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TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

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.
Dali, Salvador. Salvador Dali. Retrieved October 31st, 2012, from http://thedali.org/
Kahlo, F. Biography. Retrieved October 31st, 2012, from www.fridakahlo.com
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