Day 1 (11 April 2016)
In the first day, I found that teachers introduced themselves by presenting their career and life story as well as their education background. It is very important to know, then I can decide what kind of discussion or questions should I ask which are relating to their career disciplines. Prof. Eero started the discussion about identity, expertise, and agency. Prior to starting this lesson, in the previous week, I had already done three summaries including three different topics (identity, expertise, and agency). Hence, by accomplishing these summaries, at least I had background knowledge right before the lectures provide their lessons. Prof. Eero attempted to address some issues concerning to these topics, then we had discussion session for each topic delivered. He explained theories of learning. Historically, these theories have changed by the time. Actually, I donât really understand what he tried to explain, my education background is engineering, and in the beginning, it seems hard for me to capture verbal communication. However, I got some points on how the learning is defined as a theoretical concept, as well as what the most common learning theories is. In addition, we also had a discussion about the direction of our thesis topic. I found that we are late to start thinking about it. But, it will be fine I guess, as long as we can manage our time properly. When I was going to start my master degree last three years, I had already kept in touch with my professor (supervisor) before departing to the country that I had decided to study. He gave me a lot of advice regarding my research topic. Then, once I was there and was going to start my study, I had had a clear direction on what I was going to do. And I hope I am going to meet my advisor as soon as possible in order to have a discussion about my thesis topic. I donât think it will be easy for me. I need to switch my mind from natural to social science, it means I need more time to digest and decide what I have already known and what I am going to do my research. I am also thinking whether the topic that I choose is applicable enough, and can be implemented and suggested to my school.
Day 2 (12 April 2016)
Today, Tuovi started the lesson by providing the lecture about the practical theory of teaching. This practical theory comes from her teaching experience as a teacher for more than 30 years. She explained the important values of the Finnish school implemented. I knew about during introduction to Finland in the matriculation session with Pekka. Yes, I agree that Finnish school applies the equality, informality, and honesty. What I really concern is about teacherâs autonomy. It is a big issue in Indonesia due to some political issues in this country, teachers do not have a particular autonomy to design their own curricula, teaching needs and learning environment. Teachers also have a problem in their expertise, there are many studentsâ evaluation standards provided by the government, and there is a particular inspection system of schools and teachers that influence teachersâ trust. In addition, she also addressed the roles and relations of a teacher. They are divided into personal (internal) and interpersonal (external) level. In terms of personal level, teacher action should be adjusted with capabilities, values, and sense of identity. Once teacher can associate his/her action with those aspects, then the teacher is able to encounter the interpersonal level. She also explained about Robert Dilts, NLP hierarchy. It recommends teachers to questioning what, who, where, when, why, and how about their students. I think Tuovi is a really good teacher to her students, she has her personal top 7 objectives as a teacher in order to, ultimately, encounter the students as people and challenge them to wonder the world and make it better. We also had an active discussion session with her, and a lot of questions raised related to teaching in practice. In a particular case, I got the other point of view about teacher roles. How Finnish does not have any punishment to students with a particular violation, etc. They really try to understand their student as a person, also respect them.
Then, we had a session with Prof. Eero. Right here, Eero attempted to address what is teaching expertise. For this part, I have already tried to have some main ideas from his paper on how Eero differentiate expert teacher from novice teacher. There are 6 propositions that he produced to answer all those issues. Eero seems very familiar with this topic, however, he overcomes difficulties to explain to us in English. It can be understood, we are in the same boat, and English becomes our constraint to communicate each other. In some case, our messages cannot be completely delivered and understood by others. For this session, I am really interested in narrative learning (narratives of becoming an expert). It is believed that narrative can help professional learning from it autobiographical root. I can see that through narratives, people can take different roles towards themselves and their own development. Yes, I agree that it is an old-fashioned approach/method in teaching expertise. However, we understand that narratives will help people (students) to find their identities. In addition, we also believed that identity will influence both personal and social studentsâ development.
The session was continued by Paivi. Actually, we did our group portfolio about âwhat a god teacher is likeâ yesterday. And today, we attempted to make it as a theoretical concept. Also, in the end of the class, Paivi asked to explore our strengths on our expertise as teachers. Again, we did it in the group. For me, this was really interesting. We collaborated with the group in order to define both our individual and school expertise. I think, this is part of portfolios to record our development as postgraduate students. What I can do in the future is trying to file all studentsâ portfolios properly. The lectures that I have got during these two days tell me a lot about how to find my identity as well as our studentsâ identities. Furthermore, Eero also offered me the other point of views of becoming an expert teacher. Thank you, Eero, Paivi, and Tuovi J
Day 3 (13 April 2016)
Paivi took the first turn to provide us her lecture about academic portfolios. As I mentioned previously, from the first day that we met, Paivi always asks to do something (some concepts, common teacher practices, etc.) in pairs or groups. She explained about learning diary as one of the portfolios to record our academic life. It has a purpose to do critical reflection about what we have already learned. Hence, the portfolio may become a proof for our personal development as well as career. It shows us the collection of our study or career-path performance. I also understand portfolio is long life self-reflection. It can show our expertise as a teacher, a child, a student, or other. Yup, I am going to collect my portfolios in order to develop myself, in career/study as well as my personal development.
