Examples of Custom Training Offerings
We provide tailored training sessions designed to meet the specific needs of your team or organization. Below are examples of topics available as custom training:
Supporting Multilingualism and Vocabulary Development
Supporting Reading Fluency and Comprehension
Finnish Language and Literature Education in Practice
Problematic Digital Gaming at School – Understanding and Supporting Students
Interested in Booking a Training?
Supporting Multilingualism and Vocabulary Development
This training focuses on effective language teaching practices for second language (L2) learners. Key topics include:
- Using full texts and literature to support vocabulary learning
- Techniques for teaching new words in meaningful contexts
- The role of background knowledge and familiarity in learning new concepts
Goal: To provide practical strategies for promoting vocabulary development in multilingual learners.
Target group: Open to all interested, no prior requirements.
Duration: 45 minutes to half a day (flexible).
Delivery: Online and/or face-to-face.
Trainer: Annastiina Kettunen, Master of Philosophy (Finnish language), Linguist, Teacher of Mother Tongue and Literature, PhD Student
Annastiina Kettunen has extensive experience in developing learning assessment tools, teaching materials, and pedagogical methods. She has also worked as a university lecturer at the University of Jyväskylä and specializes in language education and literacy development.
Supporting Reading Fluency and Comprehension
This session provides tools to strengthen learners’ reading fluency and comprehension through evidence-based practices. Topics include:
- Repeated reading aloud to build fluency
- Shared reading as a scaffold for comprehension
- Motivating readers and building confidence
- Reading strategies for deeper understanding
Goal: To enhance participants’ ability to support reading skills across age groups.
Target group: Open to all interested, no prior requirements.
Duration: 45 minutes to half a day (flexible).
Delivery: Online and/or face-to-face.
Trainer: Annastiina Kettunen, Master of Philosophy (Finnish language), Linguist, Teacher of Mother Tongue and Literature, PhD Student
Annastiina Kettunen has extensive experience in developing learning assessment tools, teaching materials, and pedagogical methods. She has also worked as a university lecturer at the University of Jyväskylä and specializes in language education and literacy development.
Finnish Language and Literature Education in Practice
This training introduces the Finnish subject “Mother Tongue and Literature” from the early grades to upper secondary level. Topics include:
- Literacy foundations and early reading instruction
- Working with various text genres: understanding, producing, and analyzing texts
- Developing critical literacy skills
- The role and use of literature in language education
Goal: To present the Finnish approach to language and literature education and share pedagogical insights.
Target group: Open to all interested, especially those curious about the Finnish education system.
Duration: 45 minutes to half a day (flexible).
Delivery: Online and/or face-to-face.
Trainer: Annastiina Kettunen, Master of Philosophy (Finnish language), Linguist, Teacher of Mother Tongue and Literature, PhD Student
Annastiina Kettunen has extensive experience in developing learning assessment tools, teaching materials, and pedagogical methods. She has also worked as a university lecturer at the University of Jyväskylä and specializes in language education and literacy development.
Problematic Digital Gaming at School – Understanding and Supporting Students
Target Group: Elementary school teachers, special education teachers, special needs assistants, and other professionals working with elementary school-aged children and their families.
Main Topics: This training introduces the phenomenon of digital gaming among children and provides a focused overview of problematic digital gaming. The webinar covers:
- What problematic digital gaming is and how it is defined
- Its prevalence and developmental trajectory
- Predisposing risk factors and associated vulnerabilities
- How to identify signs of problematic gaming behavior
- The impact of gaming on children’s wellbeing and functioning
Special attention is given to children with neuropsychiatric conditions, such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and learning difficulties, who are especially vulnerable to developing problematic gaming behaviors. Factors such as inattention, social challenges, preference for structure and predictability, and the rewarding nature of digital games contribute to this risk. Moreover, all elementary-aged children are still developing self-regulation skills and benefit from adult support in planning daily routines and setting healthy boundaries for screen time.
Aims:
The webinar equips school staff with tools to:
- Recognize early signs of problematic gaming
- Initiate supportive conversations with students and parents
- Promote critical thinking and reflection about media use
- Use everyday school settings (e.g., group discussions, theme classes) to address and explore the topic
- Understand possible support measures and treatment options
Format and Duration: 3 x 45-minute webinar sessions
Preparatory Assignment: Before the webinar, participants are asked to complete a short questionnaire about their observations and experiences of children’s use of digital devices in school life and their perceived impact on children’s wellbeing
Trainers:
Merjonen Päivi, PhD (psychology), psychologist and researcher, Niilo Mäki Institute
Päivi is a psychologist and researcher. She has been working at the Niilo Mäki Institute since 2019 and started working on the Play Smartly project in 2022. In addition to her research work, she is a facilitator of the parents’ group and has been involved in the planning and development of the project materials from the beginning. Previously, Päivi has worked as a researcher in the field of psychology at the University of Helsinki, the University of Jyväskylä and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. In addition to her work at the Niilo Mäki Institute, Päivi is a part-time light entrepreneur offering psychological discussions via video calls.
Turok Julia, MA (psychology), Project Planner, Niilo Mäki Institute
Julia Turok is a psychologist and linguist by education. She started working at the Niilo Mäki Institute in April 2022 as a project planner for the Play Smartly project. She is an instructor of the parents’ group and also participates in project planning, materials development and research with the rest of the team. After graduating as a psychologist in 2018, Julia has worked as a clinical psychologist in psychiatry and as a research assistant in projects at the University of Jyväskylä. Previously, she has worked in translation, interpreting and tourism during the years 2004-2017. Currently, in addition to her work as a project planner, Julia is working on her PhD thesis about children’s multilingualism at the University of Jyväskylä.
Interested in Booking a Training?
We are happy to customize the content and format to match your specific goals.
Contact us to discuss your training needs and scheduling options!
training@nmi.fi