Archive

12.04.2023, Päivi Valtonen

  Free Webinar Outdoor Exercises and Art in STEAM projects on 27th April at 17.00 (CET)     Using outdoors as a learning environment in STEAM projects has many benefits. It increases students’ motivation and engagement to study phenomena in real-life environments. Exploring things outdoors strengthens students’ relationship to nature…

19.05.2021, Päivi Valtonen

WEBINAR: PEDAGODY AND FINNISH EDUCATION IN PRACTICE What makes Finnish education unique? There are two basic principles which are constantly emphasized by Finnish educational policy makers and educators – collaboration instead of competition and life skills. Join the webinar on June 16th to learn more! 1 hour webinar will be…

03.03.2020, Päivi Valtonen

“Sisu will get you even through granite” is a popular Finnish saying. The concept of sisu has no direct translation. It is inner strength, determination and perseverance. An essential element of sisu is high persistence despite the difficulties and setbacks. Maybe the closest word to sisu is grit. A longitudinal study funded…

19.10.2018, Päivi Valtonen

On the covers of Finnish ABC books, reading books, used to be a rooster with a raised pointer stick in his leg. The rooster symbolized learning, wisdom and hard work. The ABC rooster was a very strange creature. Even though it was a rooster, it knew how to lay! If…

12.06.2018, Päivi Valtonen

Nature, particularly the forest, is an important part of the early childhood education environment. When in nature, children get the chance to learn daily skills and general knowledge. It is also a good place for learning about the environment: children can be taught responsibility for their actions with the environment…

23.05.2018, Päivi Valtonen

Nature, particularly the forest, is an important part of the early childhood education environment. The forest promotes overall well-being in both adults and children. The mind becomes peaceful and relaxes in the forest, and heart rate, blood pressure and stress are reduced. Studies indicate that positive effects occur already within…

19.01.2018, Päivi Valtonen

Today we are celebrating our friend´s achievement! Kristiina Engblom-Pelkkala has been researching Strategic Practices of the institutional School in her doctoral dissertation. We are happy to share the abstract of the thesis below: “Education has been a central value for Finnish people ever since its inception. The school has been…

24.08.2017, Päivi Valtonen

We are having an exciting week going on with our international study tour visitors once again. This time we had a pleasure to have General Education Study Tour participants from Malta, Philippines, USA, Thailand and Hong Kong.  During the first day we covered Finnish Education system and training routes and…

27.01.2017, Päivi Valtonen

  In Finland teaching and learning based on the renewed curriculum began in August 2016. The main goals of the new curriculum for basic education are for example to enhance joy and meaningfulness of learning, and to create better opportunities for deep learning. How can we achieve these goals? For…

23.11.2016, Päivi Valtonen

  We have high-quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Finland. The Finnish ECEC is based on the educare model: an integration of care, education and teaching. The objectives, principals and contents for ECEC are guided by the National Curriculum Guidelines on ECEC. This document is a recommedation for…

29.09.2016, Päivi Valtonen

  Educational equality is a key premise of Finnish basic education. But what about gender equality in schools? Are girls and boys equal? Are they treated in the same way? Is there room for gender diversity? How gender equality is seen in textbooks and other materials? The Finnish National Board…

16.08.2016, Päivi Valtonen

My 6-year-old son started preschool this fall. In fact, he would have preferred to skip the summer vacation, because he had so much fun at the preschool orientation evening in May. In Finland pre-primary education became compulsory in August 2015. However, about 96 % of six-year-olds attended already when pre-primary…

22.07.2016, Päivi Valtonen

  I spent the holiday with my family at my parents’ on Haapasaari island. Haapasaari is a small island in the Eastern Gulf of Finland on the Russian border. It is located about 23 kilometers southeast from the mainland and it is the last passport checkpoint before Russia.    …

13.04.2016, Päivi Valtonen

GuildShools, VET-pedagogy using social media and media devices Learn more about pedagogical use of mobile and media devices. This Bright Education for All! INEPS Congress workshop will focus on – how can I save and publish own photo/video – using blogs as skills growth document – using social media group leading, supporting…

03.03.2016, Päivi Valtonen

What is Open Space method? It is a self-organizing practice of inner discipline and collective activity which releases the inherent creativity and leadership in people. By inviting people to take responsibility for what they care about, Open Space establishes a marketplace of inquiry, reflection and learning, bringing out the best…