Philosophy of Education
Lynette Marie Robinson · Kendall College of Art and
Design · Of Ferris State University
My educational philosophy is focused on the purpose of
education, roles of the students and teachers, my beliefs and values, my goals
as a teacher and as a student, and my vision for education. This philosophy
helped define my teaching style and approach as progressive. Educational
Progressivism is a belief that education should teach real-life experiences,
emphasize on problem solving, and have a child-centered approach. At the heart
of progressivism is the constructivist idea that student’s learn best when they
are actively involved and engaged in their own learning. Through my passion for
art and teaching, my students will further develop their skills and love for
art. Overall, I must be a teacher who is continuously learning and growing in
my skills to be the most effective for my students.
The purpose of education is for students to learn the basic
academic skills to be successful in life. Like Gardner, Sternberg (1999) did
not limit intelligence to just success in school but “rather he considers
intelligence to be a persons ability to be success in life (Bohlin Durwin
Weber, 2009, p. 398).” The history of education has continually changed but the
need for students to become model citizens has remained the same. Throughout
their education, students discover how to be self-directed learners. Education
teaches diversity of thought through studying different cultures and societies.
Students learn more about themselves and who they are as they continue their
education. An education develops students’ social skills, so they can be
effective individuals in the workforce. A student’s talents and aspirations are
brought out in education. Every day, students apply the material and content of
the educational curriculum to their lives. John Dewey’s Progressivism had a
large impact on the curriculum, because “rather than focusing on traditional
subject matter, the idea was to focus on problem solving. Topics can change, as
does the accumulated body of knowledge as time goes by, but the skill of
problem solving remains (Culyer Ebert, 2008, p. 300).” Education assists students in
understanding their purpose in society and helps them create values based on
experiences. An education builds on a student’s knowledge as new experiences
are related to previous experiences. “John Dewey argued that education does not
prepare an individual for life, it is life (Culyer Ebert, 2008, p. 6).”
“All children
are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” Pablo
Picasso (2009). The role of an educator is to encourage a child’s creativity.
Through this encouragement, students can remain artists throughout their lives.
It is important for educators to help students to succeed and to feel confident
in their abilities. Students need educators who they can interact and relate to
when learning. “According to Vygotsky, social interaction- in particular,
cooperative dialogues with more knowledge members of society- is necessary for
children to acquire the ways of thinking and behaving that make up a
community’s culture (Berk, 2012, p. 25).” Vygotsky believed that communication
between adults and children helped guide their thoughts and actions to help
acquire new skills. Educators have a tremendous impact on their students and
should behave as good role models they can look up to. Educators need to be
leaders in the classroom to have lessons be taught correctly and help students
understand the information they are receiving. Students can develop better
study habits by having the educator create detailed notes, elaborate outlines,
and compose examples for students of how to remember the material they have
learned. Relationships form with educators, colleagues, parents, and the
community leaders to help enhance students learning.
Through their engagement with the world around them,
students play a critical role in the educational process. Other progressivists,
like Jean Piaget, felt the same way. “Piaget’s core idea is that the driving
force behind our intellectual progression is an unceasing struggle to make
sense of our experiences. Children are active thinkers, constantly trying to
construct more advanced understandings of the world (Myers, 2011, p. 143).”
Students have an inherent need to know and find solutions to those unanswered
questions. By having a willingness to learn and listen students have an open
mind to unique lessons. Students are participants in the classroom, sharing
their ideas and thoughts to improve the learning experience. As well, students
demonstrate an excellent work ethics. By having students give and accept
feedback it can improve their work. Students can learn from their mistakes. A
student should never be afraid to ask for help if he or she is struggling with
understanding a concept or subject material. Students must have an open mind to
lessons. We are all students in life and we must continue to learn to be
effective in our society. John Dewey explained, “In this philosophy
(progressivism) the focus is on positive change that individuals with a
particular educational background could provide (Culyer Ebert 2008, pg. 6).”
An important part of my philosophy is my own beliefs and
values. I value honesty, integrity, and commitment in each person. By having an
open mind, I accept all students opinions that do not degrade or hurt anyone.
Each person should be treated with respect. I appreciate diversity and the
curiosity found in unique life stories. Everyone is different, but I respect
and recognize those differences are all equal. We have a responsibility to take
care of what we are given, like our planets, talents, and money. Every student
can learn. Creativity is an important talent or skill in a student. Through my
passion for art, I will influence my students, their learning, and my own
teaching.
