“Every day we lead the nation into the future with our words and actions simply because we are teaching the future of our nation.” Chipwood, Time to Teach, Time to Learn, ,1999
I recently had the opportunity to hear Dr. Pasi Sahlberg speak at the BCSTA Annual General Meeting. Dr. Sahlberg is from Helsinki, Finland and was speaking on “Finnish Lessons; What can BC learn from educational change in Finland?” His presentation helped me to understand why and provided me, as a BC educator some context which explains why Finland continues to score higher than other jurisdictions in international assessments. He also provided me with the opportunity to re3flect and “Dream” as we continue our discussions on Personalized Learning. Some of the “Lessons” Dr. Sahlberg emphasized included:
1. Invent your own way Context and circumstance are different and must be acknowledged when developing our version of “Learning Without Boundaries”. We need to develop our own Coquitlam District Framework and implement in our own effective manner.
2. Personalization In Finland, educators are highly trained, accepted on a par with other professionals and respected for what they accomplish. There are lessons here for all of us. Society and government need to recognize and support the human resources we have in our Education System and find multiple ways to acknowledge and praise the system and personnel much more. We don’t have standardized assessments for the legal or medical system. Should they exist in the educational system?
3. Partnerships Dr. Sahlberg indicated that Finland’s education system is supported strongly by partnerships with municipalities and business companies. From my perspective I think that business companies need to be more active in supporting schools and we have to be more welcoming and open to such partnerships.
4. Youth Activity Dr. Sahlberg indicated that Finnish students do not do a lot of homework. They and their parents belong to organizations that keep them socially and physically busy in the afternoon and evenings. Again, for me, he reinforced my belief that youth, positively engaged in out of school activities and programming, generally perform well in school.
The Finnish education system is built on principles of organization that Andy Hargreaves introduced to us through his “4th Way Framework”. Dr. Sahlberg’s observations of these principles in action are very interesting. I forward my own interpretation of his words for your consideration.
1. Less is more – cover less curriculum and do it better
2. Teaching and learning are different – both need to be understood and supported.
3. Test less and learn more.
4. Learning is different from achievement – concentrate on learning.
5. Educators must focus on responsibility (both as individuals and as school collectives) and less on accountability.
6. Teachers should collaborate frequently and always with purpose.
7. Teachers are professionals and should be treated as such and act appropriately.
8. Always teach with HOPE for the learners.
I was impressed with Dr. Sahlberg and his message and look forward to a discussion of these principles as part of our context. For more information on his background and many presentations please check his website at http://www.pasisahlberg.com
“Hope is not a feeling or a mood, or a personality type. Hope is a choice.” Jim Wallis, The Great Awakening. 2007
Greetings Tom,
I watched a great presentation by Dr. Pasi Sahlberg recently and wrote a blog post about ‘Less is More ‘ ~ Item 1 above.
It’s also great to see the connections with “Responsibility before Accountability” which Hargreaves has been pushing for.
I think Coquitlam is in an excellent position to be creative and innovative. The underpinning is that Learning Teams provide professional learning time that allows educators to be ‘lead learners’. I would still like to see that learning collected in a meaningful way and stored for future Learning Teams to add value to, rather than rebuilding ideas others have already sweated about. I think this will extend what our educators are capable of doing!
~Cheers,
Dave.
“This creativity aspect is very important because in Finland we believe that risk-taking, creativity and innovation are very, very important for a society like ours. And particularly working in this global and globalized world it is more important than what you actually know and remember, it is more what you are and what you are capable of doing.” ~ Pasi Sahlberg
Some vidoes on the Finnish way.
Thanks for sharing this Tom. I particularly like the idea of less is more. As we navigate the “information age” and the of data at our (and students) disposal, it seems that we must teach our students how to engage in deep inquiry. Curriculum documents that are a mile wide and an inch thick don’t meet the needs of the 21st century learner.
Dr. Grant,
I have read that there is a Math and Science test which is given to high school students in many different countries and that the students from Finland consistently rank as some of the best in the world.
Many school districts in the United States have sent school district administrators to Finland to observe their educational system.
It is also interesting that in Finland the students start school at a later age than they do here in British Columbia. With full day kindergarten we seem to be getting students into the educational system at an even earlier age.
I have also read that a teacher in Finland sometimes stays with their students for several years. As a student moves up a grade level so does their teacher. As a teacher, I have often thought about what this must be like for the students and the teacher. I can imagine it would have some advantages and disadvantages.
In Finland a student has a large amount of support in terms of learning assistance teachers, counsellors, speech pathologists etc. However, Finland and the rest of the Scandinavian countries pay some of the highest taxes in the world.
I’m not sure if we can look at what Finland is doing in their educational system as a way of improving education here in British Columbia when our countries have such a different tax system.
I enjoy reading your blog.
Jens
Tom,
I was one of the Odyssey of the Mind coaches who heard your inspiring and encouraging message at the awards ceremony at the conclusion of the OdysseyBC Provincial Tournament at Centennial Secondary in April. I remembered you speaking of your new insights from hearing Dr. Sahlberg’s presentation at the BCSTA meeting the day before, especially about the difference between learning and achievement. I have wanted ever since to get a copy of your message to the Odyssey of the Mind gathering. Reading this blog entry gave me exactly what I was looking for, and in greater detail. Thank you.
-Clark Perry-Bater, Eagle Ridge Elementary