Recipes for Systemic Change - Helsinki Design Lab

62 Education StudioOutcomesSummaryThrough conversations with students, teachers, administratorsand other stakeholders, the Studio discovered a numberof embedded assumptions about the system itself and aboutthe ‘lost boys,’ a revealing term used to describe dropouts.What the Studio observed as underpinning the current successesof Finland’s students were strong policies based onequality that guarantee all students equal access to education;a high degree of autonomy afforded to individual educationalinstitutions and teachers; and a particularly high level of trustbetween government, communities, schools and students.But questions remained: does the education system careabout the non-conforming students? Is there a concern forchildren’s lives outside of school? Are schools teaching in away that is meaningful to all students? Is technology used toadvance education in visionary ways? Is the education systemmeasuring competencies in accurate ways? Is there teacherand school accountability? Are kids getting enough physicalexercise? Is there flexibility in applying what students learnand know? Is the system building empathy and understandingfor other cultures?The Studio suggested a series of seven priority shiftsaddressing key elements within the education ecology:1. Equal access toeducation2. Current socialcontract3. Social welfaresystem v1.04. Administrative structuresthat are hierarchicaland vertical5. Schools as institutionsfor acquisition ofacademic skills6. Focus on thenormative7. Learning for academicachievement>>>>>>>Equal opportunity to develop individual talents andaspirationsSocial contract that includes voices of all stakeholders(shared meaning)Social welfare system v2.0 (Integrated with personalagency and empowerment)Ones that are inclusive, open and flexible. Empowerall levels to interact and co-operateSchools as agents of change that inspire and producecivic innovation creativity as well as holisticgrowthInclusion of all members of society. Schools toacknowledge and celebrate the whole range of abilitiesand talents.Learning for expertise for life