1. Recent Developments in the Training of History Teachers in Finland May, the 30th, 2008, Arja Virta Faculty of Education, Department of Teacher Education

2. 4.6.2015 1. Background: Teacher education in Finland  All teacher education for general education takes place in universities  All teachers, also those for grades 1–6 in compulsory education, take MA level degrees  Elementary school teachers, class teachers (for grades 1–6 ) major in pedagogy and usually do a short course in history (about 3 ECTS)  Subject-specific teachers in compulsory school from grades 7–9, and in senior secondary school (=13–19 year olds)

3. 4.6.2015 Teachers’ qualifications by school forms in Finland (based on Jakku-Sihvonen & Niemi 2006, 11) AgeSchool formTeachers’ qualification 0–6KindergartenKindergarten teachers (BA) 6Optional pre-schoolKindergarten teachers (BA) or class teachers 7–12Basic education (compulsory) grades 1-6 Class teachers (MA), subject teachers 13–15Basic education (compulsory) grades 7 -9 Subject-specific teachers (MA, MSc) 16 –Upper secondary schoolsSubject-specific teachers (MA, MSc) 16 –Vocational schoolsVocational or subject teachers

4. 4.6.2015 2. Changes after and/or due to the Bologna process  The programmes for teacher education were reformed on basis of the national working group in education  ECTS system  all programmes divided to BA and MA level degrees (basically even before the Bologna process)  analysis of core substance in every course  MA as basic requirement for teaching in schools from elementary level on (as before)

5. 4.6.2015 3.Class teacher education (MA, teaching grades 1–6) (adapted from Jakku-Sihvonen & Niemi 2006, 38) Components of class teacher Education BA 180 ECTS MA 120 ECTS Total 300 ECTS Main Subject (general education): pedagogical studies; educational research; scientific writing; theses 60 including teaching practice; BA thesis 80 (MA thesis 20- 40 ECTS (practice) 140 Curriculum studies (subject studies in school subjects for grades 1 to 6,) 60 Academic studies, minor subjects250 - 3525 - 60 Other studies (language, ICT…)355 – 4040 -75

6. 4.6.2015 History in teacher studies for lower grades  Included in curriculum studies, makes about 3–5 ECTS ( emphasis: the nature of history, didactics)  Cross-curricular themes (cultural identity, active citizenship etc supporting pure subject studies)  Class teachers can specialise in history ( qualify as subject teachers for grades 7 – 9 if they study 60 ECTS in history)

7. 4.6.2015 4. The education of the subject- specific teachers of history (= grades 7-9 and upper secondary) (ibid.,39) ComponentsBA 180 ECTS MA 120 ECTS Total 300 ECTS Academic studies in the main subject (history) 60 (incl. BA Thesis 10 ECTS in history 60-90 (incl MA thesis 20-40 ECTS) 120 - 150 Academic studies in minor subjects (eg. social sciences) 25 - 600 - 3025 - 90 Subject teachers’ pedagogical studies general education; subject didactics, practice 25-3030-3560 ( min. 20 teaching practice Other studies35 - 400-3035-70

8. 4.6.2015 Components of history subject teacher education  SUBJECT STUDIES: major, history in the Faculty of Humanities / minor: social sciences, in the Faculty of Social Sciences, other minor studies  TEACHER STUDIES: a) educational studies, b) history didactics (Fachdidaktik), c) Practical training [a+b in Departments of Education / Teacher Education; c: in University training schools, Normalschule]  Practical training is mainly organised in university training schools (”normal schools”), which belong to the Faculty of Education

9. 4.6.2015 Different ways of becoming a history teacher  1. MA majoring in history, teacher studies for history teachers included in the degree (the mainstream)  2. MA majoring in history, teacher studies done after the degree, separate diploma  3. MA as above (1 or 2), but teacher studies done in the teacher education directed to adult education  4. MA in class teacher programme (education as major, history minor, 60 ECTS, qualifies for grades 7–9)  A NEW TREND – COMPULSORY EDUCATION IS MORE AND MORE OFTEN FUNCTIONING AS A UNIFIED SCHOOL)  5. MA in some other subject, teacher studies in some other school subject (languages, social science, religion), history as a minor subject (qualifies for grades 7-9)

10. 4.6.2015 Current issues  Social studies / social sciences are an independent school subject (from 2003 on)  until now majority of history teachers have had social studies as a minor subject  this combination no more so fixed  Problem: resources for educating social studies teachers (didactics etc)  Problems of unemployment and overeducation of history teachers  pressure from the Ministry of Education to cut the numbers of new students  no decisions yet

11. 4.6.2015 Challenges and emphases of history teacher education  Principles of active learning and active citizenship, global education  Creating a personal professional identity (  why do I teach history and social studies, who am I as a teacher etc)  Combining the roles and responsibilities of a history and social science teacher: academic expertise and professionalism; caring and supporting the students; intercultural competence  Preparing teachers to teach in culturally diverse settings

12. 4.6.2015 For more information:  Jakku-Sihvonen, Ritva & Niemi, Hannele (editors), Research-based Teacher Education in Finland – Reflections by Finnish Teacher Educators. Research in Educational Sciences 25. Finnish Educational Research Association. Turku 2006.  Virta, Arja, Recent Developments in History Teaching in Finland. In: Elisabeth Erdmann, Robert Maier & Susanne Popp (editors) Geschichtsunterricht international / Worldwide Teaching of History / L’enseignement de l’histoire dans le monde. Studien zur internationalen Schulbuchforschung Band 117. Scriftenreihe des Georg-Eckert-Instituts. Hannover 2006, pp. 323–335.