Original scientific paper
What the assessment of learning outcomes in history and social sciences are telling about textbooks, teaching materials and methods that are used during the lessons?
Najat Ouakrim-Soivio
; University of Helsinki, Finland
Abstract
Teachers’ profession is regulated in Finland, and the qualifications required from teachers are defined in legislation.
Since 1979 all teachers in general education are required a Master’s degree. Finish teacher education involves also pedagogical studies and guided teach- ing practice, which is implemented in the universities’ own teacher training schools.
A recent survey showed that 89 % of the Finish principals and teachers were deemed to be qualified to perform their tasks (Kumpulainen 2014, 33). Despite of the good level of teacher training, it seems that teachers’ are struggling between contradictory expectations in everyday school life. On the one hand teachers are expected to provide traditional knowledge and the other hand they are expected to use interactive methods, to guide students in the creative use of digital learning environments and e-learning materials.
In the Finish educational system the teachers have a large pedagogical autonomy, which is confirmed also in national Core Curricula for ba- sic education (2004) and for upper secondary education (2003). In practice teachers’ are able to choose any working method or teaching material according to their pupils.
In this paper the pupils’ and teachers’ belief of teaching and working methods and materials that are used during history and social sciences classes are investigated. Results are presented with the help of assess- ment of learning outcomes. As a part of assessment of learning outcomes both the pupils and teachers were asked also the question concerning teaching and working methods, textbooks and other learning materials. The system of assessment of learning outcomes is sample based. It means that the sample size is form 5% to 10% of the age group (Jakku-Sihvonen 2013, 24) which means from 4000 to 6000 pupils. The schools represent around 15 % of all the schools that give basic education in Finland (Ouakrim-Soivio 2013, 21). Also 165 teachers were a part of this research.
The results indicate that teachers need tools, such as in-service training, so they are able to develop skills and competences that are needed in future.
Keywords
Assessment of learning outcomes; basic education; history; social sciences; teacher training
Hrčak ID:
139157
URI
Publication date:
5.6.2014.
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