Join host Alex Gray in this captivating episode of the International Classroom Podcast, as he sits down with Tomi Kauppinen—a modern-day Renaissance man hailing from Helsinki, Finland. Tomi is the Head of Online Learning at Aalto University, an artist, author, scientist, and researcher whose expertise spans information visualisation, design thinking, and the future of education.

What You'll Learn:

• The Finnish and German Educational Systems: Discover how different educational approaches in the Nordic countries and Germany shape teaching and learning methodologies.
• Information Visualisation in Education: Learn how transforming raw data into meaningful stories can enhance learning outcomes and student engagement.
• Digital Education Hackathon (DigiEduHack): Explore this innovative initiative by the European Commission that brings together educators, students, and innovators to solve real-world educational challenges.
• Cross-Disciplinary and Transdisciplinary Learning: Understand the importance of breaking down silos in education and how design thinking can revolutionise learning experiences.
• The Future of Education and Cyber-Physical Learning: Envision education 50 years from now, including cyber-physical environments that blend virtual and physical worlds, fostering global collaboration without boundaries.
• Tackling Wicked Problems and AI Ethics: Delve into the ethical implications of AI in learning and how to address global challenges to make the world a more human place.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Introduction to Tomi Kauppinen

5:12 – Comparing Finnish and German Education Systems

12:45 – Information Visualisation: Transforming Data into Stories

20:30 – The Digital Education Hackathon Explained

28:15 – Cross-Disciplinary vs. Transdisciplinary Learning

35:50 – Design Thinking in Educational Design

42:05 – The Future of Education: Cyber-Physical Learning Environments

50:20 – Tackling Wicked Problems and AI Ethics

58:40 – Closing Thoughts and Actionable Advice

Why Listen?

If you're an educator, student, or simply passionate about the future of learning, this episode is packed with insights that will inspire you to think differently about education. Tomi shares actionable advice on integrating design thinking into educational practices and emphasises the need for global collaboration to solve the world's most pressing problems.