2007 CoSN Delegation to Scandinavia Blog

Check out coverage in the Wall Street Journal, Technology and Learning News and eSchool News.

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We have been reviewing our notes, reflecting on our experiences, looking at podcasts – and finally we are releasing the report from the CoSN Scandinavian delegation trip. The report is available at http://www.cosn.org/resources/international/2007_trip/index.cfm#report

Join us for a free webinar about the report on February 27 at 1 PM/ET.
Click here for instructions for accessing the webinar.

Continue reading "CoSN Issues Report on Scandinavia trip -- join on webinar Feb. 27" »

“You’ve come at the worst time of year” we were often told by our hosts in Helsinki, Stockholm, and Copenhagen. Yes, it was dark and cold and a bit gloomy, but against this backdrop our delegation was illuminated with first hand knowledge about the educational experiences and policies in these countries. At meetings with Ministries of Education in each country, exchanges with leaders in the corporate community and visits to schools, http://www.cosn.org/resources/international/2007_trip/agenda.cfm , we learned how these counties are approaching education, reaching students, involving teachers and implementing policy.

The delegation shared individually and collectively an involvement in, and commitment to, educational technology. http://www.cosn.org/resources/international/2007_trip/delegation.cfm
We were seeking answers to questions about the unique factors that existed in the Scandinavian educational system, the implementation of policy at the classroom level, and the role that technology played in innovation. We came to Scandinavia to witness, to learn, to share experiences and to establish linkages for further collaboration once the trip was over.

Much of our interest was motivated by the high education achievement levels of students in Finland, Sweden and Denmark. For several years now students in these countries have been outperforming their counterparts in the US. http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pisa/ and
http://www.pisa2006.helsinki.fi/
Could it be that ICT was being used in new and innovative ways and contributing to the high performance and achievement levels? Could we apply these lessons to the US? Or as one delegate asked, “How can we take what we hear and see and create a sense of interest and urgency in the US?” Link to http://www.cosn.org/blogs/scandinavia_07/index.html -- Finland’s challenge

After a week traveling from Helsinki, to Stockholm and finally to Copenhagen we found that these questions could not be answered quickly or simply. In fact the answers to our questions were far more fundamental and central to the educational structure and philosophy, as well as an approach to innovation and leadership in the Scandinavian countries. Classrooms are connected to the world via Internet, students and teachers have access to computers, teachers have extensive ICT professional development opportunities and support, and there is an ample supply of online learning resources and virtual learning programs. http://www.cosn.org/resources/international/2007_trip/materials.cfm
ICT, however, was viewed primarily as supportive rather than as a key driver of education innovation or a catalyst of transformation in these countries. ICT was also regarded as important to ensure student success in future careers.

Continue reading "Scandinavian Delegation Report" »

By Keith Krueger, CoSN CEO

One of the expectations of our delegation, and certainly mine, before coming to Scandinavia was that we would see innovative uses of mobile devices in education. We did see them, but not in Scandinavia. Nokia and Ericsson hosted the delegation at their corporate headquarters in Helsinki and Stockholm, and we saw some of their amazing educational projects…but to date they are being deployed in the developing world.

The developing world didn’t have much existing infrastructure in schools, so they can leapfrog to mobile devices much more quickly. And, whereas the developed world tends to view cell phones a “problem/distraction” in schools, new emerging countries see mobile devices as bringing the Internet, and therefore the world, to their classrooms. A very different mindset.

Listen to the comments of Erkki Ormala, Vice President, Technology Policy at Nokia on how they are viewing their role in education.

Continue reading "Mobile Devices & Developing Nations" »

Listen to this podcast by Kati Tuurala, Education Manager at Microsoft in Finland. She describes both the challenges that Finland faces since it is ranked #1 by PISA, as well as what U.S. educators could learn from her country around school reform.

Continue reading "Finland's Challenge" »

by James Bosco, W. Michigan University & Chair, CoSN International Committee

Those of us who made the trip to Scandinavia learned a lot. In these blogs and in the trip report which will be coming soon we are sharing what we learned in Scandinavia. Since we were fortunate to have Joanne McDevitt of Technology & Learning with us, her journal will provide another great means of dissemination.

Beyond all of the specifics about how educators in Finland, Sweden, and Denmark are making use of ICT to make schools better places for kids, there is a broader “take away.” And it is this: International communication and collaboration with regard to the use of ICT in schools has great benefit to us in the U.S.

Continue reading "Looking Back and Looking Ahead" »

by Jim Bosco
W. Michigan University & Chair, CoSN International Committee

One of the very enticing projects which was discussed in several of our meetings on the trip was eTwinning which is a project administered by the European School Network which enables students throughout Europe to collaborate on projects. The valuable aspect of the eTwinning program is that it enables students to go beyond only sending email messages and to develop and complete concrete projects. The eTwinning portal is an easy to use site which is accessible in twenty-two languages. For example, the Project of the Day as I write this was titled and described as follows:

Continue reading "eTwinning" »

by James Bosco
W. Michigan University & Chair of CoSN's International Committee

During the visit, we heard much about what ICT were being used and how they were being used. There was little explicit conversation focused on the question of why ICT is or should be used in the schools.

Continue reading "Why ICT?" »

Julie Walker, Executive Director, American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and Board member, Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21).

Visiting the “Scandinavian countries,” one would expect to find many commonalities. Actually, I was struck more by their differences than by their similarities. Given this, the similarities tend to stand out. The relationship between teacher and pupil is very strong and is based on mutual respect and a clear understanding of roles.

Continue reading "The filter is in their head" »

Julie Walker, Executive Director, American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and Board member, Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21).

The school chosen for our visit in Denmark is built around the school library --- which the Danes called a “pedagogical center.” I again saw the “community” that I had seen (and felt) in Finland. Students --- who stay with one teacher/mentor from grade one through grade 9 --- move freely about the building thus allowing them maximum access to the “pedagogical center.” ICT use is a step beyond “office applications” and focuses on accessing and using information --- a step below complete infusion.

Continue reading "At last, a school library" »