Results
Results and learning outcomes
Results we would like to share
The use of the digital learning platform Peda.net offered us a handy tool of communication throughout the whole project and enabled us to share materials, all the results and learning outcomes with each party practically in real time. After the project activity everything can be accessed freely online and we plan to publish the future learning outcomes and results of Liceo A. Manzoni job shadowing us in the spring of 2017 in the very same way.
Thus, digitalization served us well as a tool of professional self-improvement, networking and internationalization. It has recently been successfully employed by our students when participating in the international projects of Forssa yhteislyseo but our job shadowing experience broadened the teachers' horizons in this respect, too. As part of network a single educational institute will grow stronger as the learning experieces and outcome multiply. The role of social media began to intrigue us as well as a means of promoting educational causes.
Thus, digitalization served us well as a tool of professional self-improvement, networking and internationalization. It has recently been successfully employed by our students when participating in the international projects of Forssa yhteislyseo but our job shadowing experience broadened the teachers' horizons in this respect, too. As part of network a single educational institute will grow stronger as the learning experieces and outcome multiply. The role of social media began to intrigue us as well as a means of promoting educational causes.
What we really would like to share were the informal discussions with the teachers in addition to the ordinary school work, too.
Another thing was getting acquainted with the rich cultural monuments and other background that surrounds people there constantly, which also reflects to their school material. Getting to know foreign traditions and customs. Not to belittle the importance of language skills, either, not only English!
Learning outcomes
During the job shadowing period in Caserta the participants acquired a further knowledge of the educational system in Italy, knowledge of the structure of administration of a large institute of upper secondary education, elementary knowledge of resources (human, economic, facilities) alloted to education, knowledge of local and national curricula in different subjects, knowledge of international programmes and projects and networking in general. Their skills in e-learning improved by finding and using new tools available when preparing material and demostrating Finnish education system to the Italian students and teachers. As to attitudes, the participants found that networking and internationalization concern each and every one of us and all the subjects in our school.
Then there were aspects that turned out to be of personal interest: The comparison between the contents of philosophy books in Finland and Italy as well as other material used in the classrooms. The cultural differences, social norms, interaction between teachers and pupils. The different teacher personalities. Comparison between the issues that we take for granted in our school but are differently organized in our target school. For example lack of breaks between the lessons in Italy.
Or, this is how another teacher put it: This job shadowing project inspired him to take a good look at his 30-odd- year career as a teacher of English and French in Finland. To put it briefly, he does need to highlight the fact that the Finnish education system has tried, at least, to keep abreast with the changing times; new curricula with modern methods at regular intervals.
Or, this is how another teacher put it: This job shadowing project inspired him to take a good look at his 30-odd- year career as a teacher of English and French in Finland. To put it briefly, he does need to highlight the fact that the Finnish education system has tried, at least, to keep abreast with the changing times; new curricula with modern methods at regular intervals.
In his opinion the choices Finland has made over the years seem to be far more student-friendly and motivating than he has realized: the general attitude to students, work in pairs and small groups, well- chosen native books and material addressing young Finns instead of borrowing material from abroad. Besides, our administrative choices consider young students better than many foreign systems: good facilities, both compulsory and voluntary studies, proper breaks, meals according to each and every one of our students’ needs. He has to admit that he never got a clear picture of the local educational system or curriculum in Italy.
Personally, he relearnt to use his knowledge of Italian during his stay in Caserta, Italy. As short a period as seven days was long enough to activate long forgotten language skills of the other two teachers as well, studies of Latin proved invaluable when understanding spoken and written Italian.