Our customers and partners say:
I loved my week attending lectures and visiting schools in Finland. One
can read articles and books about the Finnish education system, but
nothing is better than being physically immersed in it. The balance of
lectures and school visits enhanced exposure to the system, I
particularly appreciated being in classrooms and having the opportunity
to speak with students and teachers. Our school visits were
comprehensive. Tredu was wonderful; the one thing that I would have
liked to have observed is Years 10 - 12 academic classes. The Wednesday
evening walk and meal in the forest was a highlight of the study tour.
The enjoyment of nature is an integral part of Finnish culture and we
witnessed how accessible this is. Thank you to Learning Scoop for a
wonderful experience in Finland.
Finland Education Study Tour
The feedback that has been pouring in is so positive. People loved to hear about differences between Finland and NZ teachers:
* The respect for Finnish Teachers
* The self-regulating children
* The individual approach with Home Languages/Religion
* No reviews/appraisals
* Teachers' Autonomy
* Shortest days, least amount of homework, greatest amount of happiness
* Supportive teachers - noncompetitive
* Less is More
* Sensible use of technology
* Limited displays
* Teachers actually VACATING and not spending hours in classrooms
* Trust and partnership
* Early intervention for SEN children
* Affordable ongoing training at universityWe feel really uplifted and affirmed that this was a worthwhile trip for us, and schools are in awe of our Principal and Board for investing in this, and talking about making this happen for them.
New Zealand Tailored Study Tour
I truly enjoyed the whole Study Tour. I've been telling friends and family how professional and caring everybody is. Everything was top notch! I've been to different conferences and your Study Group is special. I like that we were able to talk to students, parents, teachers and managers. When your team was saying that there is no atmosphere of "hierarchy" in schools, I really felt that. Everything you mentioned in your presentation came to life when we visited the day care centers. For instance, when you said that teachers are trusted, I could see that during our visits. The managers were not afraid to let us go around on our own and did not feel the need to justify things happening in their school. Additionally, when we visited a classroom with the manager, teachers continued what they were doing and didn't feel the need to be on their toes and "put on a show" for visitors. I liked that the most because as a preschool teacher, I always worry that visitors (parents, teachers or administrators) won't understand what I'm doing simply because there is no "shared understanding" of what preschool should look like. It's amazing that everybody is on the same page there in Finland. What an amazing place to be in! No matter where we went, the teachers seem to share the same understanding of what is truly important in Early Childhood. No matter what center we visited, the teachers were consistent in their actions and ideas (that they shared with us). Nobody was putting on a show or trying to impress us. The adults were there with the kids FIRST in their minds.
Early Childhood Education and Care Study Tour November 2019
The past week was amazing and the best professional development I have ever attended. Being able to have a more back and forth discussion and have all of our questions answered made it so valuable. We found the entire week and the information presented to be very well organized with a warm touch! Everyone at all the schools were so welcoming and so willing to share all of their ideas. We enjoyed every minute of the week and are excited to share.
It was a pleasure to meet you and the rest of the Learning Scoop staff as well as all of the teachers, principals and children from the daycares. Many, many thanks for a wonderful week. We hope to see you again for more training!
ECEC Study Tour Nov 2019 participant
Thank you so much for you hospitality over the week. I really enjoyed the authentic nature of the tour. School lessons did not appear to be staged and student leaders, school leaders etc were excellent. The student leaders were exceptional. They demonstrated their love for learning.
The program was varied and gave us a complete context and perspective of learning from 1 - 18 years. I liked the different schools as they were completely different in nature and also potentially clientele.
Study Tour October 2019
This study tour was a great learning experience. It was intriguing to see the level of children's independence from a very young age. Although the lessons we saw were comparable to the Maltese experience, the school culture differed considerably. There are things which could be transferred to the Maltese classes, but obviously with some adapations which befit our culture, ethos as well as our challenges. Heartfelt thanks to all the trainers for making our visit an unforgettable one.
Basic Education K-12 August
Learning Scoop is a professional entity which had provided us with a comprehensive exposure to the Finnish system. We could discuss with professionals and then reflect with the trainers on how we could improve our practice. I would like to thank the organisers who had everything planned and ensured that our queries were answered. Well done Learning Scoop!!
August Finnish Basic Education Tour
My experience in Tampere was excellent! I felt the different visits provided a variety of experiences and showed the consistency in how the educational system gives similar opportunities to children, regardless of their location or facilities, what counts is the quality of education the system ensures to provide.
