【教學新方向】芬蘭將逐步取消學科教學方式
finland
教育水平位於世界前列的芬蘭,將進行新一輪改革教育制度,取消以學科劃分的學習方式,鼓勵學生在研究每件事物和現象時,採取多角度的觀察和學習,例如:了解第二次世界大戰,將從歷史、科學、地理、數學等多方面入手。
這項改革預計將在2020年完成,讓我們拭目以待!

芬蘭在今年度的教育改革提出「主題教學」~~一種刻意融合各學科於一體的教學模式。

非摒棄科目

芬蘭教育部預料,是次全國課程框架(National Curriculum Framework, NCF )改制,將於 2020 年全面落實,其中包括:「主題學習」(phenomenon-based learning)將取代傳統以學科為本的教學方式,成為課程規劃的主要方針。不過,芬蘭教育家 Pasi Sahlberg 近日就撰文釐清,由於 NCF 並非強制執行,學校可彈性處理,因此不能說所有學校均會放棄學科劃分。事實上,指引內亦只要求那些為 7 – 16 歲學童提供教育服務的基本學校,最少安排一個學期實行主題教學。而且,芬蘭學校的自主性高,所以學校可採用多變不同的做法配合指引,並非必須全面取締傳統科目分類。

另外,作者同時指「全面教學」(a holistic approach to teaching and learning),似是舊調重彈多於創新改革。因為自 1980 年起,當地學校已一直在試驗這方針,例如在小學英語課,老師會在黑板貼上歐洲地圖,再讓學生說出不同地區常見的天氣狀況。

改革背後的理念

芬蘭教育部的課程規劃統籌 Irmeli Halinen 指,是次教育改革除了旨在加強學生適應全球化和審視局面的能力,更重要是引導學生尋找在世界的意義。傳統教育下,學科的界線涇渭分明,「為何要拿高分」、「知識如何幫助落實人生計劃」盡是些存而不論的疑惑。但若採取主題學習,由於學童可參與課題制定和決定取角(例如,學生大可透過分析俄羅斯氣候來解釋為何德軍會在二戰中敗陣),他們便有機會不時拷問自己的興趣和定位,並在具體情景中體會抽象知識的價值。另一邊廂,主題學習較能照顧學童的能力差異,這與芬蘭一直強調教育平等的理念不謀而合。

成功並非僥倖,國國有本難念的經。捨易取難實踐高遠理念,意味需更著力發展其獨特的教育制度。芬蘭捨棄要學生成績為本的路線,選擇投放更多資源研究不同教育制度、促進不同持份者之間的合作與溝通,以及重點培育優質教師。在芬蘭,當小學教師隨時較考入大學還難,據 Sahlberg 另一篇文章的分析,平均每年 10 位中便有約 9 位想報讀小學教師課程不果。

「不求你高分,只盼你能在平等的環境下當個有勇氣抉擇的快樂人」,如此一句令人動容的話,芬蘭人一直在實踐,反觀香港,那個離地得會把學童抑鬱自殺現象歸因於青少年缺乏人生規劃的教育局長,又能否領略一二?


Finland Will Become the First Country in the World to Get Rid of All School Subjects

Finland’s education system is considered one of the best in the world. In international ratings, it’s always in the top ten. However, the authorities there aren’t ready to rest on their laurels, and they’ve decided to carry through a real revolution in their school system.

Finnish officials want to remove school subjects from the curriculum. There will no longer be any classes in physics, math, literature, history, or geography.

The head of the Department of Education in Helsinki, Marjo Kyllonen, explained the changes:

“There are schools that are teaching in the old-fashioned way which was of benefit in the beginning of the 1900s — but the needs are not the same, and we need something fit for the 21st century.“

Instead of individual subjects, students will study events and phenomena in an interdisciplinary format. For example, the Second World War will be examined from the perspective of history, geography, and math. And by taking the course ”Working in a Cafe," students will absorb a whole body of knowledge about the English language, economics, and communication skills.

This system will be introduced for senior students, beginning at the age of 16. The general idea is that the students ought to choose for themselves which topic or phenomenon they want to study, bearing in mind their ambitions for the future and their capabilities. In this way, no student will have to pass through an entire course on physics or chemistry while all the time thinking to themselves “What do I need to know this for?”

The traditional format of teacher-pupil communication is also going to change. Students will no longer sit behind school desks and wait anxiously to be called upon to answer a question. Instead, they will work together in small groups to discuss problems.

The Finnish education system encourages collective work, which is why the changes will also affect teachers. The school reform will require a great deal of cooperation between teachers of different subjects. Around 70% of teachers in Helsinki have already undertaken preparatory work in line with the new system for presenting information, and, as a result, they’ll get a pay increase.

The changes are expected to be complete by 2020.