Abstract
Teachers have been considered as the main reason behind the success of schools. Finland has a remarkable teachers’ force. But even here, comparative analysis brings more factors into the equation for the students’ impressive success, albeit moderate inputs. The chapter then gets into a detailed analysis of the teacher-training programs and delves into the popularity of the program and the intrinsic and external motivations to become a teacher. The Finnish teacher-training program is then compared to other teacher-training programs from other countries.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/43/15/5328720.pdf (July 22, 2012).
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
The Bologna Process refers to a European initiative—that includes the European Union, member and nonmember countries, as well as other organizations—for promoting the convergence of curriculum courses and programs in higher education, through equivalences in academic credits known as “European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System” or ECTS (see http://ec.europa.eu./education/programmes/socrates/ects/index_en.html). The Bologna Process, based on the Declaration of Bologna, seeks convergence, initiated in 1999 and programmed for 2010 (culminating in the European Higher Education Area) (see: http://www.coe.int/T/DG4/HigherEducation/EHEA2010/BolognaPedestrians_en.asp#P117_13189), in higher education programs organized in three cycles: a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree and doctorate. In this way accreditation of courses and programs is facilitated, with validity in all European Union member countries. More information is available at: http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/es/cha/c11088.htm.
- 5.
Prof. Jouni Välijärvi’s clarification on an earlier draft of the book.
- 6.
Prof. Jouni Välijärvi’s clarification on an earlier draft of the book.
- 7.
Ministry of Education and Culture: http://www.minedu.fi/OPM/?lang=en (July 30, 2010).
- 8.
This point was emphasized by Prof. Hannu Simola during two interviews conducted in his office at the University of Helsinki, on March 26 and September 16, 2008.
- 9.
Interview on March 27, 2008.
- 10.
The topic of matriculation will be addressed in more detail in Chap. 4 entitled “Is education evaluated in Finland?”
- 11.
http://www.stm.fi/en/frontpage (May 27, 2009).
- 12.
- 13.
- 14.
IEA (http://www.iea.nl/).
- 15.
- 16.
In an article published in the Education Journal of Spain’s Ministry of Education, the last name of Prof. Jakku-Sihvonen is written as Jukku-Sihvomen. The correct last name is the former, and thus the bibliographical reference to this article in the current publication is listed as Jakku-Sihvonen.
- 17.
http://www.helsinki.fi/vokke/english/ (June 7, 2010).
- 18.
In terms of semester or annual work, a full-time workload for 1 academic year is equivalent to approximately 60 ECTS. One ECTS is equivalent to an estimated 27 work sessions in general (Niemi and Jakku-Sihvonen 2009, p. 180). Each session is equivalent to 60 min of class work, independent work or face-to-face contact with pupils or “in front of group.” For example, a course for one subject, such as “Growth and development environments,” is equivalent to 3 ECTS, involving 81 h or work sessions. However, in practice, more than 81 h are involved. In this course, students must study two extensive books, write papers, etc. Thus, students take 20 courses (approximately 3 ECTS per course) each academic year. Not all the credits coincide with the same number of hours of work in other departments in a given university or in other universities. In other education departments, one might obtain more credits for the same amount of work. (Information provided by Elisa Heimovaara during an interview conducted in her office at the University of Jyväskylä on March 27, 2008.)
- 19.
The ECTS requirements may thus exceed the 300 ECTS for subject teachers. “Subject teachers finish their Master’s degrees with between 300 and 350 ECTS. In addition to their studies in their major and minor areas, the qualifications for obtaining a degree for becoming a subject teacher require pedagogical studies equivalent to at least 60 ECTS, including a teaching practice” (Parkatti 2008, p. 14).
- 20.
This information regarding what should be taught and learned in each course in the program for class teachers and for subject teachers, with a complete bibliography, can be found in detail in the teacher education curriculum at the University of Jyväskylä: https://www.jyu.fi/edu/laitokset/okl/en/curriculum (July 30, 2010).
