Thank you and Happy Holidays!

Dear all,

Thank you for taking the course! I hope you have learned some facts and insights about Finland and have deepened  your interest to learn more. It was great to end the course by visiting Boliden, seeing parts of the process and hearing about the company.

Make sure you have all assignments done; presentations sent by e-mail to Peter and Linda, blog posts done etc so that you will get the credits for the course.

You also need to fill in the last (obligatory) learning goal questionnaire, which you find here

Happy holidays and prosperous new year to all of you!

Peter and Linda

Day 10 on 10.12.2014

The topic of the day is Music
Venue: 264

Missing tasks! Company interview due 7.12.2014!
Task list is here! 

Send the Political system presentations to me by e-mail. I cannot give credits and grade before all tasks are done.

Boliden visit and fact sheet!
- I will send our contact person the link to our fact sheet.
- She also wants questions before hand. Post your questions below by Sunday 14.12!
- Meeting outside the cafeteria at 14.45 on 17.12.2014 for transfer to Boliden.

Finnish music

We will end class today at 17.00.

Day 9 on 3.12.2014 - Business, Political System and Music

We have entered December and we have 3 more classes in our course.

- Practical issues:
Company visit to Boliden Zinc on 17.12.2014
Concert 11.12.2014 at 15.00 in the cafeteria
Company interview due 7.12.2014

- Political System wrap up / Peter

- Business wrap-up / Linda
Boliden Zinc - Fact sheet made as collaborative writing.
Mid-term exam

- Music introduction and Music task / Linda
Music task due on 17.12.2014!

See you in class 264 at 15.10!

Linda and Peter

Day 8 on 26.11.2014 - Business and Learning goals

 The Lesson Plan for 26.11.2014 is the following:

- Practicalities: Visit to company rescheduled to 10.12.2014 TBC!

- Business in Finland Presentation / Linda

- Task 3 “Business interview” discussion /  Linda

- Learning goal ⅔  /  This is due on 30.11.2014 

See you in 264 at 15.10!!!

Linda

Day 6 on 12.11.2014 - Political System Task 2 presentations, Blogging and Business introduction

Good day to all of you!

Day 6 on 12.11.2014 looks like this:

- Presentation of task 2 continues / Peter

- Research and Blogging - how to write a post to the blog?  /Linda
Room: 138

 - Introduction to task 3

Note: Class time in classroom 264  (first part), then138.

See you soon!
Peter and Linda

Day 5 on 5.11.2014 - Exam, Education (task 1) discussion and Political Task (Task 2) presentations

Please note: We will meet in classroom 285 on Wednesday at 15.10!

This is what will happen on Wednesday: 

• Videos, discussion and feedback from task 1. 

• Exam

• Presentations of Task 2 followed with discussion

• Learning goal questionnaire/ part 1 (11 responses - 9 missing)
• https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1bXxSK9P8VXLn4UPbgNN_uZum972CpFOWQeENL9n2_B8/viewform

•  Helsinki - what party to visit at the Parliament?
• What company to visit?

Day 4 on 29.10.2014 / Donnerska visit and Allegro talks

You have been busy making videos during the weekend. Watch your friends videos, give comments and ask questions in the comment box. The prospect is that the whole group is prepared for the visit to Donnerska school.

Watch also this video about the Finnish education system:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdgS--9Zg_0

Here is also a short article for you to read: 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3nfEdee4h3zaHpLRGhXWU03T00/view?usp=sharing

Here is the agenda for our unique Wednesday:

Donnerska skolan, on Banergatan 3-5.
8.45 Meeting in the main lobby. You can come on your own. Linda will leave from Centria at 8:30 for those who want to go jointly.
9-9.20 Welcome by principal Kaj Holmbäck. Coffee and biscuits will be served in the staff room.
9.20 Meet the staff in the staff room (ask questions)
9.40-10.15 Meet the students. Division in groups with students, dialogue with the students.
10.15-11.00 Characteristics of basic education in Finland. Kaj Holmbäck

Going back to Centria.

13.00 Leaving for Pietarsaari. Meeting outside the cafeteria 12.55.
14.30-15.30 Allegro Talks at Campus Allegro
15.45 leaving back to Kokkola

You will have a chance to ask questions to the teachers and students. Think of questions you want to ask, be courageous. The students we will meet are 9th graders, prepare suitable questions also to them.

See you on Wednesday!
Linda and Peter

Ps. I will send a message to BBA teachers and ICT teachers about the visits.

Day 3 on 22.10.2014 - Education and Political system intro

Good day, dear reader!

The topic of Wednesday's class is Education with a small introduction to Political System.

1. Course practicalities
- Exam literature and websites.
-  Helsinki trip on 3.12.
 
2. Presentations by the 3 groups followed with Q&A discussion

- Listen to the presentation, give feedback to the group after the presentation and ask one question.

3. Getting organized for the school visit on 29.10 at 9.00-11.30

- Meeting inside the main entrance at 8:45 Donnerska skolan, at Banérgatan 3-5.
4. Political System / Peter Finell

4. Allegro Talks in Pietarsaari 29.10 at 14.30

- We will leave Centria at 13.00
 
See you in classroom 264 at 15:10!
Linda and Peter

Education in Finland (Lesson 2 on 8.10.2014)

Welcome to day 2 of the Finnish Society and Culture course.
Venue: starting in 264, continuing in 1010.

• Practical issues:

Signing up in Sole-ops
Exam on 5.11.2014
Learning goal questionnaire
Blogging.
Trip to Helsinki 3-4 December

• Finnish Education introduction by Linda (Tasks are found in this document)

• Starting to work on task 1 in groups (computers to use in 1010) Tablets are also available.
• Introduction how to use collaborative writing through google drive. Teacher or peer-to-peer instruction in 1010.

• Presentation of task 1 on 22.10.2014. Post your presentation here in the blog before class! Add the link to the comment box below!

Education is well presented under the Finnish Board of Education pages
http://www.oph.fi/english/curricula_and_qualifications/basic_education
Finnish Education in a nutshell.

National Core Curriculum will be a key document for understanding Finnish education
http://www.oph.fi/english/curricula_and_qualifications/basic_education

Preliminary Course plan FSC 1.10-17.12.2014

Course Plan for Finnish Society and Culture

Classes:
October: 1, 8, 22, 29
November: 5, 12, 19, 26
December: 3, 10, 17 feedback
Trip to Helsinki on 3 December!

1.1.0.2014 Introductions, requirements, assessment, learning goal questionnaire 1/3, planning for Helsinki
8.10.2014 Education: Get into the blog, team work task 1, planning for Helsinki
15.10.2014 Holiday
22.10.2014 Education presentations of the different educational units task 1 (1-6 grade, 7-9th grade, special education) and further elaborations. Political System introduction and getting started with team work task 2.
29.10.2014 Education visit in the morning to Donnerska Basic Education, grades 7-9. Allegro Talks in Pietarsaari at 14:30. We will leave at 13.00 from Talonpojankatu!.


5.11.2014 EXAM. Political System presentations of task 2. Further elaborations.
12.11.2014 Economy and Business. Blogging and making pretask (blogpost)
19.11.2014 Economy/Business Making short interviews in class and making & editing videos.Business introduction and introduction of task 3. Learning goal questionnaire 2/3.
26.11.2014 Preparation for business visit. Music introduction.


3.12.2014 Company visit
10.12.2014 Music presentations (task 4). What concert to go to between 10.12-16.12?
17.12.2014 Music discussions and reflections. Learning goal questionnaire 3/3. Feedback discussion.


This plan is subject to changes!