Global Education Community - Beginning the Global Collaboration with Innokas

Yesterday, I arrived in Finland to attend the some professional development with Innokas and the Global Education Community conference at the University of Helsinki.  In attendance this week I am working with fellow educators from my district, as well as educators from Parramatta Marist High School in Australia, Zhenshou Normal College Affiliated Elementary School in China, Chongqing ShanHu Experimental Experimental Elementary School in China, Koulumestarin koulu in Finland, and the University of Helsinki in Finland.  Our focus is around the Innokas Network and Innovative School (ISC).

It's been amazing getting to know each other and share about our schools, lives, and ask additional questions.  Today we were introduced to the different school systems from China, Australia, and Finland.  Each school shared information and pictures.

I already knew, based upon articles I have read, that Finland has an amazing school system.  I was very intrigued to learn about the structure of their day.  There are many built in breaks to help students re-energize and within these breaks students have choice, including make their own clubs.

The finnish schools have classroom based assessments but no standardized assessments.  They are built upon respect for the teacher and their system.  Finnish education requires teachers to train for 4-6 years and develop expertise in curriculum and assessment. Medical and Law degrees are easier courses to access than Education.  It truly is all about what you value.

What I do really take away from today is the fact that we all have our promising components to our education systems and the overlap on technology integration and 21st century components.

I have had the opportunity today to have great conversations with the principal of Parramatta Marist High School in Parramatta, Australia, Gavin Hays.  We shared the strengths and struggles we have with education in our countries and got some good insight.  I can't wait to continue the journey this week and get deep into global project-based learning!