In recent years, the digitalisation of education has become one of the top priorities in Finland. In 2023, the Ministry of Education and Culture envisioned that Finland will become “the world’s leading developer and user of sustainable digitalization in teaching and training by 2027”. In many respects, the development in Finland follows closely guidelines provided by the European Union, such as the Digital Education Action Plan and the EU Data Strategy.
Digital skills are generally speaking high in Finland, also among the student population. However, the recent COVID-19 pandemic forced nearly all higher education (HE) institutions to online teaching and learning, which subsequently showed that students had varying experiences from online education.
Based on the research conducted by the Digital4All research team in Finland, specific student groups struggled to keep up with online learning. For instance, students with mental health issues, as well as students with difficulties in reading, learning, and concentration, have reported more negative experiences in digital teaching and learning. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that research has emphasised the importance of considering different learners in designing online courses.
Different stakeholders have created programmes and practices that seek to increase inclusion in digital teaching and learning. The Digital4All research team in Finland identified best practices in the field of equity and digital learning in Finland. Below you can read more about three identified good practices.
Best practice I: Digivisio 2030
Digivisio 2030 is a joint project between Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences that brings better opportunities for all students in HE institutions. Its aim is to transform education in Finnish HE institutions by means of digitalisation in the coming years by targeting stakeholders in the public education sector as well as staff and students in HE institutions. The project develops common procedures for HE institutions and creates a digital service platform.
The Digivisio 2030’s vision is to develop HE education that evolves over time, builds on everyday life and meets the needs of different learners. It also aims to develop systems where learners’ data is utilised across institutional boundaries in order to make learning across institutions easier while safeguarding individuals’ right to determine how their data is used.
Digivisio 2030 addresses the rapidly changing learning environment that relies on technology. It aims to support HE institutions, teachers and students in adjusting to the requirements of online teaching and learning. It also aims to lower the boundaries across institutions, which helps students to find courses from different HE institutions.
This good practice can be accessed here: https://digivisio2030.fi/en/frontpage/
Best practice II: Accessibility checklist for a new course
This best practice is provided by Tampere University and written by Senior Lecturer Miina Kivelä. The checklist focuses on accessibility with respect to course content. It reminds teachers that while clarity of course content will benefit all learners, it might be essential for some students’ progress.
The aim of the checklist is to give teachers in HE institutions a detailed checklist that supports them in designing an accessible course for all. It focuses on accessibility in relation to course content and lists varying points that teachers should consider when they start planning a new course.
Further, it aims to remind teachers what they should keep in mind when they design their teaching content. This helps teachers to make sure that their content is accessible to all and that they do not need to combine information from a variety of sources.
The checklist gives hands-on tips that all teachers can use to ensure that their teaching content is accessible to all. It reminds teachers to maintain a diversity-accepting atmosphere and provide different learning methods and materials.
This good practice can be accessed here: https://sites.tuni.fi/digitaltoolkit/pre-planning-and-teaching-methods/accessibility-checklist-for-a-new-course/
Best practice III: Digital accessibility of teaching
This best practice, provided by the University of Helsinki, is particularly relevant for education designers and teaching staff working in HE institutions. It is a webpage that provides information about accessibility and gives instructions for making digital services and teaching materials more accessible.
As an underlying principle, the webpage states that accessibility in digital learning should correspond to accessibility in the physical world and that it should take into account at least problems related to vision, hearing, motor function or cognition, including learning and reading difficulties.
The instructions remind teachers of the importance of making digital learning environments accessible. Additionally, they guide teachers in making their online learning platforms accessible (Moodle) and elsewhere. Finally, the instructions address practical concerns in digital teaching and provide several guidelines for accessible content.
This best practice can be accessed here:
https://teaching.helsinki.fi/instructions/article/digital-accessibility-teaching