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Alberta’s teachers are embarking on an ambitious partnership with the best of the best.
In August, Finland was declared the best country in the world in a
Newsweek survey—Canada came in fifth. The survey of 100 countries was based on a country’s health, economy, education, political environment and quality of life. Finland’s schools achieved top results without having extensive standardized testing or minutely detailed curriculum standards.
The partnership could be the starting point for a broader international network of jurisdictions that will support the profession in achieving the changes envisioned in Inspiring Action. As well, the partnership will be an anchor for engaging the larger community in transforming schools into learning hubs of creativity and innovation.
Although Alberta and Finland are recognized as leaders in innovation and learning, both face similar challenges that threaten to undermine the benefits of their creative approaches to education—challenges such as standardization, overreliance on technology and system-level reforms. The solution, according to researcher Andy Hargreaves, is to focus on developing competence at the school level and creating teaching conditions that enhance teacher professionalism.
Hargreaves and Dennis Shirley, coauthors of
The Fourth Way: The Inspiring Future for Educational Change (Corwin 2009), and Finnish researcher Pasi Sahlberg will be part of the team framing the scope and purposes of the partnership.
“Alberta and Finland are highly innovative,” said ATA President Carol Henderson. “Both jurisdictions can learn by observing how the other partner capitalizes on opportunities afforded by technology and globalization.”
The significance of the Alberta–Finland venture was recognized by the Alberta government in mid-October, when Education Minister Dave Hancock and ATA President Henderson co-signed a letter inviting Finland’s ministry of education and science and Finland’s teachers’ organization to participate.
Alberta Teachers’ Association staff have proposed a public awareness campaign, research, an international conference, publications and a pilot project involving schools in Finland and Alberta. The various activities and events designed to enhance public engagement and research will position the Association as an authoritative voice in educational policy development, commented Henderson.
Teachers will be invited to visit the international partnership’s website to receive more information about the partnership, activities and public-engagement strategies.
