UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI Faculty of Behavioural Sciences Department of Teacher Education KUVA 2/3 kannen pinta-alasta
Edited by: Anna Martin, Kaisa Kuoppala, 2 Paavo Peltonen and Meri Siippainen Layout: Paavo Peltonen and Meri Siippainen Photos: Veikko Somerpuro Printed in: Unigrafia, Helsinki 2011 Internationality stands high in studies, teaching and research activities. Researchers, teachers and students are encouraged to internationalise through various exchange programmes.
3 Welcome to the Department of Teacher Education The Department of Teacher Education in the University of Helsinki is one of the leading European units providing teacher education and engaging in educational research. It is also the largest and, with regard to its programmes, the most versatile unit offering teacher education in Finland. The Department of Teacher Education belongs to the Faculty of Behavioural Sciences that is one of the eleven faculties in the University of Helsinki. The other units of the Faculty are the Institute of Behavioural Sciences and the two teacher training schools: Helsinki Normal Lyceum and Viikki Teacher Training School. The Helsinki University Library is an integral part of academic life and also offers services to teachers, researchers and students at Siltavuorenpenger where the Department of Teacher Education is located. The history of the department dates back to 1974 when teacher education was introduced as an academic discipline in universities and the department was established in the University of Helsinki. In Finland teacher education is an attractive field of study and students are selected in entrance examinations. About ten per cent of class teacher applicants are admitted. The Department of Teacher Education is a multidisciplinary institution of education and intellectual regeneration, and a builder and forerunner of the future. It aims to promote global responsibility and sustainable development, as well as respond to the challenges presented by increasing multiculturalism. The Finnish teacher education system attracts international interest and the Department of Teacher Education receives foreign visitor groups throughout the year. Finland has, more than once, taken one of the highest places in OECD s PISA comparisons. High-quality teacher education has been evaluated as a key factor in the good learning outcomes of students.
4 STudy PROGRAMMES The Department of Teacher Education provides studies in six different education programmes: Class Teacher Education Craft Studies and Craft Teacher Education Home Economics and Home Economics Teacher Education Kindergarten Teacher and Early Childhood Education Special Education Subject Teacher Education The research-based approach is the central guiding theme of teacher education in Helsinki. This approach is integrated into every course, and courses in research methods are introduced from the very beginning of studies. All studies at the department include teaching practice periods. Teaching practice takes place in teacher training schools, field schools and kindergartens. Students first study for the lower Bachelor s degree (180 ECTS credits) and then for the higher Master s degree (120 ECTS credits). All students in the different programmes study multiculturality and diversity that has become part of everyday life in all schools and kindergartens. Students also get acquainted with the traditions and past practices in Finnish education. class teacher education Master of Education Major: education or educational psychology This degree programme qualifies graduates to teach a class in grades 1 to 6 in basic education. The graduates are versatile experts in education, teaching and learning who develop their own work and recognise the importance of their work in society. The programme supports the development of student teachers pedagogical thinking and their growth into work as a researching teacher. The class teacher education comprises three different study programmes. The major subject may be either education or educational psychology. Students can also choose to specialise in multicultural, special or early childhood education, or teaching of different subjects.
In the study programmes, DEPARTMENT emphasis OF TEACHER EDUCATION is also put on general Research-based skills such teaching as co-operation, at communication the heart of teacher education and ICT skills, as well as language skills, cultural knowledge, and international openness. 5 craft studies and craft teacher education Master of Education Major: craft studies or education Students can choose to become teachers through the Craft Teacher Education Programme. The other alternative is to choose Craft Studies Education that provides students with extensive competence for research, expert and development duties, as well as skills in the design and manufacture of a textile product that takes into account the whole lifecycle of the product. Both degree programmes are characterised by diversity, multidisciplinarity and research-orientation. Teaching is based on research, which in turn is in close interaction with making things in practice. home economics science and home economics teacher education Master of Education Major: home economics science or education These degree programmes emphasise versatility and a multidisciplinary background, research focusing on one s own discipline, and application of knowledge in teaching. The Home Economics Teacher Education qualifies students to work as home economics teachers. It is also possible for students to choose home economics education without teacher education. The graduates have competence to work in tasks requiring home economics expertise in counseling, management and planning in the business and research sectors.
