Countries all over the world look up to Finland because it's known for having a successful education system, and yet the nation is on a mission to change the traditional system of teaching and learning. Here's what they have planned out: (via independent.co.uk)
- "Teaching by topic" instead of "teaching by subject"
They're slowly getting rid of the idea of subject-specific lessons, like history and geography. Instead, they want to focus more on, say, "cafeteria services" for someone taking up a vocational course (which involves lessons in math, languages, writing, and communication skills), or topics such as the European Union for the more academic students (which will focus more on the history of the countries invloved as well as languages and geography).
- Diferrent teacher-student approach
Instead of the usual set up where students sit in the classroom while the teachers discuss the lesson or call on them for questions, the country is gearing towards a different approach when it comes to teaching and gaining knowledge. The students get to collaborate and work together to solve problems in small groups with fellow students and at the same time improve their communication skills.
This is all because they're preparing the students for the working life in the modern world.
"There are schools that are teaching in the old fashioned way which was of benefit in the beginnings of the 1900s, but the needs are not the same and we need something fit for the 21st century." - Marjo Kyllonen, education manager at Helsinki
With 70% of the Helsinki's high school teachers trained, it's without a doubt happening in 2020.
