Philosophy and Philosophy of Education

1.1 Define philosophy and normative philosophy, and explain how they differ from theory.

• Philosophy is the study of theories of knowledge, truth, existence, and morality. Normative philosophy is a shared belief of the way things should be in a particular context (such as education). Theories are sets of related principles based on observation that are used to explain the world around us. Theories explain the ways things are. Philosophies suggest the way things ought to be. Theories are used to back up philosophies.

My Philosophy of Education

People are naturally inquisitive.  Learning is an inherent tendency that all people possess in order to answer their inquiries. This is done through basic acquisition of knowledge and the more complicated process of relating new knowledge to what is already known in order to create meaning and construct a new understanding of objects, events, and ideas in their environments.

My job as a teacher is to impart new knowledge and then facilitate an encouraging and nourishing environment in which students’ learning will flourish. This will be done by providing students with methods that promote analyzing, interpreting, and retaining new information and giving students real-world examples and applications that they can relate to.

This process will help focus learning around the individual and promote critical thinking and problem solving skills. The ability to apply knowledge to everyday life is a critical skill needed to function fully in today’s world. Reason and intellect will be obtained naturally if these goals are carried out, leading to students who are well-prepared for life outside of school and the responsibilities and decision making that accompany it.

To implement these goals, students will be given problems to solve or think about that occur in their lives. A nurturing atmosphere that encourages questions, discussion, and exchange of ideas will be encouraged and maintained. Projects that incorporate the practical use of class content will be outlined in the curriculum and will include interdisciplinary subject matter. All teaching will be done based on the students’ level of cognitive development to ensure the best retainment and understanding.

I will know that my students have successfully acquired and retained the content when they can demonstrate its use and/or processes through formal or project-based assessment. As I continue to grow as a teacher, I hope to find more and more realistic and illustrative ways to connect content with my students to best prepare them for their lives after school.

The Teaching Profession

2.1 What are the essential characteristics of professionalism?

• A specialized body of knowledge
• For teachers, this includes knowledge of content, pedagogical content knowledge, general pedagogical knowledge, and knowledge of learners and learning.
• Pedagogy: I The function or work of a teacher; teaching. II The art or science of teaching; education; instructional methods.
• Teachers are also required to receive extended training for licensure by individual state standards and laws. It must be periodically renewed to confirm continuing education and current knowledge.
• Autonomy
• Teachers have autonomy over the specific content they teach, how they teach it, and how they will assess their student's learning.
• Complete autonomy is impeded by state and district standards, prescribed curricula, and mandatory standardized testing.
• Emphasis on decision making and reflection
• Teachers work in dynamic environments and must make on-the-spot decisions constantly throughout the day. This type of environment makes it essentially impossible to function without professional knowledge and continuous reflection. Teachers receive little formal feedback, so self-assessment is a necessity in order to continue to develop as a professional.
• Ethical standards and codes of conduct
• Teachers are held to high standards of ethical conduct. The largest professional organization in education is the National Education Association (NEA) which addresses the issues of teachers' ethics and interactions. Ethics are an important part of professional decision making.