- 21.
A packet of regulatory material on schools prepared by the OPH. A book on sociology of education in Finnish. A textbook: Peterson, J.M. & Hittie, M. 2003. Inclusive teaching: Creating effective schools for all learners. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
- 22.
A book in Finnish on the topic “How do we learn?” and another: Woolfolk, Anita. (2008). Educational psychology: Active learning edition (10th edition). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon. Professor Woolfolk has her own web page (http://www.coe.ohio-state.edu/ahoy/) and another that accompanies the textbook (http://wps.ablongman.com/ab_woolfolk_edpsych_9/10/2713/694768.cw/index.html.
- 23.
“Jyväskylä University Language Integration and English Teaching Program” https://staff.jyu.fi/Members/misumatt/Juliet/?searchterm=juliet (May 19, 2012).
- 24.
Korppi requires students to register, but the basic idea of the database can be found at https://korppi.jyu.fi/kotka/portal/showLogin.jsp (May 19, 2012).
- 25.
- 26.
https://www.opekorkeahaku.fi/opehaku/ (May 20, 2012).
- 27.
http://www.jamk.fi/english/education/vocationalteachereducation/ (May 20, 2012).
- 28.
http://www.haaga-helia.fi/en/vocational-teacher-education (May 20, 2012).
- 29.
http://www.oamk.fi/amok/english/vocational_teacher_education/ (May 20, 2012).
- 30.
Interview with Prof. Hannu Simola at the University of Helsinki on September 16, 2008.
- 31.
- 32.
Brief information on the origin of polytechnical schools can be found at http://www.minedu.fi/OPM/Koulutus/ammattikorkeakoulutus/?lang=en (July 30, 2010).
- 33.
http://www.minedu.fi/OPM/Koulutus/ammattikorkeakoulutus/?lang=en (January 22, 2010).
- 34.
https://kotaplus.csc.fi/online/Haku.do (May 21, 2012).
- 35.
These data were found by clicking on the link “Tilstoja” highlighted in yellow and on the left side of the page at:http://www.helsinki.fi/behav/vakava/tilastoja.htm (June 3, 2008). Unfortunately, this text was not translated, and more recently (January 2010), the work cited in this section was no longer available through the link. However, with assistance from Elisa Heimovaara of the Department of Education at the University of Jyväskylä, during a number of interviews and through email correspondence during 2008, I was able to obtain and translate part of the information from this source.
- 36.
The process around the “matriculation examination” taken after graduating from high school and through which students become “matriculated” will be further explained in Chap. 4.
- 37.
Hillilä 2008d.
References
Antikainen, A. (2007). The Nordic model in education. In A. Antikainen (Ed.), Transforming a learning society: The case of Finland (2nd expanded ed., pp. 341–358). Bern: Peter Lang.
Carnoy, M., Brodziak, I., Luschei, T., Beteille, T., & Loyalka, P. (2009). Do countries paying teachers higher relative salaries have higher student mathematics achievement? Amsterdam: International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement. http://www.iea.nl/fileadmin/user_upload/graphics/Publications/TEDS-M_CostsStudy.pdf. Accessed 8 May 2010
Coombs, H. P. (1968). The world educational crisis: A systems analysis. New York: Oxford University Press.
Faure, E., Herrera, F., Kaddoura, A.-R., Lopes, H., Petrovsky, A. V., Rahnema, M., & Champion Ward, F. (1972). Learning to be: The world of education today and tomorrow. Paris: UNESCO. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0000/000018/001801e.pdf. Accessed 16 July 2010
Heimovaara, E., & Rasku-Puttonen, H. (2007, March). Untitled powerpoint slides. Jyväskylä: University of Jyväskylä.
