By Satu-Maarit Korte and Pigga Keskitalo. Satu-Maarit Korte is a university lecturer of media education, and Pigga Keskitalo is a professor on Arctic educational perspectives at the University of Lapland.
Photos courtesy of the Finnish team and the children who attended the workshops.
We recently had the incredible opportunity to organise a series of unique workshops for children in Northern Finland, about 300 kilometres above the Arctic Circle in Enontekiö. These workshops were not just any ordinary events - they were centered around the delightful experience of film-making, tailored especially for young minds.
Our aim was to create an engaging and interactive environment for the children, blending education and engaging activities in film-making. During these sessions, we facilitated and mentored the process, enabling children to function both as movie stars and as film directors, cinematographers, and editors. The sessions were both educational and fun; the content was age-appropriate and stimulating.
These sessions were part of the Canadian-led “Resilient Experiences and Agency of Youth and Children During the Pandemic: Re-visioning Education through Storytelling” (REAP). The project aims to enhance the psychosocial well-being of Northern children and youth affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. It will develop a COVID-19 recovery curriculum centred on students' voices and agency by employing digital storytelling in conjunction with virtual and augmented teaching pedagogies. The multidisciplinary project team is conducting research aimed to support the resilience, recovery, and renewal of Northern education systems by digitally recording and communicating the experiences of Northern children and youth during the times of crisis, across diverse cultural contexts and various pasts, presents, and futures.
In addition to film-making, the workshops offered a great opportunity to discuss with the participants and talk with them about their experiences during the pandemic. Their responses were eye-opening and truly valuable. It became clear that these young learners greatly appreciate practical and interesting school work. They expressed enjoyment of activities that go beyond traditional classroom learning, emphasizing the importance of interactive and hands-on experiences.
This feedback is a vital reminder of the need to incorporate more practical and engaging methods in educational settings. It reinforces the idea that learning can and should be an enjoyable journey, filled with curiosity and active participation.
We are incredibly grateful for the enthusiasm and honesty of these young participants. Their insights will undoubtedly shape how we approach educational activities in the future.
Stay tuned for more updates on our journey to make learning fun and effective for children. The Finnish team will continue to produce more insights and knowledge about children’s ideas and lives post-pandemic.
