How to educate teachers for lifelong learning in Finland?

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1 How to educate teachers for lifelong learning in Finland? Maija Aksela -Professor, Dr, the head of Unit of Chemistry Teacher Education, Department of Chemistry, University of Helsinki -The head of Finland s Science Education Centre, LUMA Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Finland maija.aksela@helsinki.fi

2 Sunny greetings from Finland - Pisa country! Matemaattis-luonnontieteellinen tiedekunta / Henkilön nimi / Esityksen nimi Photo: International Millennium Youth Camp

3 The Finns Scandinavian lifestyle Officially bilingual: Finnish and Swedish Population: 5.3 Million See more: This is Finland.fi

4 UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI The University of Helsinki is one of the best multidisciplinary research universities in the world. The high-quality research carried out by the university creates new knowledge for educating diverse specialists in various fields, and for utilisation in social decisionmaking and the business sector. The University of Helsinki is an international academic community of 40,000 students and staff members. It operates on four campuses in Helsinki and at 17 other locations. Founded in 1640, the University of Helsinki wants to strengthen its position among the world's leading multidisciplinary research universities and to actively promote the well-being of humanity and a fair society. Matemaattis-luonnontieteellinen tiedekunta / Henkilön nimi / Esityksen nimi

5 GREETINGS FROM FACULTY OF SCIENCE!

6 Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki There are units of teacher education in chemistry, geography, physics and mathematics. Strategic research areas of the faculty are space research, basic environmental research, climate science, nanoscience computational science, mathematical physics, data analysis of biological data, and geoinformatics, geosciences and urban research. The campus offers study and research facilities for 6,000 students and 1,000 teachers. Matemaattis-luonnontieteellinen tiedekunta / Henkilön nimi / Esityksen nimi

7 Physics Centre, F2k and Geography Centre, Geopiste The main office of LUMA Centre and Chemistry Centre Kemma Math Centre, Summamutikka and Computing Science Centre, Linkki

8 CONTENTS Introduction -Structure of Finnish Subject Teacher Education -Structure of Finnish Primary Teacher Education Research-based (Evidence-based) Teacher Education for life-long learning Collaboration within Finland s Science Education centre, LUMA Centre

9 Teacher education in Finland 10 universities (autonomous) Different teacher education models A useful book: Miracle of Education ed. Hannele Niemi et al describes the topic of teacher education in Finland and especially in the University of Helsinki Matemaattis-luonnontieteellinen tiedekunta / Henkilön nimi / Esityksen nimi

10 EVIDENCE-BASED TEACHER EDUCATION: Research-active teachers for lifelong learning Evidence-based teaching is a key objective in Finnish teacher education (Jakku-Sihvonen and Niemi 2006). Instruction at the University of Helsinki, by policy, must be based on scholarly research and is designed to utilise up-to-date research findings on teaching and learning (e.g. Lindblom-Ylänne, 2006). Teacher education should support teachers careerlong professional growth, and there should be a continuum of pre-service, induction and in-service education.

11 Subject Teacher Education at the University of Helsinki (five years) All teachers in Finland are required to complete a M.Sc. degree. University of Helsinki (11 faculties, students, staff members) Faculty of Behavioural Sciences Teacher Training Schools Dept. of Teacher Education Faculty of Arts Faculty of Science Faculty of Biosciences Faculty of Theology Faculty of Social Sciences Eg. Math and Science Teacher Education: Four years in Faculty of Science and one year in Faculty of Behavioural Sciences. 11

12 A CONTINUUM MODEL FOR LIFELONG LEARNING IN SUBJECT TEACHER EDUCATION Collaboration with the LUMA Centre

13 Study points Structure of the Master Degree of a Subject Teacher: years Bachelor s level (180 p.) Master s level (120 p.) Masterthesis Ped. thesis 20 0 Major Subject Minor Subject Pedagogical studies Communication and language studies 13

14 Major studies in the Faculty of Science Two teaching subjects (e.g. chemistry-mathematics, chemistry-biology, chemistry-phycics.) 80 % of the studying time in the Faculty of Science during 5 years Both science and its learning courses (e.g. Chemistry:9 special courses in Unit of Chemistry Teacher Education, Department of Chemistry) 20 % of the stydying time in the Faculty of Behavioral Sciences Matemaattis-luonnontieteellinen tiedekunta / Henkilön nimi / Esityksen nimi

