some national tests (9th grade english+math), but no

ranking lists • National final exams at the end of 12th grade.• Tests regularly, but not as often as here.• Homework is checked with the whole class, not

evaluated.

Said by my kids

“Well, here they

seem to

concentrate more

on testing than

learning”

“It feels strange

not to have to

produce anything

on your own”

“Why do they use so much multiple

choices? You don’t have to think so

much when you always have the

alternatives…”

Matriculation celebration at Sotunki, spring 2012

Evaluation – self-evaluation

• Kids get report cards twice a year

• Many elementary schools only evaluate soft skills and working skills

• Learn to evaluate yourself !

• 9th grade GPA: apply to upper secondary school

• 12th grade matriculation exams

Textbooks

Text books

• Written by teachers• Age approriate• Thin !

“Here the books are like

encyclopedias – it’s

overwhelming to try to

study…. They are not

engaging.”

Instructions

• In Finland: only general instructions in the classroom and for homework or projects

• Keep it simple and let the students create and think for themselves!

“They have killed the fun of

group projects!”

CONTROL RESPONSIBILITY TRUST

Trusting the student and the teacher is a starting point

Control vs. responsibility

• In Finland the students are trusted to do their homework, dress accordingly and behave appropriately

• No detailed rules• Freedom to play, study and take your own

meal….

Teachers

Teaching profession is highly appreciated in Finland

• In Finland: – No inspections– Collaborative planning– Professional development about 50hrs annually

• Seems to be much less paperwork than here• Accountability (?)

Some other discussion topics

• Special education• Vocational education• Equality in education

“The object of teaching a child is to enable him to get along without a teacher.”

― Elbert HubbardAn American writer, publisher, artist and philosopher

“[Kids] don't remember what you try to teach them. They remember what you are.”

― Jim “The Muppet” Henson, It's Not Easy Being Green: And Other Things to Consider