PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS &THEORIES OF EDUCATION

Philosophy ? set of ideas about

The nature of realityThe meaning of lifeDescribe your current personal philosophy of education

THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATIONWhat do you think the purpose of education is?To give knowledgeTo transmit cultureTo help people adapt to societyTo give religious educationTo provide practical/hands-on experience/trainingTo provide learner/human-centered education (self-realization)etc (your view) Why do some parents choose or reject certain schools?Philosophy influences daily educational life in many ways (curriculum, teacher role, assessment, teaching methods..)

FOUR PRIMARY EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHIESIDEALISM ( Plato) GENERIC NOTIONS: Reality is an unchanging world of perfect ideas and universal truths (metaphysics)Reality is made up of absolute truths. (religious education programs)To Plato, truth is perfect and eternal and not found in the world matter.Meaning is in the ideals of life itself.We cant rely on our senses as they deceive us. (Criticism) a truth sometimes is only in the eye of the beholder.

Knowledge is obtained when ideas are brought into consciousness through self-examination and discourse (epistemology) Searching for truth through Socratic questioning/ dialectic questioning individuals point of view (using inductive reasoning, authority lecturing)Wisdom of goodness; discipline, order, self-control; preservation of cultural heritage of the past (Axiology)

Goal of EducationEducators are interested in the search for truth through ideas rather than through the examination of the false shadowy world of matter.They encourage students to search for truth as individuals.Education is transformation: ideas can change lives.

Role of TeacherDealing with abstract notions through dialectic method & connecting analysis with action Active, posing questions, selecting materials and establishing an environment to ensure the desired outcomes.A role model to be imitated by ss

Methods of InstructionT active in ss learningLecturing but particularly using dialectic approach Through questioning, ss encouraged to discuss, analyze, synthesize, and apply what whey have read Ss encouraged to work in groups/ individually on research projects, both oral and written

CurriculumExamining the roots of the contemporary problems in the past (great literature/classics etc)Education at any level should teach ss to thinkSubject-matter curriculumBack-to-basics approach in education

REALISM (Chisholm, Whitehead) Generic Notions: Meaning comes through empirically proven facts.Reality is made up of natural laws, facts.The idea that reality is what it is and possesses an independent identity, regardless of the beliefs of the observer.We perceive the actually existing physical world.

Goal of EducationDevelop intellectual abilitiesTo equip ss with information to understand current event (Tabula Rasa)Role of the Teacherhaving a solid grounding in science, maths, and the humanities.relying on test scores to place students (competency testing of students with various methods)readily adopting new technologyteachers responsibility to teach skill+disciplined knowledge

T should be competent in a specific subject matterT presenting ideas in a clear & consistent manner & demonstrating that there are definite ways to judge works of art, music, poetry and literatureEnabling ss to learn objective methods of evaluating the works above

Methods of Instruction

lecture, question &answer (formal ways of teachinginductive & scientific reasoningcompetency-based assessments as a way ensuring that ss learnt what they are being taughtemphasis on critical reason aided by observation (our experiences) & experimentationemphasizing realistic novels such as Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, For Whom the Bell Tolls etc. to give lives laws and principles and such novels are the keys for ss to reach the ideal world through material worldstressing precision and accuracy in math, science, social studies and writing

Curriculumcurriculum consists of the basics maths, science, reading etc. attention is given to didactic & object studies in education (use of pictures, TV, videos in educational process)use of objects in education (Montessori)emphasis is on subject matter (highly organized & systematic in approach)

CRITICISM: Empirical facts always subject to change.

EXISTENTIALISM (Kierkegaard, Jean-Paul Sartre, Nietzche)Generic Notions

Existentialists believe that individuals are placed on this earth alone & must make sense out of the chaos they encounter.Sartre believed existence precedes essence that is people must create themselves, and they must create their own meaning.Thus, individuals are in a state of constantly becoming, creating chaos and order, creating good and evil. The choice is up to the individual.In short, existentialism teaches that each person must simply live his/her life & by doing so creates his/her own values, almost as an afterthought.Reality for individuals is eternal. Each individuals point of view is significant. Aim is not to provide standard people.

Goal of EducationExistentialists believe that education should focus on the needs of individuals, both cognitively and affectively.also believe that education should stress individuality. (Education should include discussion of the nonrational and rational world)Education is an activity liberating the individual from a chaotic, absurd world.Individuals are responsible of consequences. Individuals should be given credit for the creation of concepts like peace, truth, and justice. So, focus is on humans and their ideas.

Good education would encourage individuals to ask such questions: Who am I?, Where am I going?, Why am I here?So, good education is one that emphasizes individuality through intellectual journeys so that we can see and understand ourselves.helps individuals to examine the abnormal/corrupted side of life, the irrational as well as the good side. (life/death, wars, peace ) AIM: to make the world better

Role of the Teacher emphasizes individual choices (there is no common way of viewing world)T should understand his/her own lived world to help ss achieve their best lived worlds.Both T and ss learn from each other & their relation is more friend to friend Ts must take risks; expose themselves to resistant ss; & work constantly to enable their students to become wide awake.

Introspection is useful in order to enable ss to become in touch with their worlds and to empower them to choose and act on their choices.Thus the role of teacher is an intensely personal one that carries with it a tremendous responsibility.Due to the greater experience & knowledge, it is the Ts responsibility to develop an educational environment that promotes awareness of the past and present, and of the future possibilities.

