Variation in digital learning materials sparks debate among Finnish educators

There is significant variation in Finnish schools regarding the use of digital versus print materials, with individual schools making their own decisions on the matter. At the upper secondary level, particularly in high schools, digital learning materials are predominantly used, with physical books available only in exceptional cases. Education psychology professor Kirsti Lonka criticizes this inconsistency, lamenting the lack of a unified approach. She notes that teachers, already stressed from the pandemic, are expected to independently develop learning materials.

Cities like Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Tampere, Pori, and Jyväskylä were surveyed about their material selections. While teachers can influence choices and content, it is usually the principal who determines the budget allocation for learning materials. “There are no guidelines for basic education; schools decide independently,” stated Taneli Tiirikainen, head of the education unit in Pori. All cities reported that high schools primarily use digital materials, with varied use in primary schools and no consolidated data on digital versus print material usage.

Cities assert that pedagogical considerations guide material choices, alongside budget constraints and sustainability factors. The transition to digital is justified by the fact that high school graduation exams are conducted entirely online.

Some students have maintained a preference for paper books. They cannot choose their materials due to ordering processes set in place early in the year. However, some high schools have begun incorporating traditional textbooks where deemed pedagogically effective. In Riihimäki, print material use has been increased this year after a predominantly digital approach in previous years.

Professor Lonka emphasizes the need for more interactive learning materials and effective usage of digital resources to enhance student engagement and performance, urging that education should focus on real-life skills, not just exam preparation.