Finland has long been at the forefront of educational change. The following are from their developing curriculum, in which this is the last year of their plan. They will have a new plan for the future. I can’t wait to see it.

Curriculum reform in Finland

FINNISH NATIONAL BOARD OF EDUCATION

More information: Mrs. Irmelí Halinen, Head of Curriculum Development

irmeli.halinen@oph.fi

http://www.oph.fi/download/151294_ops2016_curriculum_reform_in_finland.pdf

More participatory, physically active, creative and linguistically enriched schools and integrated teaching and learning

We will work together to create better opportunities :

For educational work at schools

For meaningful learning for all pupils

For a sustainable future

The school will be developed both as a growth community and as a learning environment

Why? What? How?

• If you want to increase curiosity, allow questioning

• If you want to develop problem-solving skills, link school knowledge to real-life problems and encourage pupils to work together to seek solutions

• If you want to increase understanding, combine knowledge and skills from different subjects

• If you want to raise citizens who will develop society, promote inclusiveness and participation, give opportunities to make a difference, and facilitate positive - not negative - critical thinking

• If you want to strengthen learners' self-confidence and learning motivation, give constructive and honest feedback. Never humiliate or put down a learner.

Relationship of education and schools to a changing society

Strengthening the value basis

• Uniqueness of every child, and high quality education as the basic right

• Relationship with a changing society More detailed description of the tasks

• Tasks include both teaching and educating (raising up)

• Taking care of the completion of compulsory education of all students

• Basic education as a basis of a solid all-round education

• Solid foundation for all for entering upper secondary education To be considered in organising school work:

• Increasing need for cooperation, role and participation of pupils

• The educating and guiding influence of all school activities

• Importance of varied learning environments and, for example, opportunities for remote teaching

http://oph.fi/download/146428_Finnish_Education_in_a_Nutshell.pdf

A SOLE View

I have always believed that children are capable of learning without adult intervention. We see this everyday in so many ways. For years, as a teacher, I felt caught between what I believe and what the system demanded. I was teaching but not really feeling fulfilled because I could only do so much to reach my weakest students. One day a friend of mine suggested I watch a video about Sugata Mitra's Ted Talk. From that day forward everything changed. I immediately saw what he was saying and upon reading his toolkit realized how easy it would be to adapt this type of learning to my classroom. So I did. They very next day I tried it out. It was amazing. There was such a great commitment to working together to solve the Big Question they proposed. This was serious. They were so focussed and committed to finding the answers and presenting their information. I tried it in many different forms the first half year of SOLE. I asked big curriculum questions and allowed them to form their own questions. All were extremely successful. I knew the challenge was going to come from other educators about its value. So I tested the students reading levels. All students showed improvement. The weaker students showed greater improvement. Colleagues the next year said that students were struggling. I explained that when we teach students the regular curriculum they are bored and will not perform. Give them interesting topics and they bloom. My test scores every year bore this out. Even my shyest students would stand up and present their information with their group. Success was all around except that I was not following directives to teach students in an approved way. After retiring, when I see the students, they still ask me about SOLE, stating how it finally made them feel like they belonged in school.

One of the things I noticed right away when my students were working on a SOLE is that not only were they all reading the material they found on the internet but they were discussing it passionately. Therein lies the underlying achievement, all students, including the weak readers, were reading and discussing the topic. Articles are written at a Grade 4 level and above. Some of these students were tested reading at a Grade 1 or 2 level. Still they participated as equals, making strong connections with the topic. They were discussing topics they knew little about but were making strong opinions and insights based on the material they were discovering. The challenge of the harder texts did not phase them. To further check this idea I found that in some SOLE’s groups of weaker students that were formed had the same results.

During my second year of teaching, before we had computers, I had 45 students in my class. I decided that my brighter students needed independent projects because so many of the others needed my help that I couldn’t get around to them. They ran with their independent projects much the same way as a SOLE runs today, only using textbooks to do this. They discussed their projects with each other and gathered new information from the discussions. They learned from each other by discussing their projects and receiving feedback.

One of the major problems I faced was the idea that teachers had to teach a certain way because that was how it was done. You follow the curriculum and bore the daylights out of the students. What I found was that when students were motivated by their own thoughts and learning they were picking up clues how to do things themselves. If they are reading passages that are in paragraphs that motivate them they will want paragraphs so they look like they know what they are talking about. The same with spelling. It is all right there on the page if they pay attention to it. And on a computer they will pay attention because they don’t like the red lines in their work. My weaker students challenged themselves to improve. They asked more questions, enriched their vocabulary and generally saw themselves as being successful, in some cases for the first times in their lives.

