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Reviews
Finnish Lessons: What Can the World Learn from Educational Change in Finland? by Pasi Sahlberg
drbatfcc's review
5.0
Detailed description of how Finland's outstanding educational system has been created. The ideas are nearly opposite to what is happening here.
leannaaker's review
4.0
Great read to learn more about the highly-touted Finnish educational system. I was struck by a number of things as I read this book. The struggles and complaints that Finns had while transforming their educational system are similar to ones heard in the United States, yet, admittedly, Finnish culture and political structure ARE very different from ours. Also, Finland was not always so successful. I'm struck by just how opposite the vision and practices are in Finland to here. I think educators and educational leaders could learn a lot from this book.
ubalstecha's review
5.0
The Finns have recently been leading the world in PISA results. This book charts the development of the Finnish system from an archaic, rote based system to a modern, flexible system.
jessplanninglife's review
3.0
I think Pasi is excellent and I love his philosophy of education, Finland's philosophy of education, I should say. But I really struggled through this.
So much of it was just depressing because Australia is GERM infected. And that's GERM, Global Educational Reform Movement, and it's killing our system and driving good teachers out.
And don't even get me started on what it does to kids!
Even though it was a bit of a slog to get through at times, this book did give me extra encouragement that I'm on the right track and I'm going to do my best to protect my students from beauracratic garbage and let them learn.
My favourite quote was:
"Teach less. Test less. Learn more."
I'm going to print that and hang it in my classroom as my 2020 philosophy.
So much of it was just depressing because Australia is GERM infected. And that's GERM, Global Educational Reform Movement, and it's killing our system and driving good teachers out.
And don't even get me started on what it does to kids!
Even though it was a bit of a slog to get through at times, this book did give me extra encouragement that I'm on the right track and I'm going to do my best to protect my students from beauracratic garbage and let them learn.
My favourite quote was:
"Teach less. Test less. Learn more."
I'm going to print that and hang it in my classroom as my 2020 philosophy.
emmkayt's review
3.0
Looks at the confluence of factors in Finland that may have resulted in its students' top standing In international academic assessments and educational outcomes. Dry and table-heavy, as well as somewhat repetitive, although I enjoyed the occasional quirky references to Finnish national temperaments (really, you're all the strong silent type and just want to best the Swedes?). Despite the dryness, it provided me with lots to think about. I was interested, for example, to learn that: each school designs its own curriculum; teachers teach only 4 periods a day and must attain research-based Master's degrees; half of students receive special needs education at some point in their school careers; and secondary school students are not divided by age and instead complete a required number of modules in whatever order they choose over three years.
claudiaswisher's review against another edition
5.0
http://fourthgenerationteacher.blogspot.com/2015/12/finnish-lessons-by-pasi-sahlberg.html
My review.
My review.
mattyswytla's review
3.0
I'll save you some very dry and repetitive reading by suggesting you go directly to chapter 5 of the book (the last one) and you'll get all the relevant info in a nicely condensed form with some helpful ideas for the future development of education.
The rating isn't lower because the author argues for a different approach to education than a strictly competetive one where teachers and students are constantly graded and ranked, which does not help to actually improve student learning, but only pushes teachers to focus on exams. Smaller classes and specialised help in class for students with special needs is sound logic as well.
I already see some of the ideas the author describes in Finnish schools implemented in my own country - Slovenia. We haven't gone all the way (with no numerical marks until grade 10), but there's certainly a larger focus on student learning than exam results. My didactics professor couldn't shut up about the Finns anyway, so lots of information here was familiar to me.
The rating isn't lower because the author argues for a different approach to education than a strictly competetive one where teachers and students are constantly graded and ranked, which does not help to actually improve student learning, but only pushes teachers to focus on exams. Smaller classes and specialised help in class for students with special needs is sound logic as well.
I already see some of the ideas the author describes in Finnish schools implemented in my own country - Slovenia. We haven't gone all the way (with no numerical marks until grade 10), but there's certainly a larger focus on student learning than exam results. My didactics professor couldn't shut up about the Finns anyway, so lots of information here was familiar to me.
grayaelc's review
3.0
Ah the cult of Finland in Education research. What a beautiful model that will never work in GERM obsessed, inequitable, individualistic, America.