Thoughtful Question #5
Think about your own personal educational philosophy. How would you like to see schools and/or learning structured in the future. In 3-5 paragraphs, integrate your own ideas with those you have gotten from your readings and from class. You don't need formal APA citations, but you do need to identify the sources of the ideas to which you compare and contrast you own. Treat your ideas with the respect that they deserve as a seeker of knowledge in an advanced degree program. Remember to read your teammate's blog postings and to comment upon them in a thoughtful manner.
I don't know that I could say I have an educational philosophy. My role in the educational system thus far has been a support role. I'm often working towards helping teachers integrate the technology into their lessons. I've never been a classroom teacher and I have never had much of a chance to experiment with different teaching methods. Aside from the occasional inservice, I'm usually on the other side as the learner.
For me, the best way to address this TQ is to look at how people learn. As I was growing up, this was evident at home. My older brother was a book learner. Give him a book, let him read it and he would be fine. I, on the other hand, am a hands-on person. I learn by doing. I can take something apart, analyze the structure and components, and put it back together. Give me that same information in the written form and I would not have the same understanding. Give my brother the device and ask him to take it apart and put it back together and you will first have a broken device, and second, a lot of extra parts. We learn differently, always have.
As shown above, I just documented the best way to teach both me and my brother. The problem comes along when you have a classroom of thirty, or even worse, a secondary teacher teaching the same course to three groups of thirty. How do we separate the students and still teach everything? Is their only one way? How do our teachers adjust to teach each student individually?
Since I am a hands-on learner, a constructivist learning environment would benefit me the best. If we apply Wenglinsky's ideas, we would conclude that this approach has the best chance of success. While I believe that and wish that my own education followed the constructivist path, we still need to be prepared for those students that don't learn that way. Isn't the goal to educate everyone? Isn't that what NCLB was supposed to be about?
3 comments:
Hey Mike, I guess Im looking to work in that support role that your in. Ive always liked being the teacher, but I feel a different calling just because the importance of technology in education is crucial. When I taught in Philly, I had one old computer and the computer lab was always locked!!! The kids missed out. I want to change that. I think I'll end up working in the urban setting integrating technology in the classrooms!
I like your observations here. I am also not a classroom teacher and have to approach much of what we talk about from personal experience alone. I like what you wrote and I see value in this type of thinking integrated into schools!
We all play a part in the education system. Your work is as valuable, because as we move into the future, technology will keep challenging education and people like you are needed to represent the value of technology in education. Your philosophy is, as you've indirectly stated, is to value education for all students, be it book-smart of hands-on learners.
Post a Comment