Shifting paradigms in education (Finland Model)

"Many of us have heard how awesome the schools in Finland are. How their students rock international tests in reading, math and science year after year. How respected their teachers are, and how motivated their students. But that wasn’t always the case.

In the 1970s, Finland’s schools were sputtering after 108 years under Russian rule and the many wars that followed their 1917 liberation. Not only were their schools struggling, their economy was too. Unemployment was near 20%. Then the Finnish parliament made an historic decision to revamp their schools.

They believed that education was the best way out of their country’s predicament. So the Finns decided to really leave no child left behind and implement a system promising every student in their country a stellar education regardless of how much money their family made or where they lived. Their goal was to give every single student a great education. Their success caught the attention of the world.

It’s hard to point to just one thing that’s the key to Finland’s success. The rise of their schools was a slow and steady one; more tortoise than hare. There’s no doubt that their approach to education is vastly different from the US and many other high-achieving nations. In fact, it’s almost the complete opposite approach.

The emphasis in Finnish schools is on cooperation, not competition. Nina Brander, a Finnish teacher with 17 years of experience, says this is a key to Finland’s success. “In Finland we orientate more towards learning and working than towards marking and evaluating,” she said.

Schools aren’t ranked and they’re all equally funded so parents can rest assured that whether they live in a city or a small country town, whether they are wealthy or not, their child will get the same education. “We have an equal elementary-school education for all children,” said Ms. Brander.

Unlike the norm in the United States and many Asian nations, there aren’t a ton of standardized tests in Finland—there is only one right at the end of their equivalent of high school. Progress is charted by exams the teachers devise themselves.

“We do have tests at the end of almost every course, but the only standardized test is the matriculation examination at the end of high school,” said Ms. Brander. “We evaluate the students during courses,” she continued. “I usually give marks and oral feedback. Positive feedback is the most effective way to promote good learning!”

~Finland’s A+ Schools~
by Deva Dalporto

For the full article:
http://www.weareteachers.com/hot-topics/special-reports/teaching-around-the-world/finlands-a-plus-schools