15 Content of the Pedagogical Studies 60 ECTS credits Equal to One Study Year in the Department of Teacher Education Education (20 %) Psychology Special needs education Social, historical and philosophic grounds Subject pedagogy/didactics/pck (50 %) Organisation of education: national and local level, Science curriculum, Science learning, teaching methods, motivation, evaluation, use of ICT, Educational research and pedagogical thesis Teaching practice (30 %) 15

16 Study points Structure of the Master degree of a Primary Teacher: years Bachelor s level (180 p.) Master s level (120 p.) Masterthesis 40 Science 20 0 Major Subject Education Subsidiary subject studies Minor Subject Communication and language studies 16

17 E.G. THE AIM OF CHEMISTRY TEACHER EDUCATION to educate research-active chemistry teachers for, lifelong learning who are capable of pursuing both the development of chemistry and chemistry teaching implementing up-to-date research perspectives in their work and engaging in research on chemistry teaching using ICT (=Information and Communication Technology) in their chemistry teaching (Maija Aksela (2010). Evidence-based teacher education:becoming a lifelong research-oriented chemistry teacher? CERP)

18 Chemistry Teacher Education in University of Helsinki (since 2001) Simo Tolvanen, Unit of Chemistry Teacher Education, Department of Chemistry

19 INTRODUC TION TO CHEMISTRY EDUCATION CHEMISTRY IN THE LIVING ENVIRONM ENT BACHELOR S DEGREE STAGE THE CENTRAL AREAS OF CHEMISTRY EDUCATION I PRACTICAL WORK IN CHEMISTRY EDUCATION I MASTER S SEMINAR AND THESIS THE CENTRAL AREAS OF CHEMISTRY EDUCATION II PRACTICAL WORK IN CHEMISTRY EDUCATION II MASTER S DEGREE STAGE MODELS AND VISUALISATI ON IN CHEMISTRY EDUCATION CHEMISTRY AS A SCIENCE AND AS A DISCIPLINE See more:

20 E.g. The Central Areas of Chemistry Education II Revising the central areas of Finnish chemistry curricula. Researching pedagogical content knowledge connected to the central concepts. Exact concepts under study vary each year, depending on participants needs and interests (the most difficult teaching concepts) Last year history of chemistry and nature of science was included in the course (e.g. how to motivate students through innovations and the process of science; how science works) Simo Tolvanen, Unit of Chemistry Teacher Education, Department of Chemistry

21 Teaching Chemical Content Knowledge Teaching history of chemical concept (e.g. amount of substance) could help students to understand the meaning of concept Describing historical experiments could help students to understand chemistry better. Beside understanding, also remembering chemical content was seen easier if the historical background were explained Simo Tolvanen, Unit of Chemistry Teacher Education, Department of Chemistry

22 The Use of Design Research as a Tool Desing Research (Edelson, 2002) within theoretical and empirical studies used as a tool in the learning and in the designing of the courses 4 Ph.D. thesis and 33 Master Thesis ( ) The Newest Ph.D. thesis: "Nature of science for chemistry education Design of chemistry teacher education course Matemaattis-luonnontieteellinen tiedekunta / Henkilön nimi / Esityksen nimi

mathematics, physics and technology (ICT) at all levels enhance interaction

23 FINLAND S SCIENCE EDUCATION CENTRE LUMA for LIFELONG LEARNING Main objectives are to promote interest and teaching of biology, chemistry, geography, mathematics, physics and technology (ICT) at all levels enhance interaction between schools, universities and business and industry SINCE YEAR

COLLABORATION with scientists, industry & teacher education The LUMA Centre has seven resource centres (math, physics, chemistry, biology, geography, computing science and primary education) in the

24 COLLABORATION with scientists, industry & teacher education The LUMA Centre has seven resource centres (math, physics, chemistry, biology, geography, computing science and primary education) in the University of Helsinki They are located close to teacher education in Faculty of Science, Faculty of BioSciences and Faculty of Education Science students and future teachers are active during their courses and/or vacation/summer time The newest research of science, learning and instruction are in use

25 SCIENCE FOR ALL KIDS AND YOUNG PEOPLE Matemaattis-luonnontieteellinen tiedekunta / Henkilön nimi / Esityksen nimi

26 COLLABORATION WITH ELEMENTARY AND SUBJECT TEACHERS AT ALL LEVELS A lot of in-service training, too!

27 International Symposium on Science Education (ISSE): Global Challenges in Science Education 10th - 12th June 2013, Helsinki The symposium is based on plenary lectures, hands-on activities, and poster and discussion sessions. Themes in symposium are climate change, energy and renewable natural resources, water and food. Detailed program will be published latest Key-note speaker: Professor Markku Kulmala, Faculty of Science,University of Helsinki. See more: Matemaattis-luonnontieteellinen tiedekunta / Henkilön nimi / Esityksen nimi Warmly welcome!

