Description
Interested to learn more about innovative basic education in Finland?
Basic education (K-9) laid the foundation for Finland’s reputation as an education superpower. It is the regular Finnish comprehensive schools with grades 1-9 that are the core of the miracle of Finnish education.
Basic education in Finland is exceptional in worldwide perspective: it is public and free for all students, it has a wide variety of academic as well as practical and artistic subjects, and it is based on stress-free “less is more” approach. Yet it succeeds to bring outstanding learning results in international learning comparisons.
This Basic Education in Finland study tour allows you to experience this “miracle” yourself! During the study tour you will be able to visit Finnish K-9 schools and witness yourself how this top-quality education is carried out in practice. The whole week you will be guided by expert lecturers and hosts and you will acquire an insight what are the principles basic education in Finland is based on.
Target groups: teachers, principals, school owners, anyone interested in Finnish K-9 basic education and Finland’s excellent learning results.
Objectives: The program gives visitors an overall view of basic (K-9) education in Finland, it’s core principles and factors influencing Finland’s success in international learning comparisons. The program also offers participants first-hand experiences about everyday life in Finnish schools and classrooms and a chance to witness educational innovations in Finnish basic education.
Where: Tampere, Finland.
Daily program on Study Tour at 9am – 3pm
Program language: delivered in English
What will you see when visiting a Finnish school?
Program:
Monday: Introduction to the Finnish Education System
- Finnish Education system and training routes
- Introduction to the principles behind the education system
- Paradoxes of Finnish Education: Less is More, No dead ends etc.
- School visit
Tuesday: Curriculum and Assessment in the Finnish Basic Education
- Learner-centered approach
- National core curriculum
- Assessment in the Finnish Basic Education: continuous assessment, but no national tests
- School visit
Wednesday: Finnish Pedagogy
- Activating and participatory pedagogy
- Phenomenon-based learning
- Versatile learning environments, and outdoor learning
- Introduction to the Finnish digital lesson planning tool, LessonApp
- School visit
- Finnish Nature Experience or Dinner at Näsinneula Observation Tower
Thursday: Educational Support
- Integration and inclusion in Finnish schools
- Categories of support: general, intensified and special support
- Guidance, counseling and student welfare services
- School visit
Friday: Co-operation in Basic Education
- Collaboration between teachers and multi-professional co-operation
- Co-operation with parents
- Co-operation with other institutes and organizations supporting schools and learning
- School or day care center visit
- Evaluation and reflection of the program
- Farewell lunch
This is an example program. Minor changes to content and schedule are possible
School visits include:
- Guided visits to Finnish schools
- Different types of K-9 schools: from pre-primary school to the lower secondary school
- Participation in the school’s day-to-day activities: classroom, meal time, recesses etc.
- Opportunities to talk with teachers and students
Trainers: Learning Scoop is a Finnish company working in the fields of education and training. The staff comprises experienced teachers and experts, who have received excellent feedback on their work.
The trainers at Learning Scoop have years of teaching experience gained through the Finnish educational community and through teacher training. Learning Scoop trainers have received outstanding feedback for their well-executed and inspiring training sessions and study visits.
Learning Scoop’s Study Tours were awarded as the most authentic Finnish educational travel products and the best professional programs for teachers.
Costs: The price for individual participant is 1450e + possible VAT 25,5% / person (please ask if VAT applies)
Group prices:
10-14 participants in a group the price is 1300e + possible VAT 25,5% / person (please ask if VAT applies)
15-20 participants in a group the price is 1200e + possible VAT 25,5% / person (please ask if VAT applies)
The program includes lectures, study material, visits and transportation to visit places, Finnish Nature Experience or Dinner at Näsinneula Observation Tower, certificate of participation, Premium version of LessonApp for free for a year, Book Finnish Education in Practice: What, Why and How, lunches and farewell lunch. Watch a video what happens during education study tours in Finland!
Next pre-scheduled study tours in Tampere, Finland:
August 18th – 22nd 2025
Accommodation
We are happy to collaborate with Lapland Hotels which offers you a chance to experience Lapland in the heart of a city. The centrally located hotels ares close to our training premises. The design of the rooms was influenced by nature and the stories of Lapland. The restaurant serves unique tastes of Nordic nature and Lapland in visually pleasing dishes.
Lapland Hotels offer fixed prices for our customers accordingly:
Lapland Hotels Tampere, Address Yliopistonkatu 44, Tampere:
Room in Comfort Class for 1 person 112€/night in 2024 (118€ in 2025)
Room in Comfort Class for 2 persons 132€/night in 2024 (138€ in 2025)
Lapland Hotels Arena, Address Ratapihankatu 54, Tampere:
Room in Comfort Class for 1 person 122€/night in 2024 (128€ in 2025)Room in Comfort Class for 2 persons 142€/night in 2024 (148€ in 2025)
Prices include buffet breakfast with local delicacies, taxes, sauna and wireless internet connection.
Check the availability and book your room at Lapland Hotels in Tampere by email sales.tampere@laplandhotels.com with code “LEARNINGSCOOP”
Check out our other study tours too: Arctic Pedagogy Study Tour, Principal Study Tour, and Early Childhood Education and Care Study Tour!
How was a study tour in Finland by Learning Scoop?
Contact:
info@learningscoop.fi
Basic Education Study Tour participant, New Zealand –
Awesome experience and very well structured. Just short note to say thanks for the fabulous week you organised for us. It was an absolute pleasure to be hosted by Learning Scoop and such a privilege to be able to visit those high functioning schools. I feel as if I have grown in my professional knowledge and also made great network connections. This is one experience I will never forget- it has had such a positive impact on my professional development.
All the very best to you and team ( including Tommi) and see you in New Zealand one day I hope.
Basic Education Study Tour participant –
I am so happy I decided to work with Learning Scoop. Not only was Tampere a great location to be in, but the trainers were so professional and knowledgeable. I so enjoyed the schools that we went to, though I would have liked to see more secondary classrooms as a high school teacher. That said, the program was well tailored to our group’s collective needs.
I appreciated the lectures and themes of each day, as each one is so important to think about when discussing a school’s ecosystem. I am so excited to try to implement classroom strategies as well as guide my leadership team in thinking the “Finnish” way! Thank you so much for a wonderful week!
Study Tour August 2018 –
I enjoyed the whole experience! I gained a great deal of insights and observing them on a practical level made a great difference. On a personal level a remark during one of the discussions struck me particularly – to every problem you try and work your way around it! I can understand better what “SISU” means now – it is a way of life. As a teaching team we took with us back home some great ideas which we can adapt to our school system. Kiitos!
Basic Education (K-9) Study Tour August 2018 participant US –
Thanks so much for this gratifying and rewarding experience…my colleagues and I learnt a lot with regards to the Finnish educational system and the way the teaching takes place, based on inclusion, openness, break times, trust, sense of guidance, co-operation or collaboration and so on. Well done and all your help, gentleness and hard work was much appreciated!
Basic Education (K-9) Study Tour August participant –
As a teacher, I am constantly looking for ways to learn and in so doing create a better learning environment for my students. This project has allowed me to broaden my ideas and learn from one of the best countries when in comes to education. One of the many things I learnt during this experience is that ‘learning is for life’ and I truly feel enriched having gained so many ideas and new methods which I can use back at home, in class. I hope that more teachers are given this opportunity as it is truly an incredible learning experience.