The first STEAMteach Training in Finland was coordinated by Dr. Kristóf Fenyvesi, senior researcher of Innovative Learning Environments research group at the Finnish Institute for Educational Research. The 2-days training program was taking place at the University of Lapland on December 7-8, 2021.
Almost fifty pre-service teachers have attended the training organized as part of a regular course, led by Dr. Anna-Maija Partanen, teacher educator, researcher, and a specialist of mathematics and science popularization, member of the Finnish National STEM Network (https://www.luma.fi/). The STEAMteach Training content was represented by Kristóf Fenyvesi from the University of Jyväskylä (JYU) and his colleague, Dr. Farida Nurhasanah, prominent Indonesian researcher and STEM and STEAM specialist, visiting scholar at JYU.
One of the main themes of the program was using games in learning. Farida Nurhasanah has introduced STEAM boardgames for learning mathematics in early childhood education, pre-school and primary school. The boardgames were called ’Wortelmatika’ and ’Fraction Bakery’ and these implemented story-based learning in building up basic math concepts during the gameplay.
The future teachers had great fun playing the board games. They had in-depth reflection sessions focusing on their own playing experience and various aspects of playful and experience-oriented approaches in STEAM learning. The board game, ’Wortelmatika,’ is currently under official release in Indonesia, so it was a unique opportunity to have it tried and discussed even before it officially reached the Indonesian market.
Anna-Maija Partanen has offered a Finnish math game called Ten Base Euroilla, which establishes the system of decimal calculations through spending and collecting money in the game. In addition to practicing mathematical operations, the game is supposed to develop verbal expression and social skills and strengthen self-esteem. All mathematical operations are included in a realistic story.
In addition to the boardgame, the students could try the digital learning game, Wuzzit Trouble, which has been developed in collaboration with prominent mathematics education innovators, Keith Devlin and Jo Boaler.
Kristóf Fenyvesi has demonstrated how to turn a mathematical challenge into an artistic puzzle and game. The award-winning Mondrian Blocks is an engaging STEAM game for children and adults to experience the flow of creative problem-solving. The course participants have discussed the mathematical, cognitive, and educational dimensions of playing Mondrian Blocks.
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