VET Teachers for the Future 2016 Course Blog

How to apply the SISU concept to Individualization Learning Process?

According to Finlandia University (http://www.finlandia.edu/sisu-our-finnish-identity.html), “Sisu” is not a momentary courage, but the ability to sustain that courage. It also can be defined as something mystical, something that can be roughly translated into English as strength of will, determination, perseverance, and acting rationally in the face of adversity. Besides that, after a month in Finland, I started to believe it maybe be something important to VET3 Teachers, because different advisors have talked about Sisu and how it is related to Finnish life.

I have thought how to apply this concept to Individualization Learning Process and what it would means for teachers around the world. Then, during my strolls, I figured out what it would means into Learning Process.

I believe every teacher must be able to recognize the students’ needs, their weakness. Thus, he/she must regulate his/her approach for each student, working to avoid student failures. It is not easy, but must be done! It means that teacher should be interest in each student, how he/she has learned. Otherwise, teacher will just rank students grades.

It is a huge work for any teacher. So, teachers must have the same Sisu, as all Finns. Without it, they might fail as a teacher, because they would not be able to follow each student and help him/her to overcome the weakness. The learning process is more important than the grades. Believe or not, in my point of view, it is a big difference between Brazil and Finland System education.

Antonio Jr