From music in maths to ethical AI – Future skills in schools

Three teaching development projects launched at the University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Educational Sciences have received the EU’s Erasmus+ ‘Teacher Academies’ funding. This is a major accomplishment for the University, as only 11 projects received such funding within the EU as a whole.

project G-Steam examines gender, mathematics and science learning and the incorporation of visual arts and music into teaching these subjects, especially in primary school.

The project is coordinated by Eindhoven University of Technology, with and representing Finland.

Finnish teachers are developmentally minded, and Huotilainen believes it is important to bring such expertise to schools across Europe. In addition, the project draws on advanced Finnish expertise in the neuroscience of music. 

“Finland has pioneered uniquely to use music and other art subjects in mathematics teaching,” she explains.

Ethical and creative AI use in schools

project EmpowerinAI (Empowering pre- and in-service teachers to harness the potential of AI for designing creative and ethical digital education ecosystems) involves in-service teachers, teacher educators and pre-service teachers advancing the ethical, creative and critical use of AI. 

Juuti underlines the importance of developing the use of new technologies together with teachers. Such development is based on creating new learning situations and using AI ethically. 

“Although new technologies enable new activities, this requires a critical perspective on the role of technology in teaching and education. It’s not about opposing technology, but about understanding how it works and what its complex connections to teaching and learning are,” he notes.

Teachers, particularly those to complete Finnish research-based teacher education, are experts in such new creative approaches. 

Together with Professor Kalle Juuti, University lecturers and are members of the project team at the Faculty of Educational Scienes. Project is coordinated by Vilnius University, and project collaborates with the City of Helsinki’s Education Division.

Futures education for subject teachers 

project FEDORA Academy (Teacher Academy for a Future-oriented STEAM Education for a Sustainable World) investigates and develops subject teachers’ skills in futures education, sustainability education and science education. 

The project continues from the , which prepared recommendations for future-oriented science education. The results of the previous project are now being shared with teachers and schools.  

“In the rapidly changing world facing sustainability crises, science education must help young people see options and opportunities to make a difference,” says Laherto. 

The new project involves who defended his doctoral thesis on future-oriented science education in 2023. 

Laherto is also working in another Teacher Academies project entitled TEFF (Teacher Education for a Future in Flux), set to continue until 2026.