The use of SOLE in traditional classrooms is all that is happening at the moment. Those who are in the power to make changes are going in a totally different direction, the forcing of children to become adept at what they deem is necessary to have a good education, learning the basics of reading and writing. While there is some moderate success in this method it does not invest in the child ownership of their reading. It does not encourage them to develop their skills and maintain those skills. It wants the child to fit in better to a teacher directed program so they can all be taught the same material. This neither meets the children’s needs nor invests in developing the skills they need to have a successful life. In short it meets the government criteria of doing a good job.

To conclude I believe that SOLE is the best thing that could happen to education. Teachers in every country are employing to help their students become better people. SOLE works.

E bikes are the real thing.

The hottest trend right now are e bikes. Yes e bikes. Some of you may be asking why would I want an ebike? There is no exercise in that kind of bike. You would be wrong. So wrong.

Electric vehicles were the best selling vehicles in the world in 2016. There were 35 million e vehicles sold. Improvements in battery technology have allowed for lighter bikes to ride. With this improved battery power there is greater efficiency in climbing hills or dealing with head winds. They also allow for better range.

On the monetary side ebikes are a lot less expensive to  operate than cars. Charging a bicycle is a few cents at a time while cars cost a lot for gas. Cars also require insurance and hefty repair bills. Bikes? The occasional repair that costs far less than a car.

With an e bike you can cut down on your commute time. No more waiting in heavy traffic. You will be able to move quickly alongside the waiting cars. There is more fresh air because you are not polluting. You also are not exposed to body odours or other disgusting smells that are evident in public transportation. Being more efficient in your travels leaves more time for other activities. Also for those travelling to work, an e bike means you will not need  a shower when you get to work. All the hard work will be done by the bike.

Some people feel that cars are faster than e bikes. On the open highway that’s true. But in town that is a different story. In town, cars average 18 mph while e bikes average 15 mph. Plus you can go on paths that cars can’t which can be a real time saver.

E bikes also allow people with asthma or other injuries the luxury of travelling and getting exercise with less effort. You don’t have to peddle all the time to benefit from the exercise portion. And speaking of exercise, if you peddle while you are riding you can put electricity back into the battery making your trek even longer. The new bikes recharge in minutes. You can plug them into any hydro outlet.

For those who like to travel ebikes come with carry alongs that allow you to visit places economically. The money you save on gas means you can do more things for your buck.

E bikes are definitely worth the cost. I think it’s time for everyone to pitch in and help the environment by getting an e bike.

We Must Learn ...

We must learn to trust the minds of children

As adults we tend to think of children as cute little things who we can mold and develop. Yet when thinking this we are already in the wrong. Children are not to be controlled, molded or developed. They are doing that precisely on their own without our help. You see children have minds of their own. Nobody doubts that fact yet we, as adults always contradict ourselves through our actions. Children use so many cues to pick up on what is right and wrong in the world. They explore thoughts, ideas and actions and test us constantly to determine the values for those actions. We on the other hand often over react to what they present. Our body language, tone of voice, reactions all send signals to the children. We need to accept children and listen to them. Let’s encourage them rather than tell them. Let’s follow their lead and discuss with them rather than be the one in charge. It really does make a difference.

Ireland decides to divest itself of fossil fuels.

Ireland decides to divest itself of fossil fuels.

This is a great start. Come on world! Let's everyone get in on it!

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ireland-votes-divest-fossil-fuels-climate-change-world-first-country-parliament-renewable-energy-a7549121.html 

Shifting Electricity From Consumer To Producer

Imagine you are in a room with a car that is running. There are no windows and only one door but it is locked from the outside. You can’t get out. We know the outcome is not favourable.

Now take this idea and picture yourself in your home. If you live in a big city, think about all the air pollution that surrounds you every day. Pollution from vehicles and factories and other sources. Can you get away from it?

Do we want to continue increasing pollution by having deadlock on highways and city streets or do we want clean air to breathe and a better environment to live in? The way to do this is to make every building in this country responsible for producing electricity from renewable resources and encouraging the use of Environmentally Friendly Vehicles.

As our government leaders approve pipelines to move oil and solidify the use of fossil fuels in our countries we need to look at other ways to replace fossil fuels. Fossil fuels run vehicles and heat our homes. They give off 98% of the carbon dioxide in the air. We have other ways to run our cars, heat our homes and produce materials without polluting our air. They are all available but not highly recognized at this point in time.

In Canada 18.9% of its energy comes from renewable resources. Only 13.2% of electricity generation in the US is from renewable resources.  That means a whopping 86.8 percent is from non renewable resources. That is like saying in the room mentioned above that the only breathable space is around the door. We know that is not helpful.

