My Educational Goals and Philosophy Statement
'The most important function of education at any level is to develop the personality of the individual and the significance of his life to himself and to others' -Grayson Kirk. The teaching philosophy of progressivism focuses on developing the whole child. This philosophy not only teaches the core subject material, but it also allows the teacher to help develop the person the child is going to be.
John Dewey, founder of progressivism, denounced the scholarly and classical school of curriculum. Dewey thought children should not be taught what to think but how to think through a 'continuous reconstruction of experience.' This implies that children learn best when they do hands on activities, therefore, they are learning by doing. These hands on activities will also incorporate several of the multiple intelligences. The kinesthetic learners will be able to actually do the activity, visual learners get to see the activity being performed, and auditory learners get to hear the directions and steps as the teacher explains them. As a teacher, I intend to present many different activities to the classroom. I feel that is so important to incorporate as many learning styles as possible into each lesson. From my observation in my field experiences, a student that favors one learning style will perform better when that learning style is available for an activity.
Hands-on activities also allow for the students to learn by relating what they are studying to the knowledge they have previously acquired. This perspective, know as constructivism, was based mostly on research performed by Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget. Children are not just em...
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...g else out there that teachers can learn. New technology, for one, is something that develops each and every day. I feel that the addition of a special education classes as a requirement will further educate and prepare future educators who will continually be in contact with the special education students. As for me, I plan to take on any opportunity to excel in my teaching profession. I want to continue on in my Bachelor?s degree with a specialization in Math and move on to get my Master?s in administration. Education is a wonderful gift that is available to everyone who wants to take part. It is not only about the books and the teaching of the basics. Education is about developing the whole child. It will be my job to develop the child as a person, not just as a student. When I begin my teaching career, I will strive to develop every aspect of the child.
Progressive education was a movement based on an emphasis of learning by doing. This style of learning was more about hands-on projects and more experimental learning with groups that will help sharpen social skills. It was a style that allowed teachers to teach the content areas around the needs of the students. John Dewey was a huge supporter and promoter for progressive education. Dewey stated in his journal My Pedagogic Creed, “I believe that the true education comes through the stimulation of the child’s powers by the demands of social situations in which he finds himself.”(Vol. 54 p.77) He believed that all learning took place based on the social situations a kid was presented. Dewey started schools in Chicago that were based on the progressive movements. The school actually combined to teach future teachers this style and approach to education. Dewey stated “This process begins unconsciously almost at birth, and is continually shaping the individual’s powers, saturating his consciousness, forming his habits, training his ideas, and arousing his feelings and emotions.”(Vol.54 p.77) He believed that the set-up of schools should be designed and taught around the real-life and occupational based on community surroundings. Along with the help of other school reformers such as Ella Flag Young, they tried to change school systems throughout the country.
Watching a young child grow from infancy to toddler hood, we marvel at the amount of learning that has allowed her to understand her expanding environment. Those early years provide the basis for language, physical dexterity, social understanding, and emotional development that she will use for the rest of her life. All of this knowledge is acquired before she even sets foot in school! This child has taught herself by gathering information and experiencing the world around her. This is an example of constructivism. Constructivism emphasizes the importance of the knowledge, beliefs, and skills an individual brings to the experience of learning. It recognizes the construction of new understanding as a combination of prior learning, new information, and readiness to learn. Individuals make choices about what new ideas to accept and how to fit then into their established views of the world (Brooks & Brooks, 1995).
Several theories show that children learn best when they are in some way active in their learning. A key theorist is Jean Piaget. He was born in 1896. He developed ‘constructivist’ theories which look at the way in which children seem to be able to make sense of their world as a result of their experiences and how they are active learners. Piaget’s theories have been influential, although they have been challenged over the
Educators produce a wide variety of experiences, perceptions, prospects, learning and abilities to their education (DEEWR, 2009, p. 9). In my career and through my studies, my philosophy and pedagogy have been closely linked with the constructivist theory from Piaget. Being able to focus on a child’s interests and creating learning activities that are implemented as fun is a big part of my motivation as an educator and teacher. The educational environment needs to sustain every single child along with inspiring significant work that can result in more advanced thinking (Evanshen and Faulk, 2011, p. 225). Following Piaget’s ideas while implementing the EYLF has made for a simple straight forward way of supplying quality learning experiences for children from birth to 12 years old and it has helped me widen the scope of each experience to allow for multiple levels of developmental stages. Using a constructivist approach to learning allows for the breaking down of the experience as a whole into smaller parts which brings the focus around to the process of learning (Evanshen and Faulk, 2011, p. 667). Overall I believe Piaget’s Theory to be one of the most important influences in modern teaching, allowing scaffolding of learning in a place that that
One of the theorists that I strongly believe in is Jean Piaget. Piaget’s theory is based on Constructivism, a theory b...
