What the Finnish education systems could learn from Asia | Hannamiina Tanninen | TEDxOtaniemiED

Summary

In this talk, the speaker compares the education systems of Finland and Hong Kong, sharing personal experiences from both. The Finnish system emphasizes minimal pressure, creativity, and teacher autonomy, while the Hong Kong system is fast-paced, competitive, and highly pressurized. Despite its successes, Finland has slipped in international rankings, and the speaker suggests that Finland can learn from Asia's work ethic, perseverance, and competitive mindset. The speaker advocates for greater emphasis on hard work, tackling challenges head-on, and fostering a realistic view of talent and creativity in education, all while maintaining a healthy balance in learning.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Finnish and Hong Kong education systems are vastly different despite sharing similarities in structure and student numbers.
• 😀 Finland is known for its low-pressure, relaxed education system, while Hong Kong's system is fast-paced and heavily pressurized with frequent testing.
• 😀 Finland's education system has faced a decline in recent years, with significant drops in the PISA rankings, raising questions about its approach to education.
• 😀 The Finnish education system is praised for its excellent teachers, who are skilled at avoiding unnecessary busy work and know when to stop.
• 😀 Finland fosters an environment where failure is not feared, and students are not divided based on exam performance, which contrasts with more competitive systems.
• 😀 In Finland, students can choose not to retake an exam if they don't feel like studying, which is a unique concept not found in many other education systems.
• 😀 Asian students, particularly in Hong Kong, work hard and take pride in putting in the effort, which may be one area that Finland could learn from.
• 😀 The Finnish approach to dividing problems into easier and harder ones might hinder students' progress, whereas Hong Kong's system challenges all students with difficult problems to push their limits.
• 😀 Finland often assumes talent is an innate quality, whereas in Hong Kong, talent is seen as something that can be developed through hard work and perseverance.
• 😀 Finland's education system tends to downplay competition, but other countries like Hong Kong openly embrace the notion that education is a competition for excellence.
• 😀 Fun and creativity should not be the sole focus of education; long-term gains often require hard work, even if the process isn't always enjoyable.
• 😀 The Finnish education system needs to step up its focus on hard work, stop making distinctions between problem difficulties, and embrace competition to regain its position as a global leader in education.

Q & A

What is the speaker's background in education?

The speaker has received education from two of the finest educational systems in the world: one in Finland and one in Hong Kong. The first 12 years of their education were in Finland, followed by university education in Hong Kong.

How does the Finnish education system differ from the Hong Kong education system?

The Finnish education system is characterized by less pressure, no frequent testing, and a low hierarchy. In contrast, the Hong Kong education system is fast-paced, highly pressurized, and involves frequent testing.

What is the main criticism of the Hong Kong education system presented in the script?

The main criticism is the extreme pressure placed on students, which has led to tragic incidents like student suicides. Additionally, children as young as four face long school days and a heavy workload.

What does the speaker suggest Finland could learn from the Hong Kong education system?

The speaker suggests that Finland could learn from Hong Kong's work ethic, academic rigor, and competitive approach to education. Finnish students could benefit from starting earlier and working harder on challenging problems.

What are the three main protections that shield Finnish students from the pressures of education?

The three protections are: having the best teachers who avoid meaningless busy work, not dividing students based on their exam performance, and the unique Finnish practice of allowing students to choose not to retake an exam if they do not feel like studying.

How does the Finnish approach to failure differ from other educational systems?

In Finland, there is no fear of failure, and students are not grouped based on their exam results. They are encouraged to try again without the stigma of failure, unlike other systems where students are often segregated based on performance.

What is the speaker's view on the role of competition in education?

The speaker believes that Finland should embrace competition in education, acknowledging that it is a global competition. Other successful education systems openly strive to be the best, and Finland should adopt a similar mindset to maintain its position as a leading educational system.

Why does the speaker argue that education does not need to be fun all the time?

The speaker argues that while learning can be enjoyable, it is not necessary for it to be fun all the time. The long-term rewards of learning, such as mastering a skill or subject, come from hard work, which is often not fun in the short term but valuable in the long run.

What does the speaker believe about the concept of talent in education?

The speaker believes that talent is often misunderstood. In Finland, talent is seen as something innate, but the speaker argues that talent is mostly about hard work and persistence. In Hong Kong, students are encouraged to work hard, even when they struggle, rather than having their expectations lowered.

What does the speaker suggest Finland should change in how they approach problem-solving in education?

The speaker suggests that Finland should stop dividing problems into 'easy' or 'difficult' ones. Students should be encouraged to tackle challenging problems, regardless of their current ability, to foster a stronger work ethic and deeper learning.