The move towards using renewable resources has been picking up speed. Albania, Iceland, and Paraguay obtain essentially all of their electricity from renewable sources. Sweden wants to eliminate fossil fuel usage within its borders, and is immediately investing in solar, wind, energy storage, smart grids, and clean transport. Costa Rica aims to be entirely carbon-neutral by 2021. Nicaragua is to be 90% fossil free by 2020. In Scotland wind power produced the equivalent of 97% of the country’s household needs. Uruguay is now 95-percent powered by renewable energy. Denmark got 42% of it’s power from wind turbines in 2015. The country aims to be 100% fossil free by 2050. in 2014 China had the most installed wind energy capacity and the second-highest installed solar PV capacity. China is also phasing out coal and cleaning up its polluted air. The largest concentrated solar plant on earth is in Morocco. This will provide half of Morocco’s electricity by 2020. In the US a NOAA study estimates that they could reduce emissions by 80% without impacting consumer electricity costs by using more renewables. As of 2015, Kenya generates 71 percent of its electricity with renewables.

Given the fact that fossil fuels are the largest problem with pollution and climate change on the planet there needs to be a larger push for renewable energy sources to become the dominant player in the market.

Much has been said about the ineffectiveness and unreliability of using renewable resources. Most of the arguments against using renewable energy on a large level are produced by hydro companies or oil companies. Both are afraid of losing their role in the marketplace as producers. Movement towards renewable energy on a large scale would require politicians to take a stand on the topic and move barriers out of the way. Existing infrastructure would not need to continue to grow if each building produced electricity to support even a part of their needs. At the moment the only barrier are the high costs, which put it out of most people’s grasp.

Even with the high costs we should be moving forward. As hydro rates rise we need to provide the consumer with a feasible alternative that will cut their costs. Who would not like to heat their own home, heat their own hot water or provide electricity for all of their appliances and send extra hydro back into the system? Who would not like to drive electric vehicles (EVs) that burn no gasoline and have no tailpipe emissions. Every building should be producing electricity from renewable resources.

As seen in countries around the world the shift to being fossil free is moving forward. In many countries it is not happening on a large scale. Governments need to get behind the idea. By having every building in a country producing electricity would go a long way towards ending our reliance on fossil fuels. Governments need to make a strong commitment with clear decision making. They must acknowledge the problems and be willing to step away from the rhetoric that is put against being fossil free. There must be a supportive regulatory environment that will help foster and develop renewable energy resources in every community. Every building should be required to produce their own electricity using renewable energy. There must be a strong partnership between the public and private sector. Costs must be reasonable.

Does Bicycling Lessen Behaviour Issues In Children In School?

We live in a world of tension, stress and conflict. Nowhere is this seen more readily than in our schools. The number of students with behavioural disorders is increasing daily. This creates less teaching in the classroom and more focus on solving behaviour issues.

What if there was something to ease the behaviour issues?

A Harvard University Study by April Bowling, James Slavet, Daniel P. Miller, Sebastien Haneuse, William Beardslee, and Kirsten Davison suggests that quality cycling by children with ADHD and other behavioural disorders will help them to be less disruptive in the classroom.  

The study, found here http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2017/01/05/peds.2016-1985 ,

had students with behavioural issues riding stationary bikes for 7 weeks during their gym classes, twice a week for 30 to 40 minutes.  

Their classroom behaviour was tracked during the process.

The study discovered that students were up to 51% lower in exhibiting behavioural issues and time out of classroom. On days when they were being exercised the odds of disruptive levels of behavior declined between 71% and 76% , while on non testing days these numbers dropped. On days when they were engaged in riding they were participating more in class and completing assignments.

What does this mean?

We live in a sedentary society. We drive our children to school. At home they watch tv, surf the internet, play video games, and use social media among other things. They don’t get the exercise they need to grow. Children with behavioral health disorders (BHD) demonstrate low participation in aerobic exercise. Studies demonstrate that the more children move there is an increase in brain power.  Cycling increases blood flow to the brain resulting in a more oxygenated brain that is able to function with greater efficiency. This allows the child to focus more on tasks which leads to a decrease in behavioural problems.

It is well known that bicycling has many benefits. The high energy workout burns calories, increases quality sleep, increases brain power, relieves stress and is environmentally friendly. It also helps lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of acquiring heart disease and diabetes.

The question might be asked, “What about gym classes? They are exercising during the day.” Unfortunately, gym classes do not deal in the kind of exercise children need to increase their brain power. With a focus more on acquiring skills than developing more muscle mass and increasing oxygen intake they cannot ever help students with behavioural issues. There needs to be more rigorous exercise. In the end that will benefit, not just students with behaviour issues but all students. Let’s increase that Brain Power.

https://www.epainassist.com/mental-health/mental-health-benefits-of-cycling

https://www.pacelinewear.com/blogs/news/9-benefits-of-cycling

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/exercise-an-antidote-for-behavioral-issues-in-children/

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2017/01/05/peds.2016-1985