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.

Business introduction, Egor Zmaznev

1.What are the 5 most important sectors in Kokkola region (Keski-Pohjanmaa)?

- Metal industry and basic metal manufacture (Metallien jalostus ja metallituotteiden valm)

- Social services and medicine(Terveys- ja sosiaalipalvelut)

- Chemical industry

- Logistics

- Trade sector

According to http://www.kase.fi/tilastot/tilastot-julkinen.php and http://www.keski-pohjanmaa.fi/tilastot-ja-ennakointi/elinkeinorakenne

2. Are the most important sectors the same in Kokkola (Central Ostrobothnia) as in Finland?

To my mind, the most important sectors are practically the same,but their influence on whole Finnish economy differs.I suppose that logistics and trade sectors are two most important and most profitable sectors(mosty because the geographical location of Finland: being "between" Europe and Russian Federation gives great opportunities for these two sectors)
3. What are the most important companies in Kokkola? 

OMG

KPO group

CABB Oy

Freeport Copalt Oy

Boliden Kokkola Oy
4. Reflect on what company would you like to visit? Why?

Boliden Kokkola Oy, because it is one of the biggest employers in its sectors in Kokkola and working in the most important sector 

Blogging and doing small scale reserach

Blogging is to write about situations and topics from a contextual but also more personal point of view. Blogs are updated regularity and are usually open to the public. Blogs can be personal, but also open to groups.
Our blog is an educational blog, where we share knowledge and reflections and learn together from each other.


Blog posts in our blog should not be too long, but the posts need to stick to the topic and the questions.  Write in your own way, but with correct language and full sentences.

Reflection means to write about one's thoughts and opinions. Write your posts so that you use full sentences and correct language.

Ethics: Remember to respect others when writing in the blog. Writing about others in a negative manner is absolutely not allowed. When commenting others posts, write in an encouraging manner.

To get started: 

In order to write in this blog, you need to provide me with you gmail account so that I can add you to the blog. Send it to me now: lindascourse@gmail.com

After that I will invite you to the blog.

After you accept the invitation, you can start writing in the blog.

To write a post, click new post. Add the suggested title and labels (in the right hand-side). In the company interview case the labels are the following: Company interview, Linda Krokfors and Peter Finell. After that you can just start writing :-)

You can save the post and continue another time. Your post will be seen in the blog when you push publish! Check always what the post looks like in preview and make modifications if needed. You can also modify already published posts by opening the post and pushing "update".

BLOG TASK TODAY 12.11.2014

Research on your own and look for the following information:
1. What are the 5 most important sectors in Kokkola region (Keski-Pohjanmaa)?
2. Are the most important sectors the same in Kokkola (Central Ostrobothnia) as in Finland?
3. What are the most important companies in Kokkola?
4. Reflect on what company would you like to visit? Why?

Write your answers to the blog, meaning that you will write a "new post". 
Title: Business introduction Linda Krofkors (your name)
Label: Business, your full name (Linda Krokfors)

Start with this in class. If you do not finish during class, have it done by Sunday 16.11.2014. 
Learning objective:
- Learn basics about blogging and how to make a post
- Learn about main business sectors in Finland and the local region 
- Learning about companies in Kokkola
- Becoming acquainted with information related to Task 3/ Business

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

Task 3 - Business interview - Deadline 7.12.2014!

 What is the best way to learn about Finnish businesses?

Talk to a company (owner or employee)?
Read about one in a paper or online?
Listen to a presentation?

Learning styles are different and we all have our own preferences. However, learning-by doing is always useful and in this task, I want you to do that!

Your next task is to interview one company in Kokkola region. Do it in pairs (2 people) where your final product is a text in our blog, where you will write about your interview and share what you've learnt and your thoughts (reflection). 

We will do this in two steps. On 19.11.2014 we will make training interviews based on your research done on 12.11.2014 and general knowledge. These training sessions will prepare you for the real interview! Do the real interview sometime when it is suitable for you and the company. Publish the post by 7.12.2014! Read your friends posts and comment on 3! No post, no comments = no grade for the task.

To remember:

Interview a company that really interests you!
Learn about the company as much as possible so that you are prepared for the interview.
Make an appointment with the owner or an employee, who can answer your questions.
Be responsible. Be yourself, but respect the time and the person you are interviewing! (this could be your future employer!)

Write in this sheet what company you will interview, with who! You cannot interview the same company as somebody else!!
Company interview list
 
Requirements:

Your blog post needs to include the following:
- Present the company and sector where it is active.
- Why did you choose that company?
- What are the main products/services the company offers to the market?
- What are the main markets for the company?
- Add a picture and include references from where the picture is.
 - Self-reflection: Would you like to work in that field in the future? Why?

Add Title: Company name (Kaavya Kitchen) - company interview
Add label: Company interview, full names (Linda Krokfors, Peter Finell)
Read your friends posts and comment on 3! (requirement)
Deadline:7.12.2014

Political System / Task 2

Political System/ Task 2

Learn in groups about the topics and make a presentation on one of these topics.
Number of people in the group: 4
Length: 10-15 min.
Deadline: 5.11.2014

Political Parties in Finland

-          Present the parties represented in the Parliament.

-          Discuss their agenda and their voters

-          Try to place the parties on traditional “left – right scale”

or:

Finnish Foreign and Security Policy from the post WWII-setting to present day

-          Describe the Finnish neutrality during the cold war

-          Discuss the current Finnish policy of military non-alignment

-          Discuss advantages and disadvantages with a possible Finnish NATO-membership

 Requirement: Make a visual presentation (power point, prezi etc)
Show the listeners that you have understood the topic and elaborate on the topic. 
Use your own words in the oral presentation, take eye-contact with the audience. 
Use References at the end of the presentation. No presentation and no-show is graded with 0 for task 2. 
There is no second chance!

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!