Collaborative Models for Teacher Development in Finland
Conference:
ECER 2021
Format:
Symposium Paper

Session Information

01 SES 03 A, Teacher Professional Learning and Development in 11 European Countries (Part II)

Symposium Part II, continued from 01 SES 02 A (Part I), to be continued in 01 SES 06 A (Part III)

Time:
2021-09-06
14:00-15:30
Room:
n/a
Chair:
Giorgio Ostinelli
Discussant:
Hannu L. T. Heikkinen

Contribution

This paper reflects on teachers’ professional development and learning in Finland. The analysis is targeted at teachers at early childhood, primary and secondary levels. First, the Finnish education context will be analysed from the perspectives of teachers and teacher education. In particular, the research orientation and research-based thinking in initial teacher education is interpreted to influence the development of teachers’ professional identity, which is supported by local-level processes, such as quality assurance processes. As a part of this professional identity, teachers have developed competence and a willingness to participate in professional development and other local development activities. Second, the national aims for teachers’ professional learning will be introduced. Third, different approaches used to support teachers’ professional learning will be introduced and discussed. In addition to formal, professional development projects, teachers’ professional learning is supported by various school- or district-level projects and by school-level professional learning communities. At the school level, teachers are seen as developers of the school community and school culture. Important school-level projects that are supportive of teachers’ professional learning include the preparation of the local curriculum and learning environments.

References

Korhonen, T., Lavonen, J., Kukkonen, M., Sormunen, K., & Juuti, K. (2014). The innovative school as an environment for the design of educational innovations. In H. Niemi, J. Multisilta, L. Lipponen, & M. Vivitsou (Eds.), Finnish innovations & technologies in schools: Towards new ecosystems of learning (pp. 38–56). Sense Publishers. Lavonen, J., Mahlamäki̇-kultanen, S., Vahtıvuori̇-Hännınen, S., & Mi̇kkola, A. (2020). A collaborative design for a Finnish teacher education development programme. Journal of Teacher Education and Educators, 9(2), 241–262. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/jtee/issue/56618/728673 Tirri, K. (2014). The last 40 years in Finnish teacher education. Journal of Education for Teaching, 40(5), 600–609. https://10.1080/02607476.2014.956545

Author Information

Jari Lavonen (presenting / submitting)
The University of Helsinki, Finland, Faculty of Educational Sciences
HAMK School of Professional Teacher Education, Finland
Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland
Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland

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