Oulu og Ontario seminar in Denmark
Mr. Jukka Miettunen
Pedagogical manager
On 27th-30th
of August I had an opportunity to participate in a conference in Odense and
Århus in Denmark.
The
participants were mostly Danish school leaders and people from administration.
We were discussing about school change, ICT in education and of course
comparing and changing best practices in all countries.
The Danish
school system seems quite similar to Finland. Schools are well equipped and
learning results are good. The will to make schools better to meet future
challenges by changing teaching methods towards student centered and co-operative methods is the hot topic
among all three countries.
The use of
ICT in education both in Denmark and Finland is mostly at the same level.
Danish schools have more digital material available and it is in heavy use. A big
help are the area learning centers which have good contact with publishers and
offer teachers short in-service training and the latest information and samples
of material. Also many school use BYOD (bring your own device). Denmark is ahead
of our weekly use of learning technologies with the students. We Finns have a
lot to do in that sector!
The other
lecturer was Ms. Nancy Steinhauer from Ontario, Canada.
Nancy
Steinhauer is a principal of an inner-city elementary school in Toronto,
Ontario. Ontario has had great success in the last 10 years with whole system
reform. In its 4000 elementary schools, literacy scores have risen 15%.
Similarly, in its 900 high schools, graduation rates have risen 14%.
Nancy's
school is what's called a Model School for Inner Cities in the Toronto District
School Board. As one of approximately 150 schools with students living in
poverty, Nancy's school, George Webster, has committed to the Model Schools for
Inner Cities program’s 5 essential principles:
1.
Innovation in teaching and learning
2.
Supporting the social, emotional, and physical needs of students
3.
School as the heart of the community
4.
Research and review of students and programs
5.
Sharing best practices.
In
Ontario, and in Nancy's school, the focus has been on "raising the
bar" and "closing the gap." George Webster's teachers have
worked collaboratively to plan meaningful units of study for their students
that demand 21st century thinking. They meet regularly to examine student work
and provide interventions for students who are having challenges in their
learning. Their belief is that every student can learn, given enough time and
support, just as every teacher can teach, given enough time and support.
Parents and community members also play a large role in supporting the
students' learning. At George Webster, the motto is "achieving together to
build a better world."
