The Finland Phenomenon 1 4 2011 Full documentary

Summary

The video explores Finland's highly ranked education system through the lens of Tony Wagner, an Innovation Education Fellow at Harvard. Finland's success stems from a unified, equitable approach to education, emphasizing small class sizes, teacher-student relationships, and hands-on, integrated learning. Finnish students and teachers share insights about their education experiences, with a focus on real-life problem solving, creativity, and personal well-being. Wagner compares Finland's achievements to U.S. states like Minnesota, highlighting the need for America to adopt similar approaches to improve its educational standards.

Takeaways

• 📘 Finland's education system is highly regarded, often ranked as the best globally.
• 🧠 Finland values education as a crucial resource, focusing on the development of young minds to compete in the global market.
• 🏫 Finnish schools are smaller and promote close relationships between students and teachers, creating a more intimate learning environment.
• 📚 Education in Finland is equal for all, regardless of social background, ensuring all students receive the same quality education.
• 🎭 Finland's curriculum integrates real-life experiences, arts, and thoughtful concepts to make learning practical and engaging.
• 🎓 Finnish students have a broad vision of their future, focusing more on job satisfaction than on high earnings.
• ⏳ Finland's longer lessons save time by reducing the inefficiencies of shorter periods, allowing students to focus more on learning.
• 🎯 Finnish upper secondary education is flexible, allowing students to choose their courses and schedules to match their individual needs.
• 🌍 The comparison between Finland's education system and that of U.S. states, like Minnesota, shows that even the best U.S. states struggle in international rankings.
• 🔢 Finland's approach to teaching math includes discovery-based learning, with students actively participating by solving problems on the board instead of passive learning.

Q & A

Who is Tony Wagner and what is his role?

Tony Wagner is the Innovation Education Fellow at the Technology and Entrepreneurship Center at Harvard. He is the author of the book 'The Global Achievement Gap,' which explores the skills students need for careers, college, and citizenship in the global knowledge economy.

What inspired Tony Wagner's visit to Finland?

Tony Wagner was invited by the National Board of Education of Finland to consult with them about their comprehensive education system for the 21st century, as Finland is the highest-ranked country in the world by educational standards.

What key value do Finnish families place on education?

Finnish families value education highly, believing it is important for their children's future, regardless of their social background or parents' professions.

What is one unique aspect of Finland's education system?

Finland provides the same educational system for all pupils, regardless of their social background, ensuring equal opportunities for all students.

What factors contribute to Finland's success in education rankings?

Finland's success is attributed to several factors, including the collaboration of politicians, principals, teachers, and universities, who all focus on nurturing Finland's most valuable resource—the brainpower of its young people.

What observation did Tony Wagner make about class sizes in Finnish schools?

Tony Wagner observed that class sizes in Finnish schools are generally smaller, with an average of about 20 students, allowing for more intimate relationships between students and teachers.

How are creative activities integrated into Finnish education?

In Finland, creativity is integrated into the curriculum. For example, second-grade students learning about energy sources were tasked with writing a puppet show about a power outage, combining real-life experience, thoughtful concepts, and the arts.

What do Finnish students prioritize when considering their future careers?

Finnish students prioritize doing what they enjoy over earning a high income. Many believe that job satisfaction is more important than the amount of money they make, though some also acknowledge the need for financial stability.

How is the school schedule in Finland flexible for upper secondary students?

Upper secondary students in Finland have flexible schedules. Depending on their course load, they can start and finish school later in the day, and they have the option to complete their studies in two, three, or four years.

What is one teaching method observed in a Finnish math class?

In a Finnish eighth-grade math class, students were actively involved in solving problems on the board, rather than just listening to the teacher. This encourages participation and helps the teacher assess the students' understanding of the material.