STUDENTS’ ATTITUDES TOWARDS TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION IN FINLAND, ESTONIA AND ICELAND

Year 2014, Volume: 1 , 96 - 100, 31.05.2014

Ossi Autıo Mart Soobık Gisli Thorsteınsson Brynjar Olafsson

Abstract

This paper is based
on a comparative study of craft and technology education curriculums and
students’ attitudes towards craft and technology in Finland, Estonia and
Iceland. The study was undertaken by the Helsinki University, University of
Tallinn and University of Iceland in the year 2012. Even though, the
origins of craft education in Finland, Estonia and Iceland have many
similarities, the Estonian and Icelandic national curriculum place greater
emphasis on design and innovation, whereas the Finnish national curriculum
focus on the development of students’ personalities and gender issues. A
quantitative survey was subsequently distributed to 493 school students in
Finland, Estonia and Iceland. The questionnaire consisted of 14 questions,
which aimed to ascertain students’ attitudes towards craft and technology. The
survey showed substantial differences in students’ attitudes towards craft and
technology education in the three countries. In addition, significant
statistical differences were found between boys and girls. These differences
may be explained by differences in the national curriculums and the different
pedagogical traditions. However, these findings need to be examined further
through research. 

Keywords

attitudes towards technology, technology education, handicraft, pedagogical traditions

References

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