T helps ss become sensitive to human possibility and understand that they themselves are both necessarily and fully determined by the past (every present is conditioned by the past, but every present is pregnant with future possibilities for change and new direction individuals can change future.Therefore, T should understand that the chief requirement is too help ss explore the world and open up new possibilities of the world for ss

Methods of Instructionstressing individual freedomempowering ss to make choices about what and how they will learnBuber I-thou approach S&T learn cooperatively from each other in an nontraditional, nonthreatening friendship. (posing questions, generating activities, and working together)Educational methods which help T in rediscovering the excitement of learning and opening up a whole new world of possibilities for ss.Ss become more articulate and capable of comprehension and self-expression with the help of teachers existentialist approach.

Curriculumstressing arts an literature, little emphasis is given on maths an sciencethe humanities are considered in an existentialist curriculum because they deal with the essential aspects of human existence, such as the relations between people, the tragic side of human life as well as the happy, the absurdities as well as the meaningThrough humanities, the existentialists try to awaken modern individuals to the dangers of being swallowed up by the megalopolis and runaway technology (wide awaken)

Existentialists do not have definite rules about what the curriculum should comprise. They believe that the S-in-situation making a choice should be the deciding factor. (Curriculum from the standpoint of the learner rather than as a collection of discrete subjects)

PRAGMATISM (Dewey and James)Generic NotionsPragmatism is the philosophy that encourages people to find processes that work in order to achieve their desired ends.Reality is that everything changes. (Theme: the world is constantly changing and we have to adapt)They study the past but they are generally more interested in contemporary issues and in discovering solutions to problems in present-day termsThey are action-oriented, experientially grounded, and will generally pose questions such as

What will work to achieve my desired ends?problem speculative thought action results then Question: Do the results achieved solve the problem? Then solution is valid.

Goal of EducationPrimary goal of education is growth.Education is for life.Teaching ss how to live (standing on their feet)Education should not be locked upon merely as schooling and the acquisition of academic subject matter but as a part of life itself.Schools should balance the needs of the society and community on the one hand and the needs of the ss on the other.

To integrate children into not just any type of society, but a democratic one where cooperation and community are desired ends.Helping people direct, control and guide personal and social experience (self-actualization)

Schools should foster habits of thought, invention and initiative that will assist people in growing right direction toward democratic society Education should promote our true individualism (self-directed learning)Education has a moral influence and should pay a vital part in helping us become the kind of moral persons who are interested not only in promoting our own growth but also in promoting the growth of others.

Role of the Teacherapplies democratic methodsclassroom is a community of learners T facilitator not authoritarianT encourages, offers suggestions, questions and helps plan and implements courses of studyT writes curriculum and must have a command of several disciplines to create and implement curriculum

Methods of Instruction Problem solving, experiential learning, inquiry methods, field trips, projects (not all ss can learn in the same way vary strategies)Learning in groups and individualityFormal instruction is abandoned (flexible methods are used) moveable chairs, freedom n class etc.Lockstep, rote memorization of traditional schools are replaced with individualized studies.Action-oriented education (activity-oriented approach to curriculum)

CurriculumLearner-centered curriculumPragmatist curriculum is composed of both process (experience) and content (knowledge)All academic and vocational disciplines in an integrated and connected way

Problem-centered learning/project method: such approaches to curriculum start with a central question, core/problem. Ss attack the problem in diverse ways according to interest and need. They work independently or in groups. They evaluate their growth and development.Child interest to be considered in curriculum. Varied needs, interests different curricula

ECLECTICISMThere is a way of dealing with all various modelsEclecticism is not a philosophical system or model, but rather is the synthesizing and personal interpretation of various models to draw out the best components for yourselfThus, you pull the best from various models in any effort to build your own statement of personal philosophy.

Humanistic Schoolshow respect to ssconsideration of ss needs, expectations, feelings, valuesaccepting ss as they areactive learning strategiesconflict resolutionincorporating whole classMeaning: Intellect distinguishes humans from animalsWhat is Reality: Humans have potential and innate goodnessNature of Humanness: Autonomy, dignity, and freedom are sacred

Educational Aim: Individual potentiality; self-actualizationEducational Method: Facilitation; self-direction; team workEducational Content: Any curriculum is a vehicle for meeting needsMain Criticism: Important societal goals can be missedKey proponents: Maslow, Knowles, Elias/Merriam, Tough

Programs/Practices:Individualized instructional process learning projectssensitivity trainingteacher effective trainingactive listeningconflict resolutioninvitational learningvalues clarificationmoral educationmultiethnic educational approaches

Humanistic Approaches to English Language TeachingActive Listeningletting ss to express her/his feelings & then paraphrasing what s/he has saidNo advice is given during active listening Conflict Resolutionthe involved people talk how problems emerge and how they can get rid of those problems/negative attitudes problem solving & meaningful learning strategies are used

Invitational Learningcommunicating with the student by making her/him feel that s/he is responsible, able and valuableprocedure: know your ss namehave individual contact with each student show him you respect her/himbe honest with her/himnot take rejection by the ss personalityrespect her/him as a human being

Values Clarificationtechnique that clients identify how they feel or what they believe about somethingvalue that feeling or belief and,if valued, act on itaim: to raise ss consciousness and values and help them to act on it. Ex: Do you think using drugs should be banned? What can you do?

Moral Educationrelated to character education & citizenship educationaim: to help clients to develop more responsible behaviour Strategies:serving as role models who are always respectful and caring to otherscreating a family or community atmosphere so that clients feel worthwhile and care about peopleencouraging students to hold high academic & behavioral standards

THE PURPOSE OF SCHOOLS

How can we solve the worlds problems?revolutionswarseducation

EducationSchool-BroadSpecific-Take place anywhere,-particular location anytime, anyplace -limited definition- behaviour change processes-place for education collective body of pupils-lack of formalization-formalized-no assessment processes- assessment-non-official-official-lack of system-systemic -no need to certified person-certified person -no specific time limit for learning-compulsory period for attendance