Empowered Educators in Finland

KAREN HAMMERNESS is the director of Educational Research and Evaluation at the American Museum of Natural History. Her research focuses on US and international teacher education. RAISA AHTIAINEN is a special education needs teacher and a project researcher at the Centre for Educational Assessment, University of Helsinki. Her recent work includes an investigation into issues of technology in education in Finnish schools and an examination of an initiative promoting multiculturalism in Finnish schools. PASI SAHLBERG is author of Finnish Lessons: What Can the World Learn from Educational Change in Finland? and is an international expert on teacher policies and education, educational leadership, and educational change. Twitter: @pasi_sahlberg

• Foreword vAcknowledgments ixAbout the Sponsoring Organizations xiiiAbout the Authors xvOnline Documents and Videos xixThe Context 4Finnish Policies and Practices of Teacher Education 10Subject Teacher Education 29The Teachers’ Academy at the University of Helsinki 32After Graduation: Supports for Quality Teaching in Schools 33The Role of the Teacher in Finnish Schools 33Multiculturalism in Schools 39Teacher Appraisal in Finnish Schools: A Focus upon Personal Responsibility and Feedback for Growth 40Teachers’ Careers: Organic and Local Novice and Professional Development 44Decisions for the Future of Quality Teaching in Finland 51A Case of the “Construction” of Teacher Quality 54Aligned and Coherent Policies around Teaching and Teacher Preparation 55An Investment in Learning to Teach in Practice Paired with Considerable Theoretical Support 56A Focus upon Teachers’ Agency and Responsibility 56A Conception of Professional Development as Organic, Local, and In-time 57A Focus upon Children—and a Refl ection of Key Ideas in Child Development 57A Continued Investment in Strengthening Teacher Education 59Looking Ahead 59Sample Documents 60Notes 61Appendix: Methodology 63References 65