Summary of Article "Mathematics Lesson from Finland and Sweeden (2015)"

Rebecca L. Seaberg on her article “Mathematics Lesson from Finland and Sweeden  (2015)“  investigate about International comparisons highlight many differences and a few similarities among  these two countries and the United States. As we know Finland become a country that have a good education  system in the world. Based on her article, she said that Sweden’s education system  is stuructured similarly to Finland’s, eventhough the result in Mathematics have been closer to US. And according on her observation during the sabbatical she found some point that similarity and contrast between Finnland , Sweden and US:

1.      Similarity about school system between Finnish and Swedish. Here we found that both of countries require nine years of comprehensive school then go on to the vocational upper-secondary school (gymnasium). And if they want to continue to the university they must take the Matriculation exam (ME) in the end of gymnasium .

2.      Mathematics classroom become 3 big part which form the result of her classroom observation . 1^st is resources , where in every book of  resources have all the answer in the back of the book. 2^nd is technology they used as the learning media. And 3^rd is the time of active study in school is less where in US is higher than Finnland and Sweden.

3.      National Priorities in both of Finnland and Sweden. Where the focus in sweden as more accommodating to the students’ needs, whereas in Finland the priority seemed to be that everyone should learn the subjects well.

4.      Student preparation. Where in Finland the only assasement to be accepted in Unviversity is ME  and it’s very contrast with U.S college entrance exams that using a large number of multiple choice because ME is essay based  and open ended.

5.      Teacher preparation where in Finland the teachers teach some subject and typically move with their student but American teachers just one subject area and  teach the same grade level year after year and  the difference salary among in Finnish and US .

6.      Esteem for teacher where in Finnland student almost respectful with the teacher because they see that teachers and school having a great value whereas in Sweden teachers are poorly respected and are blamed for many Swedish society’s problem. Beside that the qualification to be a teacher in Finland is must have a master’s degree whereas in Sweden a bachelor’s degree is sufficient to be a teacher as in the US.

In last session of the article she explain that some people in Swedan proposed 10 changes for Sweden education. And many of changes patterns after Finnish ways. Not only that , she also said in American a change already beginning  where they have implemented or are developing full-year clinical practice for preservice teachers with specially trained clinical faculty and are raising the requirements for entrance to and completion of teacher preparation programs.