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Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)
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Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

Dec 29, 2015

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Page 1: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland

and Estonia

Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

Page 5: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

Programmefor InternationalStudent Assessment (PISA) Results 2012.

Rankings based at age 15.

Page 6: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

13th May 2015

Page 7: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)
Page 8: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

Winston Churchill(1874 – 1965)

Winston ChurchillBritish Prime Minister during World War II

Page 9: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

“We fund British citizens, resident in the UK, to travel overseas to study areas of topical and personal interest, to gain knowledge and bring back best practice for the benefit of others, their profession and community, in the UK.”

Categories funded include: Education, Crafts and Makers, Science/Technology and Innovation, Young People.

Page 10: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

Finland – Helsinki (May 2014)

Week 1Helsinki School of Natural Sciences(Upper Secondary School: Age 16-19) Week 2

Kulosaari – bilingual school.Subjects taught in either Finnishor English. (Lower secondary and Upper secondary: Age 13-19)

Page 11: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

Week 3Reaalkool Science School.(Age 7-19) Week 4

Viimsi School(Age 7-19)

Estonia - Tallinn

Page 12: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

1. Education Structure

2. Curriculum

3. Learning and Teaching

4. Other Factors?

Page 13: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

1. Education StructureFinland and Estonia

Page 14: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

Education Structure in Scotland

Age: 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Page 15: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

In Helsinki and Tallinn there are schools which specialise in science education. In Scotland there are no schools which specialise in science education currently.

Helsinki School of Natural Sciences(Upper Secondary School: Age 16-19)Pupils attend from all over Helsinki and further afield.

Tallinn Secondary School of ScienceSelective school.One of the highest achieving schools inEstonia. (Age 7-19)

Page 16: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

There are two main types of school in Scotland:State school – free education to all.

Independent “private” school – Fee paying schools (sometimes selective)

Webster’s High School – where I teach.

Glenalmond College (Perthshire, Scotland ~ £25000 (34000 Euros) per year.

Page 17: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

In Finland and Estonia the main National exams come at the end of year 12 – when the pupils are aged 18/19. The exams cover the work pupils have covered during upper secondary school from 16-18 years of age.

In Scotland pupils sit national exams at the end of each year in the Senior Phase.

Age: 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Page 18: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

University entrance exams are common in Finland and are becoming increasingly common in Estonia.

In Scotland, University entrance exams are only really used for popular courses such as medicine. Most University places are given on a pupils educationalachievement at school.

Page 19: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

2. CurriculumThe Finnish and Estonian school curricula is extremely broad through to 18/19 years of age. All pupils must take compulsory modules in all subjects and learn “core” knowledge. Therefore pupils have to take science subjects to the end of upper secondary school.

This is not the case in Scotland:

Age: 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Page 20: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

The content covered in the Finnish and Estonian science curriculum is similar to that covered in the Scottish curriculum.

Estonian Year 8 chemistry textbook (for children aged ~14/15).

Page 21: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)
Page 22: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)
Page 23: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

The methods of teaching I observed in Finland/Estonia were similar to the methods we use in Scotland. In four weeks I didn’t see any teaching methods which made me think “we don’t do that”.

3. Learning and TeachingIn most cases science teachers in Finland and Estonia have a Master’s degree in their subject area and complete a teacher training course.

In Scotland all science teachers must have a relevant science degree and have completed a teachers training course to teach in a state school. However, in an independent school it is not essential to have completed a teacher training course.

Page 24: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)
Page 25: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)
Page 26: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)
Page 27: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)
Page 28: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)
Page 29: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

10-15 minute breaks between lessons in Finland/Estonia. Finnish and Estonian teachers thought this was very important. In Scotland there are no breaks between most lessons.

Page 30: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)
Page 31: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)
Page 32: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

Good links with Universities at Viimsi and Reaalkool

Page 33: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)
Page 34: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)
Page 35: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

4. Other Factors?Programmefor InternationalStudent Assessment (PISA) Results 2012.

Rankings based at age 15.

Page 36: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

Finland and Estonia have computer systems that keep parents/carers regularly informed about what their child is learning at school. “Wilma” (Finland) and “ekool” or “Stuudium” (Estonia).

Involving Parents/Carers in education

Page 37: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)
Page 38: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)
Page 39: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

These computer programs allow teachers to:

* input test dates/homework so parents are always informed.

* Alert for good and bad behaviour. Parents can get text messages to alert them.

* Message parents and pupils (and they can message the teacher).

* Share resources e.g. PowerPoints, worksheets etc with parents and pupils.

Finnish/Estonian teachers and pupils talked highly of the computer systems. In Scotland we do not have anything as good as this!

Page 40: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

Children start to learn English formally at school at ~ 9 years old.

I could have conversations (in English) with Finnish and Estonian children who were only 11 years old!

This cannot be explained purely by “good teaching”.

The Language Issue in Finland and Estonia:

Throughout my school visits I was continually impressed with the language skills of pupils.

All senior pupils I met could speak a minimum of two languages fluently. Some could speak three languages and a few even four by the time they were 18.

Page 41: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

Do languages have a knock-on-effect to other subjectssuch as science?

Do Finnish and Estonian children have a “natural advantage” over most UK children who speak only English?

Children watch many T.V. programmes in English. They do not dub films/programmes in Finland or Estonia. They have subtitles. They are immersed in the English language from a very young age.

Page 42: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)
Page 43: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

What I have done since my last visit in May 2014

• Spoken to many Scottish teachers/headteachers• Sent my report to science organisations in the UK

and Members of Parliament• Spoken at various conferences• Written articles about my experiences

Page 44: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

What lessons I would like to see Scotland learn from Finland/Estonia

Scotland to have its own version of “eKool”

Scotland to have 10/15 minute breaks between lessons

Scotland to make science subjects compulsory rather than optional past the age of 15.

All senior Scottish pupils to undertake a research project similar to what Estonian pupils do.

Page 45: Increasing Achievement in Science Education: Learning lessons from Finland and Estonia Neil McIntyre (Webster’s High School, Kirriemuir, Scotland)

AcknowledgementsMr Summers (Webster’s High School)

Winston Churchill Memorial Trust and Mercers’ Company

SchoolsHelsinki School of Natural SciencesKulosaariReaalkool Viimsi

The organisers of this conference

Ms Ülle Kikas