My Philosophy of Education
What is my philosophy on education?
Why is education important to me and especially to my students? Is education
really necessary to our survival? Firstly, I would like to discuss why
education is important for everyone, not just to me. Then talk about my purpose
or role as the educator. Lastly, what have I come to understand is the best ways
a student learns and how to teach them.
What do I believe is the purpose of
education? I believe that education has many purposes and uses in our lives. Most importantly education guides how we
think or behave, our understanding about the world and its people, and our
economic gain. When we make choices, such as choosing a restaurant to eat in,
we usually make informed choices in regards to: if its affordable, the rating,
and past experiences we’ve had while eating there. With whom we choose to
associate with is also guided by our knowledge of someone and how we relate to
them and they to us. The jobs we hold is also shaped by what we define as
success or our happiness. These are in fact educated choices we make. Carpenter
and Hughes state that education helps us in finding or defining our self-actualization or realization, human relationships, and economic
efficiency (pg.3, 2011). Through education we define or develop our place
in society, how we interact with others (feeling of empathy) and career success.
What we define as our happiness, which everyone deserves and has a right to the
attainment of. In our daily lives we are always learning something new. We
learn best through the mistakes we make. But, as stated by Milliren and Messer
this requires the development of a students potential to do hard work or be
dedicated, and understanding of theirs and others interests (pg.20, 2009), whom
I believe together shapes character. We develop these characteristics through
learning or acquiring knowledge. These are the main reasons why we push our
children to go out and get an education. The institution that is dedicated in
teaching and act as the center of learning in our society are schools. Kids in
our country are fortunate to receive education for free. But when they enter
through the school doors, the educators entrusted with the obligation to teach
must do their best to engage the minds of each student, to want to learn. So as
a dispenser or teacher of information how do I best share these knowledge with
my students?
Holding the responsibility of being an
educator in a classroom is very daunting and challenging. Sometimes some of us
actually teach subjects we aren’t even well versed in. Also a few students in
class don’t even want to be there, they just show up to be a thorn in your side
and disrupt teaching and learning. Handling 15 students is difficult enough,
but 25 to 30 students is a big challenge. Sometimes I feel like telling them
that if they don’t really want to be here then they should tell their parents
to pull them out of school. Because truthfully, sometimes these students are
the students with behavior issues and often disrupt your lessons and the
students who want to learn from learning. But usually they misbehave because they
don’t understand the material and don’t want to look ignorant. As the teacher I
have to work around this and make them understand the value of education and
learning. One way to get them to learn is to make sure the material I am
teaching them is relevant and that they understand it or can relate it to their
lives. Another hurdle to jump over are the materials and textbooks used for
teaching, which are often outdated or insufficient. Even the student desks are
falling apart let alone the whole school. This is what most teachers face on
Guam and quite possibly in other parts of the nation. But as the educator my
main goal and purpose is to spark the need or want to learn in the minds of my
students, so that they can attain happiness. Regardless of the material I have
to work with or if the air-conditioning is not functioning. I want to inspire
them but most of all I want them to inspire themselves. I teach math, and math
is a subject that most students hate, because they find it difficult to
understand. But just like math and also in life, if we persevere there is an
answer to be found and I hope my students take this to heart. I have had a few
students ask me why do we need to learn this or why do we need to be in school.
I explain to them that knowledge and the attainment of it will help them
develop who they are and shape their minds and thoughts, their character. In
turn it will help and guide them to finding their happiness, whatever it may
be. My hope for my students when they leave my classroom is that they are fully
equipped to meet the next challenges in their lives. But even if they leave
without a complete knowledge of the skills that I have taught them, at the very
least they have an understanding that with hard work and perseverance they can
accomplish anything. This is my hope as their guide and teacher. But I must
also take into consideration on how my student’s will best learn and retain the
material I teach them.
I have come to believe and learn;
from past experiences, information recently acquired from graduate school, and
as a first time teacher, is that all students learn differently. Everyone is
different meaning they also learn in various ways. Carjuzza and Kellough have
identified 3 different learning modalities; which are visual, auditory, and
kinesthetic or tactile modalities (pg.56, 2013). From what I’ve observed in my
observations of other classes and also in my own class is that this is true.
Especially if you include them all in your lesson plan. When we teach we mainly
engage two of the sensors, which are visual and auditory so it is also
important to make sure we find a way to incorporate kinesthetic modality. If we
engage all three we can be sure that all the students in your class will
participate and learn. Another important way to teach and for students to learn
is the use of cooperative learning groups. Again as stated by Carjuzza and
Kellough students learn better when they work and support one another with the
guidance of the teacher (pg.230, 2013). I have had the opportunity to observe
and also assign my students to work in groups. What I have come to conclude is
that, with strict guidance, learning becomes more fun and engaging for students
when they work with one another. I also agree in fostering this type of
learning. Because it helps them understand the idea of working with others,
which most working environments promote. With this understanding about the importance
of the learning modalities and cooperative learning groups, I am more aware of
how I can best teach my students. I have also started to include them in my
lesson planning. Because a well planned and researched lesson with the
inclusion of the learning modalities and of cooperative learning groups, teaching
and learning can be achieved at its highest level. And as the educator this is
my main goal in teaching my students the importance about education. If I don’t
take these ideas into account it will lead to teaching and learning failure.
In my conclusion I believe that
education is important for everyone. It doesn’t matter what your station will
be in the future. Attainment of knowledge is important because it helps build
character, self-realization, develop human relation, and economic productivity.
As the educator I am charged in making sure that my students realize this and
that I inspire them to want this for themselves. So I must make sure that I
utilize and develop instruction that will engage and capture their minds to
want to learn in order for them to achieve their goals. Ultimately it is
happiness, contentment, and satisfaction that everyone is looking for in life
and education is important and a key in achieving these aspirations.
Reference:
Carpenter, D. M., Hughes, H.
(2011) Gubernatorial Rhetoric and the Purpose of Education in the United
States. Retrieved Dec. 2013 from; http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ963737.pdf
Milliren, A., Messer, M. H.
(2009) “Invitations” To Character. Retrieved Dec. 2013 from;
Carjuzaa, J., Kellough, R. D.
(2013) Teaching in the Middle and Secondary Schools. New Jersey: Pearson
Education, Inc.
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