Personal Philosophy of Education
Chad Cardwell
Texas A&M University – Texarkana
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The development of a personal philosophy of education is an important milestone
for aspiring teachers and anyone entering any type of instructional field. It is
through this philosophy that we first begin to understand ourselves and learn how
to construct an effective learning environment. My personal philosophy is one that
acknowledges the importance of social interactions between students and teachers
as well as the roles that each plays in ensuring a successful educational experience.
Additionally, my philosophy contains attributes from the two separate philosophies
of progressivism and behaviorism. Finally, my philosophy will be tested and likely
affected by my upcoming work for the United States Army in the training of its soldiers.
In my opinion, one of the determining factors of a teacher’s success lies within
his overall personality and charisma. When a student feels comfortable around his
teacher, a door is opened for effective communication and increases his ability
to relate. Some of my favorite teachers possessed these qualities and gave me the
opportunity to learn in an environment that was unlike any other.
For example, my high school chemistry teacher, Mr. Burkett, was by no means the
easiest when it came to assignments and tests. Despite this, he was still one of
the most popular teachers on campus. It was through his laid back sense of humor
and openness with the students that earned him our trust and appreciation. Many
teachers view this teaching style as an opportunity for students to become disruptive,
but Mr. Burkett was able to keep us on task and maintain structure, and we respected
him for it.
I feel that it is the teacher’s ultimate responsibility to foster this type of learning
environment. He should be able to create all necessary avenues to ensure that the
students have the opportunity to learn to their full potential while under his instruction.
This includes mapping out the learning objectives in a way that everyone can benefit,
providing multiple visual aids to increase understanding, and even being available
to students who may require additional help.
In spite of all this, even the most prepared teacher in the most effective learning
environment cannot guarantee that a student will learn. It is each student’s individual
responsibility to put forth the required energy and effort into the learning process.
If a student chooses to skip class, disregard assignments, or demonstrate minimal
participation, then only he is to blame for the outcome.
After completing the Philosophy of Adult Education Inventory (PAEI), I found that
my personal philosophy is a mixture of progressivism and behaviorism (Kellermann,
2001). In general, progressive education incorporates such distinct features as
learner-centeredness, the experimental method, and social activism. I feel that
placing the focus on the students is necessary because in order to effectively teach
them, I must first be able to relate to them. Once I’ve done this, I can then use
examples that are more meaningful and practical to the students. Next, I feel that
the experimental (or scientific) method is a great tool for developing problem solving
skills.
These skills will become increasingly invaluable to students as they begin
to realize their importance in the many aspects of life. Finally, I believe that
social activism is required to effectively teach certain subjects that deal heavily
with social issues. When students begin to understand the importance of these issues
in their education and everyday lives, they are better able to apply their newly
obtained knowledge as well as become an active part in a continuous positive social
reformation.
In addition to progressivism, my personal philosophy also encompasses traits from
behaviorism. This philosophy is best summarized as one that focuses primarily on
the changing of human behavior to ensure survival. Such survival can be simply accomplished
through the acquisition of specific job skills that allow someone to maintain a
job in today’s society. Thinking back on my studies in computer science at the University
of Texas at Tyler, I now realize that much of my instruction was done in a behaviorist
manner. Because computer science is such a technical field, it requires lectures
to be performed in a step by step manner. Additionally, while the assignments may
sometimes appear to be redundant, they are in fact solidifying technical skills
that will be expected of the learner upon entering the workforce. Because I’ve taken
many of these aforementioned computer science courses, I feel that my teaching style
will inevitably incorporate many of these behaviorist attributes.
When I finish my education at Texas A&M University – Texarkana, I will begin
working for the Training and Doctrine Command of the United States Army. My primary
career path will be in the field of training, so I expect much of my continued education
to revolve around that of a behaviorist philosophy. When training soldiers or helping
to develop training materials, my primary goal will be to elicit a change in the
way the soldiers act and operate. This change may very well be one that saves one
or more lives, so the behaviorist idea of ensuring survival is in fact taken literally
in this situation. I feel that much of my instruction will be step by step and to
the point, and it will most likely contain many visual aids for easier understanding.
This will work well for me because I have a natural tendency to utilize visual aids
when explaining things.
Overall, having studied and developed a personal philosophy of education has allowed
me to better understand myself. Much of my beliefs have been shaped by past experiences
and will undoubtedly continue to change as I apply what I’ve learned and continue
to increase my education.
References
Elias, J, & Merriam, S (2005). Philosophical Foundations of Adult Education.Malabar:
Florida.
Kellermann, Paul (2001). Retrieved October 23, 2007, from PAEI Online Web site:
http://www25.brinkster.com/educ605/index.htm