Then, Eero continued the lecture with a qualitative study. Today, we discussed our personal and school expertise that we have already done before. We categorized it based on our perspectives. Thus, it will not be very objectives, because one has a different perspective with others. It was really fascinating. We worked in groups. I donât know what you thought about us. Once you ask to work in groups, we will do it freely, just like at home. Yes, I really love to do something differently (not only listening to lectures passively). After completing our works, then the lesson was continued by qualitative discussion relating to what we did previously. This was the best part for me. I believed that with discussion, my perspective about some concepts, theories, practices, etc. will develop. I got another point of views about different issues, problems, and aspects. We can share our knowledge, give constructive feedback, and support each other. Honestly, I am not good at verbal communication. Previously, I see everything with numbers, pictures, schemes, diagrams, etc. However, at this time, I am training myself to be more communicative verbally. It will help me to solve many problems in the future. As a teacher, I also apply this approach to my students in order to help them in learning cooperatively.
Day 4 (14 April 2016)
The teacher started the class by explaining the concept of studentsâ agency. Again, this is Paivi expertise. She attempted to provide a critical review of the multidisciplinary concept of agency, and also offer to us a way of conceptualizing agency at our expertise area as a teacher. Nowadays, I know that the concept of agency plays a very important role in education, and some other subject-matters. Therefore, it is important to discuss how professional agency can influence our studentsâ performance in the classroom. Agency in education is associating to identity (teacher identity). Without a well-developed identity, we cannot be agents to our students. What I have learned during these four days, the issues about identity, expertise, and agency, gives other concerns to me. I now can see the connection amongst them. Once we find our identity, we can be an expert as well as an agent. In short, I found that the lectures from my teachers are very valuable and useful. Hopefully, I still can learn more with you face-to-face or online. Iâm even considering to take it as my thesis topic. I will re-think about it, it looks really interesting for me. Yes, I got some new learning experiences during this week. I can say new because my prior concerns are quite different.
Again, Tuovi took her turn to perform (ups, teach) and discuss her 30 year anniversary, even older than my age, haha. Compared to her, of course, I am still a rookie. I took the chance as a teacher one year ago. Before, I was an engineer, and also a scientist. Yup, I have many identities, absolutely. Tuovi mentioned the steps to teacher expertise. She called rookie time for first 2-3 years. Yes, I agree with her. I am in that position now. What she faced at that time almost matches with me. Then, as a teacher, she had passed her first routine, at this time she was considering her family more than works. Yup, I can see that. My sister is also a teacher. When I was at home and had no other activities, I helped taking care of her small children. I think, this is the hardest for every teacher with the same experience to re-consider whether they are going to continue being a teacher or not. Then, she moved to real routine phase. At this time, everything was going automatically. Yes, she adopted a door handle pedagogy. Although I am still a rookie, I did it! Bad teacher J Yes, prior to starting my lessons for next day, I do teaching simulation at night. Sometimes, I just imagine my studentsâ faces, subject-matters that I am going to teach, classroom environment, my expectation, studentsâ limitations and interests, etc. Even, I dreamt about it. So, we are in the same boat.
Then, Eero moved to a narrative perspective on learning and curriculum. In this lecture, he explained the importance of learning form narratives or teaching with narratives. The results of this learning are narrative characteristics. He also emphasized that identity is an important concept in understanding actions, agency, and also behavior. Identity (positioning) influences on what we perceive and receive. Yup, I take this as my new knowledge and learning experience.
After lunch, we continued to deliver our group presentation about identity and teacher expertise. During presentation and discussion, I found a lot of new concepts, theories, etc. We did deep discussion as well. To be honest, I am not the one who have a good understanding of educational psychology. However, I am attempting to gather a lot of related information to solve many puzzles on my brain. I am interesting in all new knowledge, for that I am struggling to do my best. I never learn something only to accomplish assignments given by teachers, but I learn something to understand, if possible, to implement it in my real life. Overall, I really enjoyed this day. I like to do a presentation, I like to transfer my knowledge to others, and I like to respond other people works as well.
Day 5 (15 April 2016)
This is our face-to-face last meeting with Eero, Tuovi, and Paivi. We continued to do group presentation about the agency. They defined what is traditional classroom learning (i.e. students listen to the teacher in the classroom), alternative classroom learning (students have their own autonomy), transformative and creative learning (a group of students with their autonomy gathers at some places for discussion). Collaboration and agency in the classroom involve narrative learning activities as our focus. Agency contains the concept âauthenticityâ or âinitiativeâ in doing the activity. There are two types of agency: individual and collective/shared agency. Furthermore, narrative plays pedagogy and emphasizes the sense-making process and construction of motivation through narrative elements relating to studentsâ interests. They play drama, part theater, musical, etc. In our school, teachers have already applied this narrative learning. However, our goals on the agency to explore studentsâ identities do not achieve yet, and it seems still on the surface.
Then, we did an evaluation, reflection, and gave feedback about all lectures that we have acquired during these five-consecutive days. The evaluation focused on contents, learning methods (lectures, group works, lessons, presentations, etc.), outcomes, and what do you take with you from this course. We also did criticism about the educational system in Indonesia, then we compared it to the practice that we have already done in our school. What I can see here is, the lectures were very helpful and gave a lot of new issues that we can learn and explore more in the future. Nice to meet you all. Send me to Finland as soon as possible, please! I also plan to continue my Ph.D. there. It is a must right after graduating from this program. I am thinking that I really want to feel educational environment there. No matter what, I am going to be there, and meeting you again. I am not satisfied with the educational system in Indonesia. That is why, I tried to have my education abroad, and bring the values to Indonesia. Again, thank you very much!
Kakak Kedua (Mama Acha, Fathan)
