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

Responses to the quiestionnaire / Helsinki

According to our survey, the majority will not be able to participate. Therefore, we will, unfortunately, not go on an excursion to Helsinki on 3.12.2014. We will do something else instead :-)

Here are the results: 

Will you be able to be absent from your other classes on 3.12.2014?

Yes	8	62%
No	5	38%

Will you be able to participate in the trip to Helsinki and pay EUR 45 by 25.11?

Yes	4	31%
No	9	69%

From what parliamentary group would you like to meet a member at the Parliament?

Social Democratic Party Parliamentary group	5	38%
National Coalition Party Parliamentary group	5	38%
Finns Parliamentary group	1	8%
Centre Party Parliamentary group	1	8%
Left Alliance Parliamentary group	0	0%
Swedish Parliamentary group	0	0%
Christian democratic Parliamentary group	1	8%

What company or sector would you like to visit?

Itella group

nokia

Power Sector

Bank

Manufacturing

IT

Agric Sector

Kone

Neste Oil, petroleum, biofuels

 

Helsinki trip questionnaire!

Helsinki Cathedral

Here is the questionnaire for Helsinki!
Please fill in this form by Sunday 9.11.2014!
Best regards,
Linda and Peter


Finnish Parliament

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

Course concepts - What methods, assessment and requirements?

Great that you have chosen to get insights into Finnish Society and Culture!

FOUR TOPICS: You will gain insights into Finnish business and economy, education, music and political system during the course.

ASSESSMENT: is based on activity and responsibility in teamwork (30%), presentations and videos (30%), the midterm exam (30%). Filling in Learning goal is compulsory (10%) and Peer evaluation will also be used.

BLOGGING: We will use this platform for the course. You will find information, tasks etc here. The blog is also the place where you will post your assignments and reflections.

CLASS TIME: We expect you to be in class during class time. This is the time when new topics are introduced, presentations made, new learning methods tried.

EXAM: There will also be an exam on 5.11.2014, based on the reading and your research findings. The exam is applied, where focus is on understanding the big picture. Why is something in a certain way? How is it compared to your own country etc.

HELSINKI: We will visit Helsinki on 3-4 December (TBO). We will visit the Parliament (tbo), a company, go to a concert, and a school/ministry/organization. You will make the grand plan!

LEARNING: will take place in many different ways. Some will be research-based, collaborative in small groups, by reading, be giving presentations, by listening to lectures, by making videos or by visiting interesting places. 

LEARNING GOAL QUESTIONNAIRE: is compulsory (Assessment 10%) and will help you in reaching your own learning goals. You will fill it in 3 times.

 READING: The course will also include some independent reading about Finnish Education, Business, Political System and Music. The reading is a base where you can build further knowledge.

SHARE: All findings will be shared in the blog: http://centriafsc2014.blogspot.fi/

TASKS: You will have tasks related to the four topics Business & Economy, Education, Music and Political System.

TEAMWORK: Collaborative learning is central in the course. You will do research together and publish your findings in different ways. Presentations, videos or blog texts.

VISITS: We will make visits on a local and national level. These visits will be related to the topics: Business, Education, Music and Political System.
You will have a big say in who we are going to visit! You will also be central in making these visits happen.

 Peter Finell and Linda Krokfors will be your pilots during the journey.
Looking forward to working with you!