Hillilä, M. (2008a). Vakava 2007. Luokanopettajakoulutusten soveltuvuuskokeisiin kutsuttujen yotutkintovuodet. Helsinki: University of Helsinki. http://www.helsinki.fi/behav/vakava/lo-koulutusten_soveltuvuuskokeisiin_kutsuttujen_yo-tutkintovuodet_2007.pdf. Accessed 3 June 2008
Hillilä, M. (2008b). Vakava 2007. Miesten prosentuaalinen osuus luokanopettajakoulutuksiin valituista vuonna 2007. Helsinki: University of Helsinki. http://www.helsinki.fi/behav/vakava/miesten_osuus_lo-koulutuksiin_valituista_2007.pdf. Accessed 3 June 2008
Hillilä, M. (2008d, May 6). Untitled powerpoint slides.
Husen, T. (1974). The learning society. Great Britain: Methuen.
Kansanen, P. (2003). Teacher education in Finland: Current models and new developments. In B. Moon, L. Vlăsceanu, & C. Barrows (Eds.), Institutional approaches to teacher education within higher education in Europe: Current models and new developments. Bucharest: UNESCO CEPES Studies on higher education, pp. 85–108. http://www.helsinki.fi/~pkansane/articles.html. Accessed 4 Nov 2008
Koretz, D. (2008). Measuring up: What educational testing really tells us. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
Linnakylä, P., Välijärvi, J., & Arffman, I. (2010). Finnish basic education: When equity and excellence meet. Manuscript submitted for publication
McKinsey, & Company. (2007). “How the world’s best-performing school systems come out on top.” http://www.mckinsey.com/locations/ukireland/publications/pdf/Education_report.pdf. Accessed 8 Nov 2007
Niemi, H., & Jakku-Sihvonen, R. (2006). Research-based teacher education. In R. Jakku-Sihvonen, & H. Niemi (Eds.), Research-based teacher education in Finland: Reflections by Finnish teacher educators (pp. 31–50). Turku: Finnish Educational Research Association
Niemi, H., & Jakku-Sihvonen, R. (2009). El currículo en la formación del profesorado de educación secundaria. (The curriculum in the formation of lower secondary teachers). Revista de Educación, 350. Madrid: Ministerio de Educación, pp. 173-202. http://www.revistaeducacion.educacion.es/re350/re350_08.pdf. Accessed 7 June 2010
Niemi, H., & Jakku-Sihvonen, R. (2010). Teacher education in Finland. Unpublished manuscript
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. (1982). Reviews of national policies for education: Finland. Paris: Author.
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. (2005b). Teachers matter: Attracting, developing and retaining effective teachers. Paris: Author.
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. (2007c). Education at a Glance 2007: OECD Indicators. Paris: Author.
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. (2009a). Education at a Glance 2009: OECD Indicators. Paris: Author.
Parkatti, H. (2008). Finland in Brief. Unpublished manuscript
Schleicher, A. (2008, January 23). La calidad de un sistema educativo no puede exceder la calidad de sus maestros (The quality of an education system can’t exceed the quality of its teachers). Powerpoint presentation at a conference in Colegio de México, Mexico City.
Scott, C. J. (1998). Seeing like a state: How certain schemes to improve the human condition have failed. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Silander, T., & Välijärvi, J. (2013). The theory and practice of building pedagogical skill in Finnish teacher education. (Mimeo). (To be published)
Statistics, F. (2007). Statistical Yearbook of Finland 2007. Helsinki: Author.
Statistics, F. (2008). Statistical Yearbook of Finland. 2007. Helsinki. Author.
Statistics, F. (2009a). Education in Finland: Pocketbook 2009. Helsinki: Author.
Statistics, F. (2011). Statistical Yearbook of Finland 2011. Helsinki: Author.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. (2006). Teachers and educational quality: Monitoring global needs for 2015. Montreal: Institute for Statistics. http://www.uis.unesco.org/TEMPLATE/pdf/Teachers2006/TeachersReport.pdf. Accessed 4 Nov 2008
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Andere M., E. (2014). Teachers. In: Teachers' Perspectives on Finnish School Education. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02824-8_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02824-8_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-02823-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-02824-8
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and LawEducation (R0)