My Philosophy of Education
By Don Ivers
I believe that all students are capable of good work and that effective teachers can reach their students and inspire such work. Educators should not look at learners as tabula rasa waiting for their teachers to fill in their blanks with a subject, but as contributing individuals ready to share and gain knowledge within a classroom community. The teacher is a guide, which not only teaches the facts of a subject, but uses that subject to help the learner gain social and problem solving skills that the student will need to communicate and work productively in their community. I believe the real world skills that go with academic knowledge are not the educators alone to teach but must also come from the parents, families and communities working with one another to support and enrich the lives of the students.
I believe the reason for education is to give students the tools that will make them successful in the paths that they choose. This means understanding what is important to the student, considering what they see as success, and what they will be able to use most in the real world. All of this must be blended with content requirements in order to be an effective teacher. An effective teacher will relate the students learning to the real world, and by doing so making it both concrete and meaningful to the learner.
I believe that learning is an activity that is done best with a teacher guiding the students rather than just presenting materials to them. This means that multiple perspectives should be engaged throughout the class and that an environment that encourages classroom discussion free from criticism is created by the teacher. Students should be taught to understand the value in their differences and feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, views and opinions in the classroom.
I believe that educators need to incorporate a variety of methods and approaches in order to reach the different types of learners and the multiple intelligences. If teachers get stuck in a routine of using only one method of delivering lessons they are not serving all of their pupils. Using different methods and activities to teach creates a fun and interesting classroom that engages visual learners, auditory learners and kinesthetic learners and helps all learners grow. I plan on teaching with several different methods that ensure students are getting hands on, technology, cooperative learning, group discussion and lecture based learning. I think that lecture should be used more in the form of a mini lesson that facilitates group discussion and other learning activities on the topic being taught. As an effective teacher I will use lectures, group discussion, and other activities to relate important information to the present and student’s personal lives. I believe that if those types of connections are made the student has a better chance of understanding and retaining the lessons.
I believe that it is important to student growth, and success that assessment is also done in a variety of different ways. I plan on using both formative and traditional assessment to evaluate student performance. Methods such as direct observation, journaling, and traditional tests, for example, should be employed. There should be times when students are given the option to choose the types of evaluations that are used for assignments or projects both individually and as a class. I believe that involving students in these types of choices help to make learners feel like they have more control over their education and are more likely to learn as a result.
I believe that as a teacher I must constantly be evaluating my methods, be searching for new teaching tools, and be ready to change and adapt to the ways that best suit my students. I will not get stuck in one way of teaching or use only one method of assessment but be a reflective and open teacher. I believe that part of being an effective teacher is knowing the best way to use technology in the classroom. This means keeping up with an ever changing array of teaching tools, and their proper educational uses. I believe my philosophy of education will make me an effective teacher.
I believe the reason for education is to give students the tools that will make them successful in the paths that they choose. This means understanding what is important to the student, considering what they see as success, and what they will be able to use most in the real world. All of this must be blended with content requirements in order to be an effective teacher. An effective teacher will relate the students learning to the real world, and by doing so making it both concrete and meaningful to the learner.
I believe that learning is an activity that is done best with a teacher guiding the students rather than just presenting materials to them. This means that multiple perspectives should be engaged throughout the class and that an environment that encourages classroom discussion free from criticism is created by the teacher. Students should be taught to understand the value in their differences and feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, views and opinions in the classroom.
I believe that educators need to incorporate a variety of methods and approaches in order to reach the different types of learners and the multiple intelligences. If teachers get stuck in a routine of using only one method of delivering lessons they are not serving all of their pupils. Using different methods and activities to teach creates a fun and interesting classroom that engages visual learners, auditory learners and kinesthetic learners and helps all learners grow. I plan on teaching with several different methods that ensure students are getting hands on, technology, cooperative learning, group discussion and lecture based learning. I think that lecture should be used more in the form of a mini lesson that facilitates group discussion and other learning activities on the topic being taught. As an effective teacher I will use lectures, group discussion, and other activities to relate important information to the present and student’s personal lives. I believe that if those types of connections are made the student has a better chance of understanding and retaining the lessons.
I believe that it is important to student growth, and success that assessment is also done in a variety of different ways. I plan on using both formative and traditional assessment to evaluate student performance. Methods such as direct observation, journaling, and traditional tests, for example, should be employed. There should be times when students are given the option to choose the types of evaluations that are used for assignments or projects both individually and as a class. I believe that involving students in these types of choices help to make learners feel like they have more control over their education and are more likely to learn as a result.
I believe that as a teacher I must constantly be evaluating my methods, be searching for new teaching tools, and be ready to change and adapt to the ways that best suit my students. I will not get stuck in one way of teaching or use only one method of assessment but be a reflective and open teacher. I believe that part of being an effective teacher is knowing the best way to use technology in the classroom. This means keeping up with an ever changing array of teaching tools, and their proper educational uses. I believe my philosophy of education will make me an effective teacher.