Petteri Elo

An expert in combining theory and practice

Petteri is an educator from Finland. He has an extensive career in teaching, training and hands-on pedagogical and curriculum development. He turns his innovative and experimental practices with his students into engaging and thought provoking training concepts for educators worldwide.

As a trainer and consultant Petteri has been praised for his passion, energy and expertise on issues such as curriculum development/implementation and innovative pedagogy from various viewpoints. Petteri’s way of combining theory and practice brings life to the key goals of the 21st century education.

“I live and breathe education. My own classroom is my learning/testing lab where I experiment with innovative, student-centered pedagogy and create new training concepts. Along with Finland, I also operate abroad, especially in the US. I work with individual schools and whole school districts driving towards powerful pedagogical change that will ultimately enhance the learning of our students. If this very organic approach to PD intrigues you, please don’t hesitate to contact me.”

International Work
Petteri’s fast growing reputation as a dynamic facilitator has taken him across the globe, both onsite and online, to run professional development sessions for local educators as well as to consult for strategic pedagogical development projects. Petteri’s most extensive projects have been in the Middle East and in the US, where he has provided his services for school districts in 10 different states. During one of his last visits to the US he was invited to speak at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Through his partnership with EF – Education First and other organizations Petteri works with international groups of educators visiting Finland. He also provides services for Finnish education export companies for their projects across the globe.

Case: West Central Indiana ›

Case: Franklin Public Schools, MA ›
Fulbright Scholar
Petteri spent the Fall of 2015 in Virginia as a Fulbright Scholar working with local educators and universities. He provided in-service training for teachers and administrators, consulted for state-level curriculum development, worked with teacher trainees and aspiring leaders at various universities and co-taught with teachers.
The key goal of the project was to bring the Finnish experience to Virginia with Petteri’s personal insights as an expert in innovative pedagogy and curriculum development.
Role in Helsinki
For 2013-16, Petteri worked as a consulting teacher and a trainer for the municipality of Helsinki’s Education Department. His duties included curriculum work and providing in-service training for teachers and administrators.
For Curriculum 2016, Petteri was the chairman of the elementary science committee and a member of higher order thinking-metacognitions and assessment committees.
He also had a key role in helping schools prepare for implementation of the new curriculum, touring schools in Helsinki for two consecutive springs.
Other Municipalities
Curriculum that was launched in 2016 in Finnish comprehensive education brought about many changes in pedagogy and assessment practices. Petteri has worked with teachers and administrators in various municipalities providing training and consultation on implementation of the curriculum.
School Level
At a school level Petteri has worked as a comprehensive school teacher, a head teacher and a management group member. In collaboration with his colleagues, he has designed and managed various pedagogical development projects. Currently Petteri works as a resource teacher at Hiidenkivi Comprehensive School coaching teachers and co-creating with them powerful learning experiences for the students.

Download CV (PDF)

”Hands down one of the best professional development activities that I have ever been a part of. Petteri was able to connect with our students, faculty, and community members and it is totally scalable for any district wanting to give it a try. Priceless when he told a packed house that they should trust educators.”

– Mr. Michael Schimpf
Principal
South Putnam Middle and High School

Networks

Education First (EF) Professional Learning Tours
Petteri works as concept developers, tour designer and runs professional learning sessions for American educators travelling with EF. He regularly speaks at EF conferences in Europe and United States.
Polar Partners
Petteri is a member of Polar Partners expert pool.
Bookbag Tours
Petteri organizes educational study visits to Helsinki for American educators.

HY+ Centre for Continuing Education
Petteri works as a network trainer for University of Helsinki Center for Continuing Education.
ResearchED
Petteri is a regular speaker at ResearchED confererences in Europe.
xEdu Accelerator Program
Petteri works as a pedagogical mentor for Ed Tech startups.

Topics

Project Based Learning and Phenomenon Based Learning
Student Centered Pedagogy
Skill Based Approach to Teaching and Learning
Re-Thinking Student-Teacher Relationship

Communication and Collaboration Skills in the Classroom
Insights to Finnish National Core Curriculum
History of the Finnish Education System

Services

Petteri can provide keynotes, presentations, workshops, learning labs, PD sessions and consultation at all levels of the system, from teacher’s assistants to superintendents and school boards. The mission is to help You to implement 21st century pedagogy in Your schools.

Read about services ›

References

”Petteri is an educational equivalent of a rock star!”

– Dr. Alan Seibert
Former President of Virginia Association for School Superintendents

Read all references ›

Cases

”As an administrator, I was very impressed with everything that Petteri offered our school. As an educator himself, he earned the trust of our teachers and presented very hands-on and applicable content to challenge our staff to push towards more student-centered practices in the classroom and in our curriculum. He even modeled these practices to our staff by planning and co-teaching with them in their classrooms. The most impressive aspect of his visit has been the lasting impact. I have seen the teachers he worked with continue to implement the changes he modeled in how they approach students, the layout of their classrooms, and in the content they are presenting. I highly recommend Petteri. Schools will be very pleased with his level of expertise, humility in presentation, and his passion for critical thinking and student centered pedagogy.”

– Mr. Brady Rhodes
Dean of Students
South Putnam Middle and High School

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Petteri Elo

International Work

Fulbright Scholar

Role in Helsinki

Other Municipalities

School Level

Networks

Topics

Services

References

Cases

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