Media education in Universities and Teacher Training

Teacher training in Finland is of high quality and teaching studies aim at a master’s degree. Although the amount of media education in teacher training has been increased over the years, it is still possible to graduate without completing a course in media education. Usually the media education content can be studied as a minor subject or a stand-alone course. Many media education courses, most of which deal with technology teaching, are available in post-graduate studies programmes. A study published in 2007 stated that also in teacher training the emphasis is clearly on the use of media equipment in teaching and educational work whereas the content-related themes are given less attention.

The Teaching System:

• Those studying to become subject teachers complete a Master’s degree programme at the university. The pedagogical studies of a teacher can be completed alongside the major studies or after them. Visual arts teachers complete their Master’s program in arts universities.
• Those studying to become class teachers complete a Master’s programme at university. The programme includes multi-disciplinary studies in subjects that are taught in school. A media based class teacher programme was initiated in the University of Lapland in 1997.
• Those studying to become kindergarten teachers have completed a Bachelor’s degree programme since 1995.
• Those studying to become guidance counsellors usually complete a Master’s degree in education, which includes both guidance and pedagogic studies.
• Those studying to become vocational school teachers or polytechnic school teachers need to complete a degree programme from a respective area and possess work experience in the field. The pedagogical studies are completed in schools of vocational teacher education that operate as part of the universities of applied science