28 National webmagazine for teachers at all levels in Finland

29 LUMA activities for kids and young people Science days for children and families Four modern free learning environments in the university: Science classes in chemistry (Gadolin), physics (F2k), mathematics (Origo) and computing science (Linkki) Science Clubs Science webmagazines One for children Three for young people Science camps (12-15 camps every year)

computing science (Linkki) Science Clubs Science webmagazines One for children Three for young people Science

30 in English LUMA activities for kids and young people Science days for children and families Four modern learning environments in the university: Science classes in chemistry (Gadolin), physics (F2k), mathematics (Origo) and computing science (Linkki) Science Clubs Science webmagazines One for children Three for young people Science camps (12-15 camps every year) An international webmagazine for young people aged

31 A peer review scientific journal for young people aged 14 to 21 Matemaattis-luonnontieteellinen tiedekunta / Henkilön nimi / Esityksen nimi

32 Example 1: Math Activities Summamutikka Math Centre The Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Helsinki Finland Matemaattis-luonnontieteellinen tiedekunta / Henkilön nimi / Esityksen nimi

33 Math Clubs for children In clubs children learn mathematics through all sorts of activities games, puzzles, arts, drawing, problems etc. Math is fun! One club has 6 meetings after school at schoolhouse Supervisors are math or math teacher students.

34 Math Clubs for children The most important goal is to give positive experiences within mathematics

35 Club Summamutikka For high school students Organized at the University Club has several themas during the year Supervisors are professors and post-graduate students

36 Club Summamutikka One theme has 3 meetings In first two students do things themselves The last meeting is Experts lecture (usually professor) Club Summamutikka is open to everyone

37 Tekijäryhmä Math Club for talented students (factor group, also in finnish group of people who do ) For talented high school students who think everything in school is too easy Approach is formal and students are introduced with proofs, notation etc. Short lectures and learning by doing

38 Example 2: ChemistryLab Gadolin Kemma Chemistry Centre Department of Chemistry University of Helsinki Finland

39 Gadolin is a collaboration project ChemistryLab Gadolin was founded in partners It is free of charge for schools.

40 Kemian laitos & Farmasian tiedekunta

41 Goals To support chemistry teaching and learning. To rouse the youth s interest in natural sciences. To support the potential future professionals, i.e. to introduce career possibilities in the field of chemistry. To bring out the up-to-date information on the versatile applications of chemistry, and its important status in industry and in the society. To promote the positive image of chemistry. To support the goals of schools, university departments of chemistry, enterprises and other partnes.

42 Visits to ChemistryLab Gadolin Over 3000 visitors from schools / year Visits include (1-8 hours / visit ) Introduction of ChemistryLab Gadolin, The Department of Chemistry, The UH and The Campus Laboratory work Molecular modelling Visits to research groups

43 Chemistry is fun!

44 Scientists Who are they? ChemistryLab Gadolin offers student groups the opportunity to meet scientists at the Department of Chemistry, the University of Helsinki and discuss with them about chemistry and visit their research laboratories.

45 Collaborating with chemical industry

46 Gadolin Clubs Gadolin Club events for high school students including active visits and lectures by professors and top researchers from the chemical industry. Gadolin clubs are held at the Department of Chemistry and in collaborating companies: e.g: Pharmaseutical Chemistry, Microships in pharmaseutical analytics and medicines from the ocean Neste Oil: Renewable Energy Kemira: Water desalination project Marja

47 Research in science education ChemistryLab Gadolin also is a research laboratory for chemistry learning and teaching It is collaborating with the Unit of Chemistry Teacher Education Centre in Department of Chemistry All activities are research-based: the newest research has been used for their development Some M.Sc. Thesis and other publications have been published

48 Example 3: International Millennium Youth Camp (My Science Camp; with TAF) Together we are more. I believe that international networking at a young age can help make this world a better place to live in for everyone. Application process going on until 17th of Dec, 2012: see:

49 Matemaattis-luonnontieteellinen tiedekunta / Henkilön nimi / Esityksen nimi

50 LUMA is about fun, enthusiasm and science for all and collaboration! Children and young people are our future

Thank You for your attention! See more: www.helsinki.

51 Thank You for your attention! See more: address: My address:

Organising ROSE (The Relevance of Science Education) survey in Finland

25.02.2004 1 Organising ROSE (The Relevance of Science Education) survey in Finland Researchers and support The Survey was organised by the following researchers at the Department of Teacher Education,