Finnish Teacher Week Day was held on the 2nd of September 2022 for the second time as a hybrid event at vocational institute Eduko. The event was held in Zoom where participants and presenters could join the event online but they could also join the event live.
Finnish Teacher Week, part of work package 3 (WP3), is an event focusing on the best practices of the presenting institutions in the educational field. The first Teachers Week was held in two parts as an online event on 20th and 27th of April 2021 the central topics beeing continuous learning, multiculturalism, working life orientation and the utilization of modern technologies in education.
This year’s Teacher Week continued with the theme of modern technologies. Vocational institute Eduko gave a presentation on smart glasses and what kind of opportunities the smart glasses could give in the educational field. Xamk presented Fuel Experience Lab-concept, which operates in Kouvola campus, and what kind of solutions the concept offers through technology and service design. Xamk, Kouvola campus also presented the degree program of Business Administration. In addition Xamk, Mikkeli campus presented the degree program of Environmental Engineering. Both campuses focused on what kind of good practices they’ve adopted in their degree programs.
THE EVENT BEGINS: EDUKO PRESENTS THE SMART GLASSES
The project manager of Race4Scale Jarmo Kujanpää opened the day by giving a speech welcoming everyone. The first presenter of the day was Tuija Arola, PhD., Development Director at EduKo, and she elaborated on the concept of smart glasses and told about the benefits of the smart glasses from the pedagogical point of view. Tuija told how she wants to offer their students a so-called multichannel experience with the smart glasses, underlining that every student has a different way of learning to which the smart glasses could give a solution.
Tuija Arola giving a presentation to the Zoom participants as well as for the live audience on the benefits of the smart glasses from the pedagogical point of view. Petteri Aspelund (left) and Mika Koivistoinen (right) are seen in the background.
After Tuija’s presentation, Petteri Aspelund from Pekava Oy and Mika Koivistoinen from Fromidea Oy demonstrated how the smart glasses work in practice. David Sims from Dynabook Europe (Eduko’s smart glass supplier) from London was also present through Zoom. After having explained the philosophy and concept behind their products he answered the questions about the smart glasses.
Smart glasses could completely replace laptops; The smart glasses are connected to the pocket-sized computer to which one can also connect an external display and a keyboard.
Xamk presents: Fuel Experience Lab and the degree program of Business Administration
After EduKo, it was Xamk’s turn to give their first presentation which was about Fuel Experience Lab, FUEL in short. Project manager Jani Kiviranta presented the surroundings of FUEL through Zoom. Next, Jani introduced the principles of FUEL. FUEL is “the clinic of service design” as Jani put it, which aims to offer new perspectives and help reach solutions more easily and efficiently. FUEL offers immersion with Experience Wall manufactured by OiOi with additional help from VR-headsets that are also included in the equipment of FUEL. FUEL also offers an upgraded space for events and for remote working.
After Jani had finished with his presentation, principal lecturer Mikhail Nemilentsev was next in line with presentation about the degree program of Business Administration conducted in Xamk’s Mikkeli campus. The degree program of Business Administration is divided into three fields of specializations: Digital International Business, Well-being Management and International Business Management. Students in each field are given opportunities to work with real companies as well as in projects within Xamk research unit. For example, Active Life Lab which is one of the Xamk research- and developmental units is an essential part of the studies of Well-being Management.
Active Life Lab operates as a learning environment for the Well-being Management students.
Xamk presents: The degree program of environmental ENGINEERING
After Mikhail, the last but not the least presenter of the day was principal lecturer Arto Sormunen from the degree program of Environmental Engineering also from Xamk Mikkeli campus. Arto showcased the equipment used in environmental technology as well as situations that one gets to experience during the studies.
After Arto was done with his presentation, Jarmo closed the day by giving a summary of the topics of the day and encouraged the audience to explore the options of both EduKo and Xamk.