Browsing by Subject "Maker-salkku"

Inventining and innovation pedagogy renew the content and pedagogy of education. New pedagogy changes teaching and challenges both students and teachers with open assignments. Schools have experimented with the invention pedagogy, which challenges students to develop thinking skills and encourages creativity and inventing New tools (Maker-case) and pedagogy have been experimented in 16 schools and preschools in the Helsinki metropolitan area. Teachers from various grades have participated in training provided by Growing Mind and Innoplay research projects. The present study examines with electronic questionnaire teachers’ (n=12) experiences of invention pedagogy, the use of materials in the Maker-case and changes in the ways of teaching. The analysis of the questionnaire directed the interview phase. The theme interviews (n=5) focused on the pedagogy and tools, their developmental needs, and suitability for teaching. The interview specified observations about the new pedagogy and understanding of the impacts, opportunities and weaknesses of teaching. The questionnaire revealed that the materials of the Maker-case and the pedagogy benefited those teachers for whom technology-based materials were new and who were eager to experiment with them in practice. Teachers' motivation to develop pedagogy and school practices clearly increased their willingness to experiment, and the development work was seen beneficial for the school, for students, and for teachers’ own competence. The materials in the Maker-case inspired all respondents, and most of them felt that the materials allowed them to practice technology-based invention pedagogy and encouraged them to use the pedagogy in their classrooms. The content analysis of the interview data showed that the new pedagogy is used to change one's own teaching to meet the objectives of the curriculum and to modernize teaching. The challenges were related to the lack of own skills and pedagogical support, and to the ability to apply the pedagogy to suit one's own group. According to the teachers, the tools in the Maker -case can be used to change teaching and to practice 21stcentury skills. Maker tools and invention pedagogy had a positive effect on the quality of learning. Open-ended challenges of invention pedagogy develop creativity and thinking skills and make learning more individual and effective.