好久不见! , ”Long time, no see!” is a Chinese phrase for not seeing someone for a while. This is what I and my Chinese guests said to each other when we met on this May. 

The Global Education Community (GEC) and Global Innokas Network has given me many opportunities to meet new people around the world. During our trips to China we have for example met Joan, a journalist of Education. On this spring she came to Helsinki with Wang Xiaofeng (a principal in a rural school near Beijing) and Hongdi (a voluntary teacher in Beijing area). They all wanted to visit Nuuksio National Park and our school – both visits went well! 

On Sunday the 21st we wandered in Nuuksio National Park and I told my visitors about Finnish Nature and the Nature School of Haltia. My visitors were amazed how important role the Nature has in Finnish everyday life. We also visited Haltia’s exhibitions where Joan, Xiaofeng and Hongdi were able to learn how animals survive during wintertime or how bear or birds live. After that we came to my house to talk and to have dinner together. 

On Tuesday the 23rd my guests came to visit our school. They were impressed how well organized everything is and how much is going on all the time. Joan, Hongdi and Xiaofeng followed me and my students (4th and 9th graders) to Riistavuori Senior House where my students performed their poems to seniors and where seniors performed their poems to my students. My Chinese guests wondered, how come we are having this sort of cooperation. Well, the idea comes from our National Curriculum, doesn’t it! 

I hope I see my Chinese colleagues in a future, either here in Finland or in China! 

Raini Sipilä, Helsingin Suomalainen Yhteiskoulu 

We had the opportunity to visit the Maker Faire event in Orlando, Florida in November 2019, to discover the latest in maker-activities. It was interesting to see how maker-activities were realized overseas! The event was characterized by a strong sense of community where families and people of all ages both participated and presented their own innovations and crafts. We had the possibility to meet with local organizers and networkers and discussed how this great event was organized with voluntary efforts and local flavors.

The range of activities was wide ranging from simple art and textile craft to Robot Ruckus fighting robots. Both traditional making and novel technologies were presented side by side with great pride and joy in making! Faire visitors were greeted by a drumming band and could easily spend the whole day discovering and doing together with family and friends. We got many great ideas to take home from the overall atmosphere and presentation, working together as a community to single maker-ideas!

Laura Salo, Asta Ansolahti & Tiina Korhonen

Innokas Network