Miracle of Education : the Principles and Practices of Teaching and Learning in Finnish Schools (Second Revised Edition)

"Finnish pupils’ success in international student assessment tests and the characteristics of the Finnish educational system are the focus of interest all around in the world. The significance of Finnish educational policy and societal atmosphere are continuously discussed. This book provides explanations, answers and reflections to these questions. Over 30 expert authors have contributed to this book by bringing their own specific research-based points of view. The second edition of the book introduces the new national curriculum for basic education that now provides guidelines for school-based curricula. Students’ learning with engagement and schools as learning communities are core visions of the reform. The authors also reflect on the PISA 2012 results. The book gives an example on how to use PISA information for national improvements. In Finland, all evaluations are enhancement-led and this also includes PISA measurements. The book illustrates how teaching and learning of different subjects is realized in Finnish schools and describes the essential characteristics and methods of teaching, learning materials and research on these issues. The book provides important insight and reflections to international researchers, teachers, students, journalists and policy makers, who are interested in teaching and learning in Finnish schools. It shows the results of the systematic and persistent work that has been done on education and schooling in Finland. The main features of education in Finland are: Strong equity policy. Teachers as autonomous and reflective academic experts. Flexible educational structures and local responsibility for curriculum development. Evaluation for improvements, not for ranking. No national testing, no inspectorate. Research-based teacher education. Teachers’ high competence in content knowledge and pedagogy. Trust in education and teachers." Front Matter....Pages i-xiii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Finnish School in International Comparison....Pages 3-21 The Societal Factors Contributing to Education and Schooling in Finland....Pages 23-40 Finnish Teachers as ‘Makers of the Many’....Pages 41-55 The Core of School Pedagogy....Pages 57-68 Front Matter....Pages 69-69 Striving for Educational Equity and Excellence....Pages 71-82 The Finnish National Core Curriculum....Pages 83-90 Research-Orientation in a Teacher’s Work....Pages 91-105 Front Matter....Pages 107-107 Promoting Mathematical Thinking in Finnish Mathematics Education....Pages 109-123 Science at Finnish Compulsory School....Pages 125-144 Language and Literature Education....Pages 145-156 Language Education – Towards Transversal Intercultural Language Proficiency....Pages 157-177 Religious Education in Finnish School System....Pages 179-190 History, Social Studies and Geography Education in Finnish Schools and Teacher Education....Pages 191-209 Arts Education....Pages 211-225 Front Matter....Pages 227-227 Drama Education in the Finnish School System – Past, Present and Future....Pages 229-240 Icts in a School’s Everyday Life – Developing the Educational Use of Icts in Finnish Schools of the Future....Pages 241-252 Public Institutions as Learning Environments in Finland....Pages 253-266 Luma Centre Finland....Pages 267-275 Epilogue....Pages 277-283 Back Matter....Pages 285-292