Online teaching

Published 11.6.2025

(Updated 5.7.2025)

Helsingin yliopisto

OU: Uncover Finnish Education I (MOOC), Online teaching

Become familiar with the key features of the Finnish education system, as well as with the current development directions

Online teaching

1.8.2025 - 31.7.2026

3 cr

OnlineIndependent study

Schedule

Check on the university's website

Registration or application for course

1.8.2025 - 31.7.2026

Time reserved for studying

Description

Independent study, Uncover Finnish Education I

Content

The aim of the study unit is to introduce the key features of the Finnish education from a systemic perspective. The course content consists of text, podcasts, videos, and interactive materials available online. The course is structured in five chapters, each chapter covering three to five topics.

Chapter 1: Foundational elements

Topic 1: Value basis

Topic 2: Structure and steering system

Topic 3: Educational ecosystem

Topic 4: Support for learning

Topic 5: Success and challenges

Chapter 2: Development at every stage

Topic 1: Curriculum system

Topic 2: Early Childhood Education

Topic 3: Basic Education

Topic 4: Upper secondary education

Topic 5: Higher Education

Chapter 3: Curriculum highlights

Topic 1: Transversal Competences

Topic 2: Digitalization in education

Topic 3: Artistic and practical subjects

Chapter 4: Quality enhancement

Topic 1: What to assess and why?

Topic 2: Sample- based assessment

Topic 3: Evaluation of schools and evaluation of students

Topic 4: Evaluation methods in the classroom

Topic 5: international assessments

Chapter 5: The path to teacher autonomy

Topic 1: Teachers as professionals

Topic 2: Teacher education

Topic 3: Development of teacher education

Topic 4: Educational leadership

Topic 5: Professional development

Conclusion

Working methods

This is an asynchronous online course. It is completed by doing exercises. The students need to complete all the exercises and pass 80% of them. There is no exam.

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Complete the course in the MOOC course environment. You can complete the course on your own schedule during 1.8.2025– 31.7.2026. A link to the MOOC course environment is in the Links section of this page. Course opens on August 1.

You do not need a University of Helsinki user account to study this course. User accounts are not opened for MOOC students.

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Additional information and registration

Price and registration period

Check on the university's website

Go to the institution's website(Opens in a new tab)

Additional information:

Dates

1.8.2025 - 31.7.2026

Languages of instruction

English

Assessment

This course is assessed with PASS or FAIL. To pass it, the students need to complete all the exercises and pass 80% of them. All exercises are assessed automatically. There are two types of exercises, located at the end of each topic: 1. Short ESSAY (100 - 300 words). This is a peered reviewed exercise, so to complete it, the student needs to submit their answer. They will receive two anonymous reviews of it. They will also need to provide two reviews for other peers’ answers anonymously. The selection of the answers that you are requested to peer review is done automatically. The students can find the peer review criteria in each exercise. 2. Quiz/Multiple-choice questions. These exercises are automatically assessed. To finalize the exercises, the students can attempt them several times. They have one attempt for the peer review exercises and three attempts for the quizzes.

Learning materials

Additional information

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Become familiar with the key features of the Finnish education system, as well as with the current development directions

In this course you'll...

Become familiar with the key features of the Finnish education system, as well as with the current development directions
Be able to understand the principles on which the Finnish educational system is based on
Learn how to develop education for the future

Uncover Finnish Education is a free online course for anyone interested in the Finnish education system. By looking at the Finnish education from a holistic perspective, you will build an understanding of how to approach education development in a systemic way. Therefore, key elements of the Finnish education system, such as foundational aspects (underlying values, educational eco-system, administration aspects), curriculum development, quality enhancement, teacher education and current challenges will be covered in this course.

The course offers a captivating online learning experience by using interactive study materials, simulation exercises and short assignments which promote personalized learning. You will get to reflect on your experience in other educational systems and think about solutions regarding current or future challenges in education.

The development of the course has been done in collaboration with the outstanding researchers, teachers, and principals at the University of Helsinki.

This course is a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) worth of 3 ECTS. It is an asynchronous course, so you can study it at your own pace, anytime you want to. When you are signed in, the system will remember your progress. This course is also part of the curriculum of the Master’s Programme in Changing Education(Opens in a new tab), which has been available at the University of Helsinki since 2020. Taking this course does not require you to be a student of this programme.

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Organiser

Helsingin yliopisto

Teachers

Risto Hotulainen, teacher in charge

Contact details

avoin-student@helsinki.fi

Belongs to themes:

Education and learning