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7 kindergarten teacher and Early Childhood education Bachelor of Education Major: education (early childhood education) The Bachelor s degree in Kindergarten Teacher Education prepares experts for early childhood education. The degree qualifies graduates to work both as kindergarten teachers in children s day care and pre-primary education, and in various professions requiring expertise in early childhood education. During their studies, students will be familiarised with childhood and the growth of children, the development of personality and learning, and the aims, contents and methods of public early childhood and pre-primary education. In addition, the students will gain competence in the analysis, critical evaluation and research-based evaluation of their own work. Master of Education Major: education (early childhood education) The Master s degree programme in Early Childhood Education qualifies graduates to work as early childhood education experts in various research, planning, developmental and administrative posts. special education Master of Education Major: special education Graduates in Special Education are experts in special education and special needs education. The central professional areas are early childhood education, elementary education, secondary education, rehabilitation and other institutional care, as well as different research and administrative tasks in school, health and social services. The studies focus on children s development and challenges in it, recognition and diagnostics of development and learning abilities, planning and implementation of intervention and individualized teaching, as well as on inclusion. The role of homes, school as an institution as well as the role of the society are important elements in the development and schooling of a child. Special education aims to find the means to support the learner in developmental challenges on an individual basis.
8 Photo: Kaisa Kuoppala Subject teacher education The aim of subject teacher education is to educate subject teachers for duties in basic education, general upper secondary education, and in adult education. The Pedagogical Studies for Teachers in Basic and General Upper Secondary Education (60 ECTS credits) is offered for students in the Faculties of Arts, Behavioural Sciences, Biological and Environmental Sciences, Science, Social Sciences, and Theology. It is not a degree programme of its own but usually a minor subject in a degree. Students graduate with a Master s degree in their major that must be a subject taught to pupils and students in public schools. The Pedagogical Studies for Teachers in Adult Education (60 ECTS credits) aim to provide comprehensive pedagogical qualifications for the teachers profession, particularly in adult education. This educational channel is open to all Master s degree holders with various majors. The Department of Teacher Education also offers STEP the Subject Teacher Education Programme in English (for teaching in basic education and general upper secondary education). It is possible to complete subject teacher education after a Master s degree as separate studies. The courses are organised in such a way that the programme can be completed in one year. All programmes include courses in Education and Subject Didactics, and teaching practice. Postgraduate studies At the Department of Teacher Education, it is possible to pursue postgraduate studies in Education, Educational Psychology, Home Economics, Craft Studies, and Special Education. All Master s graduates are eligible for postgraduate studies. The postgraduate studies take place under the guidance of the research groups and/or research units established at the department. Further information on postgraduate studies is available on the research units websites.
We research DEPARTMENT OF TEACHER EDUCATION what we teach, and at the heart of teacher education we teach what we research. 9
10 RESEARCH AT THE DEPARTMENT The profile of research conducted at the department is multidisciplinary and multiprofessional. Encountering various scientific traditions in the same scientific community is a resource that ensures that research retains its diversity and innovativeness. There are several research groups operating in the department: Research unit for the pedagogy of subject education Biology and Sustainable Development Finnish Language and Literature Education Foreign Language Education Geography and Environmental Education Mathematics and Science Education Religious Education, Ethics and Philosophy Education Science Centre Pedagogy History and Social Studies Education Research unit for teaching and learning Educational Psychology Media Education Research on Teaching and Learning Other research groups Special Education Home Economics Science Home Economics Pedagogics Craft Studies Early Childhood Education and Learning Research on Education, Cultures and the Arts Centre for Educational Assessment Teacher education at the University of Helsinki has traditionally emphasised the academic aspects of teacher education and the teaching profession.
11 Focus areas for research The Department is actively involved in two main focus areas: Education, society and culture and Learning and interaction. The themes in Education, society and culture are: A) Encountering diversity. B) Ethics of education. C) Culture, art and everyday practices. D) Finnish schooling, education and teacher education. The themes in Learning and interaction are: A) Research related to didactics. B) Innovative learning environments. C) The teaching studying learning process. D) Challenges of learning and overcoming them.
UNIVERSity of helsinki 11 faculties, 17 independent institutes 35,000 degree students 3,900 teachers and researchers 4,500 degrees each year DEPartment of Teacher education 2,200 degree students 430 students in subject teacher education 180 staff, including 140 teachers and researchers Photo: Paavo Peltonen www.helsinki.fi/teachereducation Department of Teacher Education P.O. Box 9 (Siltavuorenpenger 5) FI-00014 University of Helsinki tel. +358 9 1911 (switchboard) fax +358 9 191 29611 Helsingin yliopisto helsingfors Universitet University of Helsinki Faculty of Behavioural sciences