Frida Kahlo (2012) once said, “I never paint dreams or
nightmares. I paint my own reality.” Students create their own reality through
their artwork. My goal as an art teacher is to focus on my student’s dreams. I
believe all children express themselves through their artwork and I feel that
teaching should unlock that creativity. As a teacher, I will demonstrate
knowledge of the content I am teaching and have the professional skills needed
to guide students learning. Being an active participant in the community that
promotes my school and art classes I teach is important to me. Outside my
classroom, I will help my students form social groups or committees to help
them connect and share their ideas. One of my goals is to continue to attend
classes and seminaries to discover new ways to teach. By being a student
myself, I believe it is the best way I can relate to the students I am
teaching.
My goal for my students and myself, is together, transform
our classroom into a safe haven. I would like all my students to realize that I
care for them as students and as individuals. This acknowledgement will allow me
to reach students who have a difficult time relating to teachers and can help
them feel like a teacher does truly appreciate them. Maslow (1970) studied
healthy, creative people, and developed a hierarchy of needs. “In Maslow’s
(1968, 1970) theory, individuals are motivated by a need to satisfy their full
potential called, self-actualization (Bohlin Durwin Weber, 2009, p. 304).” My
goal for each student is to achieve his or her full potential. Each student can
take away a new skill or learn something new from my lessons. By helping
students, who may have dysfunctional home lives, they can become successful
artists.
According to Laura Berk (2012), she stated that, “Although
constructivist approaches vary, many are grounded in Piaget’s theory, which
views children as active agents who reflect on and coordinate their own
thoughts, rather than absorbing those of others. A glance inside a
constructivist classroom reveals richly equipped learning centers, small
groups, and individuals solving self-chosen problems, and a teacher who guides
and supports in response to children’s needs (p. 467-368).” In my classroom, my
teaching methodologies emphasize on the importance of individual effort,
individual achievement, teamwork, and the community. My purpose is to make subject
matter meaningful to students and to help their perspectives grow. By working
with my colleagues, I can incorporate their lesson and themes into my own
lesson plan to help reinforce the material students must learn. Through
integrating different standards into my lesson plans, students can be
successful in my class and apply what they have learned in other subjects.
Using those instructional strategies, I will keep material active and exciting
through introducing new ways to learn the subject matter. During and after
class, students who are struggling with the material can receive extra
guidance. My dream is to create an engaging atmosphere, one that promotes
brainstorming, imagination, and creativity.
My vision for art education is that it will become and be
considered equal to any other subject or curriculum. My dream is for society to
realize students’ creativity is just as valuable as mathematics or reading. I
believe that more time, energy, and resources should be given towards education
because it is the foundation for our society. Education would benefit heading
towards a progressive system that gives students and teachers more choices to
learn each subject. I also believe that the education system needs to reinforce
the common values into the curriculum to help our society. Our education
process needs to be open to improving the way we teach by including technology,
performing arts, music class, and the visual arts into the curriculum to help
students learn more effectively. I believe that the vision for education needs
to include global culture and languages without forgetting the traditions of
the community where the students live. “Have no fear of perfection- you’ll
never reach it.” Salvador Dali (2012). Education can only fail if educators are
afraid to make mistakes.
In summary, my educational philosophy is focused on the
purpose of education, roles of the students, and teachers, my beliefs and
values, my goals as a teacher and as a student, and my vision for education. I
hope through my teaching my students will continue to be self-directed learners
and grow as good citizens in the community we live in. I am still learning as a
teacher. This philosophy will change as I mature as an individual and as a
teacher. My goal is to have every student have the opportunities and dreams as
I have had in my school career. Art and teaching is not my career, it is my
passion.
REFERENCES
Berk
E. L. (2012). Infants,
Children, and Adolescents. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Bohlin,
L., Durwin C.C., & Weber R.M. (2009). EdPsych. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Culyer
C. R. & Ebert 11 S. E. (2008) School: An Introduction to Education. Belmont,
CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.
Myers,
G. D. (2011). Exploring
Psychology (8th ed.) New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
Picasso,
P. Pablo
Picasso and his paintings. Retrieved October 31st, 2009, from
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