Life-skill education in Iceland

1. Life-skill education in Iceland Sjöfn Guðmundsdóttir F-líf Association of life-skill teachers in Iceland.

2. F-lif what is that? • Association for life-skill teachers in the Upper secondary school in Iceland • Founded in October 2005.

3. Aims of F-lif • To work on progress and improvements in life-skill teaching in upper secondary schools in Iceland. • To be representatives of the subject life-skills. • To make area for discussions, cooperation and development of life-skill teaching. • To improve communication and acquaintance between life-skill teachers.

4. Work of F-lif • Assembly for life-skill teachers • Education for life-skill teachers • Evaluation of educational material • Discussion and plans together with the Minestry of Education • Contacts with agencies in Iceland and abroad.

5. Life-skill education. • The National Curriculum Guide. • Routes of study • Discussions of society and culture • Discussion of individuals inerplay with man-made and natural environment.

6. Life-skill education. • A “buffet” of various matters: • self–image, • life-styles, • responsibility, • critical thinking, • ethical evaluations, • prejudges, • financial planning, • citizenship education etc.

7. Life-skills education. • Varied teaching methods: • Discussions, movies, creative workshops, internet, visitors, outings, fieldwork ... • Evaluation is continous • Activities, work-book, group-work, essayes etc.

8. Life-skills and consumer education. • Training critical thinking • Asking – not giving answers • Life-style and responsibility • What choices do I have? • Who/what influences my choices? • Am I conscious when I make choises? • Nutrition • Body and mind

9. Life-skills and consumer education. • Financial education • Planning, interests and expenses • Insurance companies • Responsible driving • Unions • Employment - rights and duties • Europa Diary • MediaSmart

10. Life-Skill Learning at M.K. Steinunn Anna Gunnlaugsdóttir Life-skills teacher MK secondary high school Kópavogur Iceland 2007

11. We Emphasize • Self esteem • Communication skills • How to live in a modern society • Presentation skills and body language • Open their minds to various opportunities in life

12. How We Do It • Assignments and exercises • Field trips • Student activities and student aid • Play games and with emphasis on social interaction • Interview techniques • Short lecturers • Yoga, body-posture and body-language • Student activities and student aid

13. Assignments • Presentations • Speeches, poems, interviews, group activities • Ethics • What is right and what is wrong • Physical exercises • Well being, body language, Yoga • Drug addiction • How people become drug addicts and what it is like to be one • Prejudices • Racism, immigration, how to be different.

14. Assignments – Cont. • What is intelligence • There are various kinds of intelligence - Howard Gardner • Cost of living • Price of merchandize, interest rates, loans, rent • Homosexuality • Real-life experiences what it is like to be a homo • Job-searching • How to make resumes, find work and job interviews

15. Guest Lectures • Priests • grief and reactions • Bank representative • financial environment • Insurance representative • traffic and precautions • Drug prevention • Real life experiences • Psychological problems • Co addiction • Medical students • Students learning to be doctors – sex-education

16. Field Trips • Art museums • Introduction to visual arts • Theater • Enjoy a theatre piece at the national theatre • Yoga • Relaxation, concentration, physical and psychological well-being

17. Consumer Education • In order obtain critical thinking • Good self-image • Good self-esteem

18. Let’s Do an Exercise! • Interpersonal contact • Breathing • Eye contact • Posture • Body-language