Finnish partnership growing as model for international collaboration

The mid-October visit of 23 Finnish professors to SCIL and CSLI, the Center for the Study of Language and Information, kicked off a new partnership between Stanford and Finland. The Finnish network, (CICERO), based at the University of Helsinki and focused on multidisciplinary research on learning, technology and the human brain, sent its representatives to Stanford to initiate collaborative research, and to form an exchange program that will begin this year.

“Our efforts fit well within the new International Initiative of the university,” said Keith Devlin, executive director of CSLI and a consulting professor in mathematics. “When you look at the issues surrounding use of technology in education it brings under discussion deep scientific questions which are more meaningful if you look at them on a global scale. These are fundamental questions about the role of technology, how the brain works, and the implications for teaching and learning. This work is part of what will make us a genuinely global university.”

The two-day workshop engaged participants from both countries in short presentations on research projects, followed by discussions and planning for next steps. Topics ranged from “Motivation in Socially Shared Learning Contexts,” by Finnish researcher Sanna Järvelä, to Associate Professor of Education Brigid Barron’s talk, “The Development of Youth Fluencies,” and Sari Lindblom-Ylänne on “Successful Studying in Higher Education.”

In June, School of Education Professors Roy Pea and Brigid Barron, along with Devlin, will visit Finland to reconvene and consider specific CICERO-SCIL and CSLI joint projects. Swedish collaborators are also likely to join in the next phase of discussions and research development.

“The growing alliance between SCIL, CSLI and the Finnish program is a prime example of the type of international collaboration that is integral to our mission,” said Professor of Education and SCIL Co-director Roy Pea. “As we move ahead, we leverage the quality and depth of research we are able to undertake because of our ability to be multidisciplinary, and to work globally with our colleagues in Finland.”

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