Funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture, the LUMA Finland programme will develop new methods and resources to inspire 6-16 year-olds towards STEM and to increase their skills and knowledge.
Declining results in international surveys on student performance, interest and motivation in STEM subjects have encouraged lively discussions in Finland. In addition to teachers and parents, policy makers have expressed their concerns about the low appeal of natural science, technology and mathematics studies and careers. Young people with sufficient skills and knowledge in STEM areas are essential for maintaining an economically sustainable future in Finland.
To address the situation, the Ministry of Education and Culture chose LUMA Centre Finland proposal, “LUMA FINLAND,” as a six-year national development programme. Aiming to inspire and engage 6-16 year-olds in the importance of science, technology and mathematics, the LUMA Finland programme will work together with teachers, students, families, schools and policy makers.
The LUMA FINLAND programme was officially launched on September 1st 2014 at the University of Oulu during the 3rd national Mathematics Teaching Day.
In practice the development programme is organized into three thematic categories each including diverse subprojects on specific topics. The main themes are:
1. Mathematics
2. Natural and environmental sciences
3. Technology education
Each theme will also address and develop inquiry-based learning, ICT in education, career opportunities and skills and core competencies in a knowledge-based society.
The LUMA FINLAND programme will draw on current education research to design and implement new teaching methods, learning environments and materials for schools. A student-centered approach with the aim of providing hands-on experiences about research and science will be used throughout the programme.
“Problem solving requires creativity and should learn to use technology as a useful tool in the process,” said professor Tapio Salakoski, who is responsible for projects under the technology theme. According to professor Peter Hästö, creativity will also be emphasized in the mathematics programme.
“I think the motivation for mathematics arises from focusing on an individual’s capacity for deduction, thinking and creativity instead of rigid textbook answers.”
Ms. Krista Kiuru, the Minister for Education commented on the need for a national development programme when the desicion was made public in April 2014. Read the Minister’s comments.
More information:
Head of the programme, prof. Maija Aksela, director of LUMA Centre Finland, maija.aksela@helsinki.fi.
Text: Maija Pollari.
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