Early childhood education trip of teachers and managers from Berlin’s on the two-day Erasmus plus study tour in Finland
18 daycare teachers and managers from Berlin came for a short but fully packed visit in Jyväskylä. The two-day Erasmus+ study tour was designed and organised by Experience Workshop.
Kukkumäki Daycare Center
Our first visit was to the daycare center Kukkumäki, because that’s where many of the authors of the English language early childhood handbook Playful Learning In Early Childhood Education in Finland have gathered their long-time experiences.
Acquiring social skills, language, early reading and writing skills in a playful way is at the heart of learning in the early years in Finland. One of the authors, Susan Hellden-Paavola has shown us around, and with Kaisa Valkeapää, the pedagogical head of the center we talked about the ways of cooperation between children, parents and early childhood teachers.
How to become an early childhood educator in Finland?
At the University of Jyväskylä, in beautifully designed spaces by Alvar Aalto, Olli Merjovaara and Kristof Fenyvesi introduced the Finnish education system to the group. Olli Merjovaara is himself and early childhood educator with practical experience in the field, but he is mainly teaching future early childhood educators and conducting research, too.
In Germany, daycare educators learn in vocational schools, while in Finland, in the university. Hence the difference in terminology – daycare educator vs. early childhood teacher -, too.
Daycare center and primary school under one roof
It’s been only one year ago, that the combined daycare center and school was opened in the part of the city called Kortepohja. Two former daycares and a primary school share now the modern, flexibly arrangeable, colourfully furnished spaces for ca. 550 children.
Gwyneth Koljonen, class teacher and English language teacher was kind enough to show us all the different types of spaces in the new building. We’ve even tasted school lunch with the usual accompanying salad, rye bread and glass of milk – self service, of course.
It might strike as new, that many of the classroom spaces are only separated by a flexible wall, so that groups can share the space and then separate again. Flexibility is anyway a core idea of the building (and current school design measurements in Finland). It allows small group work and concentration on children with learning difficulties.
Playfully learning playful learning
And finally, a dive awaited the group into playful learning – in a playful way. In the spaces of Crazy Town, Kristof Fenyvesi, STEAM-director of Experience Workshop, has let participants try themselves in the hands-on activities, which are also emphasized in the Playful learning book.
The afternoon also gave a possibility to discuss more the notions of equality in education and generally in Finland. Many were positively surprised to hear about the baby box, a set of clothes and equipment for newborns and their parents given by the Finnish state as a starter kit – for a start with equal opportunities for everyone.
Feedback
There is peace and it’s quiet
Little things that make a big difference – e.g. a bike repair in the library, places to retreat, opportunities to keep busy. You start the day with a relaxed attitude.
Great, modern, new, well thought-out furnishings. The interplay of small things comes together to form a whole.
As a child, I am allowed to make sure that I am well and that the others are well. The idea of community is different from ours.
The cooperation of the teachers. There is friendliness, openness among each other.
Less perfectionism
There is a lot of crafting and hands-on activities
Rooms and equipment create possibilities.
Photo credits: Nóra Somlyódy, Flora Olivier
The program was realized in the frameworks of the Erasmus+ KA1 programme, in cooperation with the Association for European Training (GEB) in Berlin.
Would you like to participate in a similar educational program?
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