Students Explored Indian Schools and Culture
Four students from the Rauma unit of the Department of Teacher Education travelled to India for two weeks. They returned with versatile research material and gained many new experiences.
Student Anna Hohtamäki showed the distance between Finland and India on a map to six-year-old first-grade students at a school in Nankari, India. Students Akshita Rastogi and Debangana Roy from IIT Kanpur interpreted to Hindi.
Subject teacher students in Technology Education Anni Iivonen, Anna Kohtamäki, Matleena Töhönen and Sarianna Viljaranta visited India. The visit was related to a FINDIgATE project, the goal of which is to review and compare the education systems and their impact on the well-being of people in Finland and India.
Professor Eila Lindfors and University Teacher Virpi Yliverronen accompanied the students.
From the point of view of the students, the main purpose of the trip was to collect material for three Master's theses on technology education, the themes of which are related to children's fine motor skills, sustainable development and planning processes.
– The material was collected by interviews and observation, and in the form of standardised texts, videos and travel journals, tell the students.
The classroom of Indian children looks very different compared to Finnish children.
At the same time, it was an opportunity to meet new people and explore the fascinating Indian culture.
– Even though we had heard that cows wander around the streets freely, it was weird seeing it with your own eyes. After the initial bewilderment, we began to understand that their is also harmony among the chaos, note the four students and speak highly especially of the region's wonderful nature and delicious food.
The main destination of the trip was Kanpur and the Indian Institute of Technology located there.
– People were extremely polite and made us feel very welcome. Students, staff and the pupils of the schools were openly friendly while letting us into their everyday life.
The students are now back in Rauma and have started to analyse their research material. They eagerly wait for May when a group of Indian students will return the visit and come to Finland to finish their theses.
– We are very pleased with this collaboration and believe that this is only the first step towards numerous collaborative projects between Finland and India, say the students.
View from the Nakari school.
Text: Katja Kontu
Translation: Saara Yli-Kauhaluoma
Photos: Anni Iivonen, Anna Kohtamäki, Matleena Töhönen and Sarianna Viljaranta