School-children from Estonia and Finland consistently rank among the most competent children from any country – but their motivation to learn is lagging. Why is this, and what can we learn from some of the highest achievers in the world?

This course is taught by researchers from Estonia and Finland who have conducted several longitudinal studies about children’s development and learning. The Estonian and Finnish school systems are quite similar, but a few differences provide good opportunities to compare the role of specific factors in learning. Examples will be given from different areas: teacher practices and styles, reading and math development, and the role of interest and motivation in learning.