Within the ERASMUS+ project Do It Yourself the 2nd training took place in Kittilä, Finland from 16. – 18. of January 2023 hosted by the Finnish Coordinator, The Municipality of Kittilä.
The aim of this activity was to show the innovative methods and approaches of teaching and learning by using iPads in education.
During the training course the participants were taught how to set up a functional environment for a large number of iPads. The example was just driven out from the Municipality of Kittilä where more than 400 elementary school students are using iPads as 1:1 method. It means that every elementary school student uses an iPad as it would be his / her’s own. Although the iPads are stored at schools and will only be taken home with an extra permission.
Also, the participants were taught how to use Apple School Manager to control student groups and to use the Apple Volume Purhasing Program. When using a large number of digital devices, it is essential to be able to purchase applications to a large student group when necessary. It is also crucial when using Apple Schoolwork. That was certified during the Covid -19 distance teaching period.
The course also included a Mobile Device Management session where the participants were taught how to set up a MDM service. The MDM software allows the administrator to set up certain policies to use the devices as well as to deploy applications to a student group when necessary. It is also possible to lock the devices if they are stolen or otherwise misused.
During the 3 days partners visited different school levels of Kittilä from elementary school to the gymnasium. The participants got a good vision out of the Finnish school system including the school lunch which is unique in the whole world.
During the training course the participants were able to be familiar with the local culture of course. It was a great moment to visit a local painter’s museum. The painter is also appreciated internationally. The Reidar Särestöniemi art museum consists works of art by the artist which can be seen in the artists’s gallery and studio. The main exhibition in the Gallery is selected according to a theme, and changed once a year. The Studio building hosts three exhibition annually, bringing forth earlier works and different techniques used by the artist.
The partners were also be able to get familiar with the Finnish snow construction field in Lainio SnowVillage which is one of the largest snow castles in the world. Each year, around 20 million kilos of snow and 350 000 kilos of crystal clear natural ice are used to build the spectacular SnowVillage which changes in shape, size and design to amaze visitors year after year.
The Sami culture was not forgotten. The partners visited the Saamen Kammi where they listened Niiles-Jouni’s lyrics of several yoiks and other performances. The unique Sámi yoik has gradually spread to all parts of the world.
The training was useful and informative, an opportunity for partners to experience of using iPads in education that they will be able to transfer and implement in their teaching practice.