Overall the knowledge and expertise of trainers was rich and evident. They accomplished to cover all the information and theoretical part of the tour.Thank you for an amazing week of learning!
Early Childhood Education and Care Study Tour, March 2019
Awesome experience and very well structured. Just short note to say thanks for the fabulous week you organised for us. It was an absolute pleasure to be hosted by Learning Scoop and such a privilege to be able to visit those high functioning schools. I feel as if I have grown in my professional knowledge and also made great network connections. This is one experience I will never forget- it has had such a positive impact on my professional development.
All the very best to you and team ( including Tommi) and see you in New Zealand one day I hope.
Basic Education Study Tour participant, New Zealand
Accompanying adults were very punctual, prepared and available for any type of queries we had. The young tour leaders in Peltolammi School were also very well prepared and were outgoing and ready to answer any queries. Greetings to Beatriz who accompanied us during most of the days. Lapland Hotel was also a very ideal place to be. Very central and also of very high quality. Food was of excellent quality and staff were always very helpful. Drivers were also always punctual and cordial. Thank you all.
Study Tour in Finland for Heads of Schools, Malta
I am so happy I decided to work with Learning Scoop. Not only was Tampere a great location to be in, but the trainers were so professional and knowledgeable. I so enjoyed the schools that we went to, though I would have liked to see more secondary classrooms as a high school teacher. That said, the program was well tailored to our group's collective needs.
I appreciated the lectures and themes of each day, as each one is so important to think about when discussing a school's ecosystem. I am so excited to try to implement classroom strategies as well as guide my leadership team in thinking the "Finnish" way! Thank you so much for a wonderful week Johanna, Beatriz, and Tommi!
Basic Education Study Tour participant
All the experts we met were happily sharing their knowledge and experience and openly discussing challenges faced in the field. We felt we were partners in making a change in the education of future generations.
September 2018 Early Childhood Education and Care Study Tour participant
I enjoyed the whole experience! I gained a great deal of insights and observing them on a practical level made a great difference. On a personal level a remark during one of the discussions struck me particularly - to every problem you try and work your way around it! I can understand better what "SISU" means now - it is a way of life. As a teaching team we took with us back home some great ideas which we can adapt to our school system. Kiitos!
Study Tour August 2018
Thanks so much for this gratifying and rewarding experience...my colleagues and I learnt a lot with regards to the Finnish educational system and the way the teaching takes place, based on inclusion, openness, break times, trust, sense of guidance, co-operation or collaboration and so on. Well done and all your help, gentleness and hard work was much appreciated!
Basic Education (K-9) Study Tour August 2018 participant
As a teacher, I am constantly looking for ways to learn and in so doing create a better learning environment for my students. This project has allowed me to broaden my ideas and learn from one of the best countries when in comes to education. One of the many things I learnt during this experience is that 'learning is for life' and I truly feel enriched having gained so many ideas and new methods which I can use back at home, in class. I hope that more teachers are given this opportunity as it is truly an incredible learning experience.
Basic Education (K-9) Study Tour August 2018 participant
I've heard from my colleague that you continue spreading your inspiration across the United States :). I can't tell you how much I enjoyed our conversations! Johanna, thanks for being such an inspiration.
Pine Crest School, USA
It has truly been a fruitful learning experience! The visits we had in the schools were very interesting since I observed different methods which I could implement in my own classroom to make learning more enjoyable. The themes in the program gave a good overview of the educational system in Finland. Well done and thank you!
Basic Education (K-9) Study Tour participant
Workshop: Early Childhood Education and Care in Finland
21 responses; everyone noted Excellent (5)
It is so good to get a perspective of what educational practices other countries are using.
The presenter was phenomenal! Great presentation!
This was the best part of the weekend - I would suggest looking for other international presenters for next year because it is imperative that we begin looking at our work in the context of the world, not just our own country.
This was inspirational and engaging. I only wish we had more time!
Loved the international perspective of ECE!
This was my favorite workshop. It was very engaging.
Would like to see more of the actual curriculum.
Kindergarten Conference, Bank Street College, New York, USA
Every single teacher I spoke to said they absolutely LOVED the Finnish presentation during Innovation Institute - very well done and informative.
Innovation Institute at Pine Crest School, USA
Thank you so much for sharing information with us, and especially for such a wonderful day last week. We truly appreciate all you shared and it's started some wonderful conversations in our schools.
National Board Certified Teacher, USA
I wanted to thank you for a phenomenal week! I left the USA very tired and angry with a system that pushes children to learn in a timetable that is not respectful of their development. I almost quit this year because of it. Then, I got to Finland and learned about the thoughtful and empathic methods employed by the very dedicated, serious, and kind teachers and I have hope again! If I can bring some of what you do to teachers in the US, I will feel that I have contributed beyond my individual relationships with students and families.