Piaget’s theory was guided by assumptions about how a learner interacts with their own environment and how they integrate new knowledge and information into existing knowledge. Briefly, he proposed that children are active learners who construct knowledge from their own environment. They learn through assimilation and accommodation in complex cognitive development. Furthermore, interaction with physical and social environments is the key and development occurs in stages. An example of Jean Piaget theory carried out in the classroom is that it gives children a great deal of hands-on practice, by using concrete props and visual aids.
Jean Piaget was an individual constructivist. According to Piaget, a child’s cognitive structure helps the child understand the world around him. This structure develops into complex mental activities. He believed that childhood plays an important role in the growth of intelligence and a child learns through doing and exploring. Piaget believed that hands
By encouraging group work, instead of solo work that will lead to competitions, the students will be more open minded and will be better prepared for the diverse world. A branch of progressivism is logic and it is one that the students will come to know by the progressive ideal that what is learned in the classroom has relevance to the real world. Progressivists believe that education should mirror life. Education often uses past experiences to gain more knowledge, much like life. Therefore, education should be taught as life....
Education is everywhere. This is why teachers need to be the best they can be. Since all children and adolescents are required to attend school, they need teachers that care about them and their education. In order for a teacher to be able to do this, he/she needs to understand the nature of students and knowledge. These two things go together. A teacher also needs to know what the purpose of an education is because without knowing, a teacher does not really have a purpose. In my philosophy, I will discuss why I think my curricular area is important and how I will professionally develop myself to become the best teacher I can be.
Progressivism emerged in the early 1900’s with John Dewey as its philosophical founder. Progressivism, unlike essentialism bases its beliefs far from your typical classroom setting. John Dewey wanted to unchain the desks that bind the students to the classroom and allow students to learn their education as they interact with their environment. Emerged in the 1970’s was the third philosophy of education, critical theory. Critical theory is known as the radical end of progressivism. Critical theorists, such as Henry Giroux and Jonathan Kozol, sought to create the classroom to be a place where teachers and students could negotiate on what the curriculum should be and what they should learn that day. Although all individually unique from one another, each of these philosophies have historical value and play a huge role in today’s system of education.
“Education is a social process; education is growth; education is not preparation for life but is life itself.” John Dewey describes and supports progressivism, an education philosophy that I professionally identify with. Progressivism is a student centered philosophy that focuses on experiences, opportunities, and values that enhance a student 's learning and life. The role of the teacher is to act primarily as a facilitator of learning, they encourage and guide students to explore and promote individual development. As a future educator I believe it is important to involve students and allow them to take responsibility for their own learning and achieving their goals. The role of the student is to discover, engage, and express themselves.
I think it is extremely important that students maintain their individuality all throughout childhood and carry it through them into adulthood. Both of these philosophies promote individuality. Progressivism promotes individuality because it encourages the student to come up with conclusions on their own, in ways that makes most sense to them so they can grasp the content in the best way possible. This provokes deeper, more meaningful ways of thinking. Existentialism is important for students because it encourages them to be unique in thought and action, to embrace who they are deep down inside and to not let their individuality fade as they grow older. I believe that these two philosophies are the most important ones when it comes to the student’s individual uniqueness, which can bring such great things into this world. Not every child thinks the same, so not every child learns the same. Consequently, if we allow children to learn as they wish, as long as they put towards an effort, their minds will grow to a greater degree than if we teach one specific way to teach each
Teaching children I would incorporate all of these philosophies such as; perennialism, progressivism, behaviorism, essentialism, existentialism, and social reconstructionism in my instructional curriculum. For example, including perennialism in which, it is necessary to teach elementary students morals, such as; sharing, not cheating, and even playing fair (like in sports). Progressivism will be used in my instruction because cooperative learning activities will take place. I will use reinforcement rewards with computers, stickers, and candy; which will display the philosophy of behaviorism reflected in my classroom. I will encourage free-will in my students by letting them make choices such as; the book they want to read or letting them decide whether or not they want to do extra credit; which would demonstrate a small part of the existentialism philosophy I support.
One hundred years ago, Jean Piaget (1896-1980) was a young man developing new insights about learning. He was one of a handful of constructivist-minded writers and educational theorists of the time. Learning theories open educators up to new ideas. They are necessary to expand our knowledge of how learning works. Piaget’s work is a well-tested and educators around the world should be aware of Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive development in particular because it will improve the quality of their teaching. Once a teacher knows this theory, they can plan lessons appropriate to their students’ cognitive ability and build upon students’ earlier knowledge in a constructivist way.
My philosophy of education is a combination of essentialism and progressivism . I feel that knowledge can be learned from a textbook, but I also want my students to use other means of knowledge. I fell in certain times, I should be the center of the classroom and other times, the students should be the center. Education is about the students and I am there to guide them through their journey. I think it's important to let children learn by exploring. By doing this, they choose what information is important and should be retained. When it comes to learning, students should always be in the center. The teachers are only there to mentor and improve upon a child's skills. In my mind progressivism with a mix of essentialism is the best philosophy for me to follow.