The teacher as a future change agent (5 cr)

Objectives (course unit)

After completing the course the student teacher is able to
- Describe the historical development of education as a part of society’s development
- Recognise the role of education and the teacher as the creators of future
- Work in national and international networks, which develop learning and working environments
- Recognise the ethical principles and values governing a teacher’s work and act according to them
- Promote sustainable development in their work
- Evaluate and promote security and wellbeing in different environments
- Evaluate information critically and guide their students into critical thinking

Content (course unit)

During the study unit, we seek answers to the following questions
- What is the Finnish school system like and what are its main functions?
- How to predict the future of education, learning and different professional fields?
- What does sustainable development mean in the work of a teacher?
- Which global trends affect education and the work of a teacher?
- How are the needs for the wellbeing and security in learning and working environments changing?
- What is the value base of a teacher’s work, as well as their ethical and social responsibility?
- How do topical phenomena in society affect a teacher’s work?

Assessment criteria, pass/fail (course unit)

The criteria for passing

Knowing
Structuring the relationships between the phenomena and concepts covered during the course. Applying, explaining, comparing, and analysing contents from the viewpoint of a vocational teacher.

Student teacher:
- understands the importance of teachers as actors in society and the creators of their profession’s future
- knows the central legislation in educational institution security and wellbeing
- knows the trends of future research and future scenarios
- understands the wider meaning of sustainable development as a part of a teacher’s work

Doing
Being able to plan and choose suitable methods for their work and justify their choices as a vocational teacher. Applying the theory taught in the course when solving challenges and using the possibilities offered by the theory base in their work.

Student teacher:
-plans, documents, and presents an act with impact in their own field
- works in their own field, considering the effect of future research and trends
- finds out and evaluates the security and wellbeing factors in their work, and promotes school safety in their actions

Developing as a teacher
Giving and receiving active and constructive feedback. Evaluating issues from their own and their community’s viewpoints. Collaborating responsibly and being ready to develop communication skills. Recognising and following the ethical principles of a teacher’s work. Describing and evaluating the economical and wellbeing promoting impact of their actions.

Student teacher:
- Implements an act with impact in their own field in an ethical manner, tying it to being a teacher as well as to sustainable development
- Evaluates their own work from the viewpoints of sustainable development and future competences
- Collaborates in a constructive manner in networks
- Recognises the connections between education and social phenomena and what impact they themselves can have

Location and time

First meeting 14.3. 16-18:30, Zoom address: https://tuni.zoom.us/j/3543158705

16.00 Course structure and methods of completion, presentations, networking
16.30 Finnish Education system and historical foundations
17:15 break
17.30 The future: lecture and megatrend reflection
18:30 End

Second meeting 21.3. 16-18:30, Zoom address: https://tuni.zoom.us/j/3543158705

16.00 Teacher ethics now and in the future
17:15 break
17.30 Challenges in Finnish education - Today and in the future
18:30 End

Third meeting 11.4. 16-18:30, Zoom address: https://tuni.zoom.us/j/3543158705

16.00 Sustainable development in teaching profession
16.45 Discussion
17:15 break
17.30 Networks as tool for change
18:30 End

Final meeting 25.4.16-18:30, Zoom address: https://tuni.zoom.us/j/3543158705
16.30 Presentations of impactful acts

Exam schedules

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Assessment methods and criteria

Successful completion of the course requires:
- Attending lectures
- Returning individual assignments
- Planning and implementation of an impactful act alone or in a group
- Presenting of the impactful act using an innovatice pedagogical method

The way to demonstrate the competence of the course along with other assignments is to plan, implement, report and justify with theoretical sources a pedagogically impactful act in which the students demonstrate their competence. The main themes and areas of competence are for the students to be able to
- point out the historical main lines of the development of the education system
- back up his action with global trends and future perspectives that affect training and learning in his own field
- apply the principles of sustainable education in his work and in his work community
- promote the well-being and safety of yourself and your work community
- to plan their methods to suit changing operating environments

Assessment scale

Pass/Fail

Teaching methods

Online lectures, discussions, group assignments and reflections, independent online assignments in Moodle.

Planning, implementation and reporting of a pedagogically meaningful deed in Moodle.

Learning materials

Material presented during teaching and on the learning platform.

Completion alternatives

Online course.

Practical training and working life cooperation

The course includes identifying networks and working in them, either in domestic or international networks.

International connections

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Further information

Vastuuopettaja Ville Palkinen

Assessment criteria - pass/fail (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The criteria for passing

Knowing
Structuring the relationships between the phenomena and concepts covered during the course. Applying, explaining, comparing, and analysing contents from the viewpoint of a vocational teacher.

Student teacher:
- understands the importance of teachers as actors in society and the creators of their profession’s future
- knows the central legislation in educational institution security and wellbeing
- knows the trends of future research and future scenarios
- understands the wider meaning of sustainable development as a part of a teacher’s work

Doing
Being able to plan and choose suitable methods for their work and justify their choices as a vocational teacher. Applying the theory taught in the course when solving challenges and using the possibilities offered by the theory base in their work.

Student teacher:
-plans, documents, and presents an act with impact in their own field
- works in their own field, considering the effect of future research and trends
- finds out and evaluates the security and wellbeing factors in their work, and promotes school safety in their actions

Developing as a teacher
Giving and receiving active and constructive feedback. Evaluating issues from their own and their community’s viewpoints. Collaborating responsibly and being ready to develop communication skills. Recognising and following the ethical principles of a teacher’s work. Describing and evaluating the economical and wellbeing promoting impact of their actions.

Student teacher:
- Implements an act with impact in their own field in an ethical manner, tying it to being a teacher as well as to sustainable development
- Evaluates their own work from the viewpoints of sustainable development and future competences
- Collaborates in a constructive manner in networks
- Recognises the connections between education and social phenomena and what impact they themselves can have