Learning environment

Your learning environment consists of your fellow students, educational organisations, working life and the guidance and online environments offered by the School of Professional Teacher Education.

Studying at the School of Professional Teacher Education is multi-modal. Multi-modal studying combines working in a learning circle, participating in the tutoring days as well as studying online and independently.

Learning circles are collaborative study groups of 4 to 6 students. The purpose of the study groups is to discuss and work on the learning assignments together and support each other’s progress. The study group will meet and stay in touch as agreed upon with the members of a learning circle.

In order to gain the maximum benefit of the learning circle, it is important to discuss openly about how to complete the assignments so that the workload would remain realistic and fair for all.

Tutoring days are for the whole student group or individual learning circles conducted by the teacher educator, and will be organised in hybrid environment.

Participation in these days is an essential part of the studies. During these days, you will have the opportunity to share the experiences and outcomes of the learning tasks with your peer group. Participating in the work during the tutoring days produces important assessment material for assessing students' interaction skills.

To study online, you will need a computer with a webcam and a reliable internet connection to be able to participate in online and hybrid sessions.

You must also have a headset with a microphone. This way you can ensure smooth participation in online meetings. A smart mobile device – a smartphone or a tablet – is a useful tool in studies, but will not be sufficient by itself.

Facilitating Learning course will be completed either in an educational institution or another suitable learning environment. Teacher trainees will find a suitable placement organisation by themselves. However, the School of Professional Teacher Education can assist the student in finding an appropriate placement, if necessary.

After having agreed on the teaching practise placement, teacher trainees fill in a practical training plan in Workseed. www.workseed.fi 

During a practical training period the student is required to follow the common practices and rules of the placement organisation, and is subject to its’ work safety legislation. The indemnity liability is in compliance with the Act on indemnification (1423/91). An accident insurance regulated by law is in effect during a practical training period corresponding to the study programme's curriculum. If the student receives a salary for the training period, he is then considered to be “attached” to the organisation and is subject to the employees’ insurance.

Significance of planning your own work

For the most part, multi-modal studying is based on independent work and work in a learning circle. Multi-modal studies require you to have an active approach to studying, motivation, and the desire to take responsibility for your own learning. Every learner is an active agent! Online-focused studying also calls for sufficient IT skills.

One of the best-liked features in multi-modal studying is its flexibility when it comes to timetables. However, multi-modal studying is not completely time or location-independent. Instead, you must occasionally be at a certain place at a certain time to attend tutoring days and learning circle group work.

When you plan your studies and estimate the time they will take, remember to analyse the time required by independent studying that involves e.g. doing various learning assignments. Each course includes assignments, and these might be rather time-consuming.

The keywords for time management are, pre-planning and assessing your own recourses for studies.  With the help of these, you can draw up a flexible and above all realistic timetable that you can easily commit to.

However, life is impossible to predict, and sometimes we come face to face with unexpected events or situations. If such events occur and they have a major impact on your studies, you should contact your teacher educator immediately.

Your own role as a student is crucial for your learning: learning takes work and the main responsibility for your learning lies with you. At its best, learning is also fun, and the teacher educators will support and help you so that you can have the best possible conditions for studying.