Learning Together: Insights from the Finnish FCLab Study Visit to Tallinn
The Finnish FCLab network organised a study visit to Tallinn, Estonia, bringing together educators to explore current developments in AI in education and reflect on their implications for the Finnish context. The visit was designed not only as an opportunity to observe innovative practices, but as a collaborative learning experience grounded in the network’s core principles.
A network approach to professional learning
Within the Finnish FCLab, study visits are an integral part of a broader ecosystem of peer learning, co-creation and knowledge sharing. The Tallinn excursion exemplified this approach: participants continuously reflected on how observed practices could be interpreted, adapted and implemented in their own schools.
This reflects a key strength of the FCLab network—its ability to transform individual experiences into shared understanding. As highlighted in network discussions, community, collaboration and the joint development of practices are central to its impact.
AI as a pedagogical question
A central theme of the visit was artificial intelligence and its growing role in education. Estonia’s large-scale AI initiatives, particularly the AI Leap programme, provided concrete examples of how AI can be integrated systematically at national level.
From the Finnish perspective, however, the discussions focused less on technology itself and more on pedagogy. Drawing on the “human-first” approach to AI in teaching, participants examined how learning can remain meaningful in an increasingly AI-driven environment.
Key reflections included:
- AI should support thinking, not replace it
- discussion, reflection and active participation remain essential
- efficiency alone does not equal learning
These discussions reinforced a shared understanding: the challenge of AI in education is fundamentally pedagogical.
Learning from Estonia – and adapting locally
The Estonian AI Leap initiative offered valuable insights into building a coherent, system-level approach to AI. Its focus on equal access, critical AI literacy and responsible use resonated strongly with Finnish participants.
Rather than copying models directly, the Finnish FCLab approach emphasised critical adaptation. Participants analysed how similar principles could be applied within Finnish schools, taking into account differences in curriculum, culture and pedagogical traditions.
This reflective process was a central part of the visit: observing, questioning and rethinking—not simply adopting.
Author: Sampo Forsström
