Browsing by Subject "tulevaisuuden taidot"

The purpose of this study is to explore learning experiences of sixth grade students in the Me & MyCity learning environment. The research task is approached through the criteria of meaningful learning, which have been used as a theoretical framework in a Finnish learning environment study, among others. Previous research has shown that criteria of meaningful learning can be found in different kinds of learning environments. The study focuses on what working life skills the students learn in the Me & MyCity working life and society simulation. Very little research has been conducted on Me & MyCity, so the study is much needed. Research on learning environments shows that understanding and studying the usefulness of different learning environments is necessary, since there are few studies available on the topic. The goal of this study is to generate new information about the Me & MyCity learning environment, and also about which working life skills it can help students learn. The results of this study can also be used, for example, in the development of Me & MyCity. The study was carried out as a case study. The data consists of thematic interviews of a class of students and a teacher from a school in Vantaa who visited Me & MyCity in the spring of 2016, and papers the students wrote (two per each student). Altogether there were thematic interviews of 19 students, 38 papers, and one thematic interview of a teacher. The data was analyzed deductively, using the criteria of meaningful learning and a framework of working life skills that was compiled for this study. The results show that all criteria of meaningful learning can be found in Me & MyCity. However, based on the research data, the criterion of constructive learning was fulfilled only to a small extent, so the learning environment of Me & MyCity could be developed to support students' reflection of their own learning more, for example. There is variation in how working life skills are learnt in Me & MyCity. According to the results, some working life skills were not learnt at all. These results can be applied, among other things, in the pedagogical material of Me & MyCity, and its development. The results can also be put to use in ordinary school teaching to consider how school work can support students in learning working life skills and how, for example, an authentic learning environment that supports learning can be built in a school environment. The results can also be applied to building a good learning environment that supports the learning of other skills and information as well.

Objectives. The aim of education is to prepare the students with proper knowledge and skills for the unknown future. The academic field introduces the term 21st Century Skills as a response to the rapidly changing world. Definitions suggest that thinking skills are one of the main skills needed in the future. However previous study has not been able to deliver a solution on how these skills could be effectively taught and learned at the school level. Alternative pedagogues have offered alternative methods for the traditional school – methods that closely remind the objectives of the 21st Century Skills. Maria Montessori developed concrete materials in order to teach thinking skills to the children already in the 19th Century. The purpose of this study is to research on whether the Montessori materials could provide a solution on how the 21st Century Skills also known as future thinking skills can be taught and learned. Methods. The data was collected with a web-based questionnaire that was designed for the study from international Montessori network. The target group of this study was Montessori coaches (N = 39) and the majority of the responses came from North America (N = 21). The e-form consisted of a multi-choice questionnaire and open-ended questions. The quantitative data was analyzed with a factor analysis which helped the further data analysis. The qualitative data was analyzed with theory-based content analysis. Results and conclusions. The Montessori coaches agreed that Montessori materials support the development of thinking skills today. The results also indicated that Montessori Education is an entity and the materials work most effectively as part of the existing method of Montessori Education. As a conclusion, I present that Montessori materials are suitable tools for teaching thinking skills if the teacher has proper knowledge of the Montessori Education and its principles.

Target: This study examines school culture and its change in technology-intensive schools through principals' experiences. The aim of the study was to gain deeper understanding on three related themes: 1) How the principals have experienced the change in school culture and which factors they have perceived (2) to facilitate or (3) to hinder the change. Furthermore, the goal was to understand which factors related to technology-intensive schools' functions and leadership have improved the change processes and what kind of challenges the school and the management have experienced along the way. The theoretical framework of this study is based on the theories of organization culture and more specifically on school culture and related concepts. Method: The research data for this study was gathered from 13 schools across the Helsinki capital area and it consisted of semi-structured interview material from the principals of the targeted schools. The data was analyzed by qualitative content analysis. I grouped and thematized the interview data, coded and categorized meanings related to the themes identified, and, finally, analyzed the interdependencies between the categories and meanings. Findings and conclusions: The findings of this study indicated that the collaboration culture in schools has evolved. The principals reported that the teachers use more collaborative working methods and share knowledge more actively with others than before. The findings also revealed that the learning environments are more versatile than before and the working methods appear to be more innovative. The principals also de-scribed that the gap between the school and students as well as the gap between school and the society have narrowed. The most important factors supporting the cultural change were perceived to be leadership and the increasing collaboration between teachers. In addition, external support in its different forms as well as resources allocated to schools appeared important. Particular emphasis was given to the guidelines indicated by the newest national curriculum. On practical level, modern learning environments and learning tools were highlighted to be a pre-requisite for the development of digital school culture. The cultural transformation is hindered, according to the principals, by the resistance to change among teachers. Renewing old working methods and altering the professional identity is arduous and may generate negative attitudes towards change. Also, some external factors seemed to complicate the change process. Especially the limited working hours of teachers and principals seemed to decelerate the development. Furthermore, some principals experienced the negative public discussion concerning the digitalization of schools frustrating. The principals described that the role of technology in school culture change is to serve as an enabler for widening and renewing the ways of working and the environments for learning. The results of this study indicated that some change in school culture has occurred but the systemic change is still in process. The results together with former theory constituted a model of innovative and collaborative school culture. The model can be used for improving the school culture to better correspond to the challenges of the constantly changing world and knowledge society.