I read this article, that says that Finland has the best education system in the world followed by South Korea. The thing that amazed me in this is how two completely different school systems are both top ranked.I live and go to school in Finland so I know how the school system works here and my English teacher showed me a video about her teacher exchange in South Korea and it was totally different. In the South Korean school the studying hours for the kids is mesmerizing compared to my school here in Finland.The kids got up at around 7:00 to go to school and after school ended at 15:00 they would go to extra tutoring and then they'd get home at around 22:00 and go to sleep. The thing I wonder is, how can they be so different but still they both come out on top.
“The rankings are calculated based on various measures, including international test scores, graduation rates between 2006 and 2010, and the prevalence of higher education seekers.“ The international test scores are in my opinion, the only good way to rank countries and the schools themselves. They show the knowledge that the students have learned there and puts it in an easy form to rank. The other ways are also effective but the tests are the most.
I also watched this video which shows first grade students using smartphones for their class work. The kids red small stories from their school books and then filmed them by making paper cut outs and filming them with the smartphone. The idea is to get the kids to read and understand what they read and add something fun to the learning, which in this case is the filming. I think this is a great idea, because it gets the kids to learn better because they're doing something fun and enjoyable and they also learn how to use the smartphone which is needed in these days and in the future. It also seems to work well by how the kids work and take part in the lesson.
I agree with you that using smartphones is a very good idea! It might not work in every school but I think it's worth for trying. I'd love if we could use, for example, iPads in school more often while doing school projects and such.
VastaaPoistaIt is a good question to think how very different school systems can perform equally well in international studies. I wonder what you think the Finnish secret might be.
VastaaPoistaInteresting to hear that both of you would welcome the idea of using more technology / gadgets at school. However, don't you think that using iPads and smartphones can also be quite distracting? Where could young people find the self-discipline to stick to the task at hand?