How the World Learns: Comparative Educational Systems

Course Overview

Explore 24 insightful lectures comparing global education models with Professor Wiseman, analyzing Finland’s success, cultural influences, and evidence-based policymaking across 15+ countries.

Video Lessons

Foundations

1. Global Education Challenges (34 min)
   Why international comparisons often fail
2. Sputnik’s Legacy (33 min)
   How the space race shaped STEM education
3. Horace Mann’s Influence (30 min)
   Origins of mass education systems

System Comparisons

7. Cultural Impacts (29 min)
   Poverty vs. achievement in South Africa/China
8. Finland & Japan (31 min)
   Contrasting top-ranked systems
9. Gulf States Model (29 min)
   Education for non-national workforces

Critical Issues

11. Teacher Quality Debate (30 min)
    What makes effective educators?
12. Parental Influence (33 min)
    Cram schools and early childhood impacts
13. Testing Limitations (32 min)
    What scores reveal (and conceal)

Innovations

20. Global Citizenship (32 min)
    International Baccalaureate programs
21. EdTech Potential (30 min)
    One Laptop per Child initiative
22. System Fixes (35 min)
    Case studies from Saudi Arabia to Myanmar