Early Childhood Education and Care Study Tour participant
Not to mention how to survive the coldness of Tampere, as those coming from a tropical country, but the warmth of Learning Scoop team is truly what I miss after 8 days of study tour.
Fast response since the first contact, being supportive during visa application process, and the whole efforts not only to meet our expectation but beyond everything called 'service excellence' since the beginning to the end.
The whole study tour set to balance both class lectures and field experiences. Trainers comprehend both theoretical and practical side of schools, and at the same time their open-mindedness give opportunity for discussion and room to grow for both side. This is what makes Learning Scoop study tour itself an experiential learning.
Thanks to Ellimaija and the whole team for an eye-opening to Finnish Education System and wish you all the best of 2018 and the future.
Study Tour participant
Learned from Finland today:
*Less is more, Learning is a life-long journey, Respect everyone
*Less homework, 1- 2- 3 exercise, Different setting of classrooms (creative)
*8-9 hours of sleep, what kind of skills do I need to add? Equality vs. Equity
*Have fun with the kids, Love the kids more, Focus on inner motivation: cooperation instead of competition. To allow curiosity allow questioning! Love what you are doing
*Every 10-15 minute make sure to let your students move (finger play, transition to different seat etc)
*Less is more for students, Be creative to help students learning real life skills, Think out of the standardized evaluation, Have some time for yourself!
Korea workshop
The general education study tour was a profound, professional learning adventure. Thank you!
Nicki Lilavois, Brooklyn, New York USA
I learned a lot from the resource speakers and gained new insights as well as affirmations. Kiitos (thank you) to the team for a very well-planned program. It would have been nice to observe higher grade levels, too. Thank you all for Study Tour!
Patricia, Philippines
It was a great pleasure for me to meet you and I appreciate very much your professionalism and pedagogical ethos in what you do. I hope Learning Scoop will have more and more visitors in the future because you do an impeccable work!
Early Childhood Education Study Tour participant
Amazing experience! Definitely an experience I would relive :) Very professional tour and very well-organized!
Really enjoyed my time there. Learned a lot but mostly impressed by the friendliness and willingness to accommodate by the trainers
During school tours I would recommend to attend to higher grade classes as well as special classes with students with disabilities so one could have a wider perspective. otherwise the choice of schools was excellent and well planned. Thanks xx
Excellent study tour! Thanks for the opportunity! It was a wonderful learning experience.
This course was a wonderful learning experience. Great tutors. Highly recommend it. Keep up the good work! Very fruitful
General Education Study Tour August
The International Network of Productive Learning Projects and Schools (INEPS) thanks Learning Scoop for the warm welcome in Tampere. Learning Scoop organized the 28th Con-gress of the INEPS focusing on the topic “Bright education for all: activating and practical methods throughout the learning path”. The congress took part from 26th to 29th April 2016 in Tampere and was perfectly organized by Learning Scoop, with an very attractive program, full of activating key speeches, inspiring workshops and school visits. Many thanks to the team of Learning Scoop!
Heike Borkenhagen, President of INEPS
I have had a pleasure and enjoyment to work with the experts at Learning Scoop. The know-how in the fields of pedagogy is enormous and comprehensive. One of the strengths I noticed is the educators’ dynamic way of working which can be seen in conforming the training sessions to comply with the needs of the group to be trained. A concrete example could be their ability to modify presentation materials according to the needs and wishes that came up during training sessions. The dynamicity ensures the best suitability of the programme for the participants and it shows also the flexibility in their work. Learning Scoop’s educators pay attention to everyone and questions proposed by the trained group are taken serious, answers are always provided. They are definitely passionate and undoubtedly enthusiastic about their work.
Sai Li
You truly educate your children for life and yet get excellent results!
Participant
For me Study Tour by Learning Scoop was a great chance and amazing experience both in personal and professional dimensions! During smooth and perfectly-organized program I got holistic overview of Finnish Education System and powerful insight for action steps. It was especially valuable to experience learning methods in action and to feel "magic of learning" being involved in participatory and interactive methods. Of my own big inspiration were the professionals who vividly convey education expertise but also actively participate in development of future pedagogical "know-how". I want to thank the Learning Scoop Team for first-hand experience and for being a living proof of Finnish Education System!
Natalia Gromova, International Business Management Master's Program Student, Finnish Education Export Intern
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