SUMMARY OF LESSONS FROM
FINLAND AND SWEDEN
International comparisons highlight many differences and a
few similarities among these two countries and the United States.
Rebecca learn
mathematics lesson in both country during her spring. Finland has not an extra
hour of after school and the student attend in high-performing countries using
their weekend class. Similarly with Finland, Sweden also has a special
education. One of the school that Rebecca have attended, including visiting
advanced mathematics classes, a mathematic sclass for nursing
students, and mathematics courses for immigrant students who need remedial work to
prepare them for regular gymnasiumprograms.
This is the more
specific lesson that Rebecca got in the both country during her spring:
1.
THE FINNISH AND SWEDISH SCHOOL
SYSTEMS
After all the school system of the both
countries was resemble. There are elementary school and lower secondary grades. the third (10-12) are classified by general upper-secondary that
have an academic lesson and vocational upper-secondary that the student would
typically continue on to a polytechnic school in university.in Sweden student
can choose from the upper secondary school.
2.
CLASSROOM OBSERVATIONS
The both have the similarly activityto
what would be considered traditional classroomsin the United States. But, Finnish
mathematics classrooms place a strongemphasis on problem solving. The
Curriculum learned the student to be active in solving math problems.
3.
RESOURCES
The Finland and Swedenstudents are
allowedto use the reference book for all work, the one differences is only
Sweden books also contain some solutions in the back instead of just answers.
4.
TECHNOLOGY
Rebecca found that Finland use
interactive whiteboard more than Sweden. In particularthe TI-Nspire CX CAS in the Finnish
integral calculus course, the Texas Instruments calculators were used in
classrooms
5.
LESS IS MORE
The two countries have a busier time for
education, but have a more relaxed atmosphere than in theUnited States
6.
NATIONAL PRIORITIES
One of Finland’s highest goals is
equity in theirschools and between schools.The onlytrackingwas in the ninth
grade,which is the final year of comprehensive school. Both a Finnish teacher
who had visited schoolsin Sweden and Swedish teachers described thefocus in
Sweden as more accommodating to thestudents’ needs, whereas in Finland the
priorityseemed to be that everyone should learn the subjectswell.
7.
STUDENT PREPARATION
8.
TEACHER PREPARATION
Teacher’s skill was
the most important things in this section. The rule was:
a.
must have a master’s degree in
mathematics
b.
Allmathematics teachers teach
both subjects lesson
c.
beginning teachers must earn
amaster’s degree
Rebecca said that Finnish teachers’ salaries are betterthan in the
United States.They make approximately92 percent of what other
college-educatedworkers make; in the United States, that figure isless than 60 percent (OECD 2011, p. 15).
9.
ESTEEM FOR
TEACHERS
In Finland, teacher are held in high
esteem. But in Sweden, every teacher whom Rebecca met in there felt that tye
are poorly respected and are blamed for many society problem.
