The Key Approaches in My Philosophy of Education

Abstract

My philosophy of education is ever changing. As I grow and develop as an educator, my original thoughts about what I feel is important in education is altered. Something I have always felt is very important as an educator is the importance of being a reflective teacher. Analyzing each lesson after it is taught will increase effectiveness as an educator. I believe differentiating instruction in order to meet the needs of all students is necessary. I believe creating an environment that promotes a hands-on approach to learning while implementing a variety of technologies is crucial for learning in today’s society. I believe initiating a strong teacher-learner relationship will in turn promote a successful classroom.

Introduction

As I further my educational journey, my philosophy of education has become more profound. I have realized the importance of presenting material in a variety of ways, initiating a strong teacher-learner relationship, and the value of implementing a hands-on approach to learning within my classroom. I also feel it is very necessary for educators to take the time to reflect upon each lesson to ensure effective and efficient lessons are being taught.

When I teach a lesson, I always try to present the new material to my students as many ways possible. Differentiating instruction is so important because not all students learn the same way. As an educator, my primary job is to fill that primal need for learning by providing an engaging atmosphere for my students on a daily basis. If I am able to be efficient and effective with my methods of instruction my students will be successful.

I also strongly value creating a strong teacher-learner relationship. According to Gutek (2014), “The child, rather than the subject, is the center of the relationship. The teacher guides but does not dominate the learning process”. To me, this means the child in your classroom is the number one priority, the curriculum comes second. The better you know your students, the more likely you are to achieve a desired objective.

I strive to implement manipulatives, communication, and a variety of technologies within my teaching. Manipulatives create a hands-on experience, which in turn promotes an engaging lesson. Actively participating in the classroom tends to keep the students interested in the topics at hand. Educators should do their best to incorporate activities as often as possible that require students to communicate with one another and force them to actively participate in the classroom. I believe atmospheres in which students discuss, explore, and learn together result in successful learning environments. I believe all teachers should utilize a variety of technologies. Integration of technology at all levels of learning allows for further enhancement of creative and organizational skills that nurture the development of technologically literate individuals, which is crucial in today’s society.

Reflecting on each lesson is a strategy I feel is very necessary for a teacher to effectively improve as an educator. Reflective teachers analyze each lesson to determine what went well and why, and how else things might have been done to improve results. Reflective practice is widely used in many professions, especially those that require on-the-spot decisions and adaptations on a daily basis, like teaching. A reflective teacher takes time each day to recollect, evaluate, and analyze the evidence and uses that material to identify what went well, and what didn’t then improve as needed to become a desirable teacher.

Conclusion

My philosophy of education changes as I grow as an educator. As I gain experience I gain knowledge, which alters my original thoughts about education. I am continually examining and evaluating my effectiveness as a teacher. Reflecting is a crucial part of an educator’s job. Presenting material in a variety of ways, initiating a strong teacher-learner relationship, an implementing a hands-on approach to learning within my classroom are all elements I feel an effective teacher should practice within their classroom.

References

1. Gutek, G. L. (2014). Philosophical, ideological and theoretical perspectives on education. Boston: Pearson Central Pub.
2. Marzano, R. J. (2012, March 28). Becoming a Reflective Teacher. Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&;id=MWAXBwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT11&dq=being a reflective teacher&ots=TAfsfqcGGQ&sig=umzk9YPclYIzQbEeIM1OwstuH-M#v=onepage&q=being a reflective teacher&f=false
3. Williams, M., & Burden, R. L. (2015). Psychology for language teachers: A social constructivist approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.