CURRENT GRANTEES
Professional and Personal Change Text MARTHA ELFORD Fulbright Specialist 2018–2019, Niilo Mäki Institute, Jyväskylä
University of Jyväskylä, EduCluster Finland and Niilo
Finally, my experience in Finland changed me
Mäki Institute invited Fulbright Specialist Martha Elford
professionally by giving me the opportunity to
to Finland to collaborate on enhancing teaching and
witness first-hand what I have heard about edu-
learning with technology, and on developing current
cation in Finland for the past 15 years. By seeing
in- and pre-service teacher training practices by using
Finnish education with my own eyes, I have the
digital guidance systems. Dr. Elford’s long experience
professional responsibility to spread the good
and research in the area was found very important by her
word about what we could be doing in the USA to
Finnish hosts. At the same time, the Finnish experience
incorporate a research-to-practice model that
turned out to be transformational for Dr. Elford herself.
works so well in Finland. Although not everything can transfer directly across cultures, the one thing
Dialogue Leads to Professional Improvement
that makes sense to me is to at least examine more
I had no idea what it would mean to me personally
related to Dyslexia and Literacy. This research
and professionally to come to Finland as a Fulbright
could make an important difference in education
Specialist. My experience as a Finland Fulbrighter
in the USA.
closely the research that is coming out of Finland
changed me professionally by informing me of peda gogical practices that would improve my teaching at
The Finnish Work-Life Balance
the university level as I design and deliver online
I grew personally while in Finland through the
instruction. I witnessed the integration of pedagogy
friendships I made. I honestly felt that every per-
into every presentation and course design in which
son I met deposited a token of wellbeing, kind-
I participated — from the Fulbright Orientation to
ness, and value into me as a person. I still marvel
Grade 6 practice teacher. This reminded me that
at how quickly I formed relationships with the
pedagogy should be integral and intentional for edu-
other Finland Fulbrighters. I am sure it was no
cation to be done well. As a professional who focuses
accident, because one of the things I learned about
on teacher preparation, I attribute my experience as
Finnish people is that everything is intentional
a Finland Fulbrighter to instilling in me the renewed
and purposeful.
purpose to infuse pedagogy into the life and work of
I noticed how my colleagues in Finland had a
every special educator and classroom teacher who
healthy work-life balance, and I wanted to bring
enrolls in my university courses.
that home with me. Their examples made me
Another way my experience as a Finland Ful-
believe it is possible for me, too. I started practicing
brighter changed me professionally was by giving me
some new behaviors while I was in Finland related
a voice. I have never felt as valued and as listened to
to wellness and work-life balance. I find it difficult
as a professional and as a person. I am so impressed
to describe how invigorating this has been for me.
by how sincerely interested and committed the edu-
It is as if just being in Finland gave me permission
cators in Finland are to learning and engaging in
to be my best self.
dialogue that leads to professional improvement.
Finland is part of me now. Being a Fulbright Fin-
The conversations I had with Finnish educators gave
land alum adds a dimension to my identity that I did
me confidence that I could never have achieved as a
not know was missing. Because of Fulbright Fin-
professional without this experience.
land, I am a better professional and a better person.
12 | www.fulbright.fi
Martha Elford visiting Valteri with Project Coordinator Juha Lahti from the Niilo Mäki Institute. Valteri is a national Centre for Learning and Consulting. It supports the neighborhood school principle by offering a wide range of services for the needs for general, intensified and special support. Fulbright Specialist Program www.fulbright.fi/en/ professionals-specialistsand-teachers-variousfields/fulbrightspecialists-program