“We are thinking of students as whole human beings” – about education in Denmark with Jeppe Bundsgaard

Jeppe Bundsgaard is a professor at the Danish school of education
and the Danish representative at the world wide ICILS Study, which
compares computer and information literacy of students around the
world. In the podcast “School must go on” talks Jeppe Bundsgaard
about how students are treated at Danish schools, the role of
grades and digitization in the Danish education system. – Students
and teachers are almost on the same level – With the education
reform in Europe, Denmark has tried to develop a school system that
is more student-centered, more project-based and more about
developing whole human beings. “It’s not much time that we spend on
stupid drills and practice getting correct answers to really simple
questions,” the education expert says. Therefore, the relationship
between teachers and students in Denmark is also on equal terms.
“They talk to each other like being almost on the same level,”
Jeppe Bundsgaard explains. For example, occasional jokes by
students in class are welcomed by teachers and both students and
teachers are called by their first names. “I think it’s an
important basis for good education.” – Too focused on preparing for
exams instead of life – A few years ago there were no exams and
grades in Danish lower secondary schools. “There was a test you
could take when you left school and then you could also get grades.
But you were not forced to take this exam,” the professor says.
Today, he says, it is mandatory to take the exam and get grades
from 8th or 9th grade on at the latest. Sometimes even before in
order to practice. “In my opinion we have gone towards more focus
on exams and grades way too much because it has a backlash on how
things are done,” Jeppe Bundsgaard explains. “Teachers are too
worried about the exams. They are too focused on preparing students
for exams instead of focusing on preparing them for life.” –
Digitization of education – The Danish school system started
getting digitized very early. “In the 60s we had the first
professor of computer science. He worked very seriously on getting
computer science into basic education,” explains the IT expert.
This professor laid the groundwork for computers being a core part
of how people in Denmark have been thinking about education since
then. “Around the year 2000 almost all schools in Denmark were
connected to the internet and computers started getting a big part
of life. Since 2015 you wouldn't go to a school without ICT being
completely integrated into teaching and learning,” sums up Jeppe
Bundsgaard. Overall, he says, the ministry of education has been
pushing for integration and development of 21st century skills. “In
our curriculum there are three cross cutting areas:
entrepreneurship and Innovation, ICT and language awareness. Those
three should be part of all subjects.” Jeppe Bundsgaard also talks
about the collaboration between the different stakeholders,
innovative schools, autonomy in schools, establishing of digital
learning materials and school during Corona in Denmark.