Take Home Exam

Welcome to my blog about the philosophy and history of Canadian education.  I chose to write my take home exam as a blog post, as I find it to be the best way to share information with fellow educators and/or employers.  The informal nature of blogs allows the writer's voice to shine through, which I find makes it more meaningful.

For this blog post I am going to reflect on the knowledge I have gained during EDCI 303.  I will be discussing the most important themes that arose for me, how the historical and philosophical foundations of education shape my work as an educator for the grade I want to teach (which is unknown at this moment), what philosophers have influenced me the most and I will end with my very own philosophy of education!

Important Themes

Individualized Learning and the Importance of Nature in Education

• Throughout the course, we have discussed on numerous occasions how today's educational system has moved towards a student driven approach to learning.
• Just as Plato believed in the philosophy of Realism, we define human potential through ourselves.  Today, more than ever, education systems are focusing more so on students individualized learning, rather than the structured educational system we have seen in the past.  
• Dewey believed that students have an "impulse" which fosters a desire to learn, which would guide them on their learning journey.  Children already know what they want to learn, we don't have to tell them what they want to learn.
• I believe that if we allow students to have a choice as to how they best learn, what they want to learn and how they want to learn it, again, a strong part of Dewey's philosophy, their learning experience will be more meaningful to them and; therefore, more beneficial.
• Hands on activities allow children to learn, as it is a more authentic learning experience. 
• A way to promote this student driven hands on, experiential learning is through one's natural environment, which brings me to the next theme that arose for me in this course. 
• Children's natural environment is where they explore and experiment to find meaning in the world.  
• Through exploring through their natural environment (through their five senses) as Rousseau and Dewey emphasize in their philosophies, students are having meaningful experiences that will allow them to understand what and how they like to learn.
• Just as Aristotle noted, physically being in nature is more important than learning through the soul and mind. 
• We should not deter our students from their intrinsic need and desire to be outdoors, as this exploration of their natural learning environment can teach them things about themselves that cannot be taught within the classroom walls.

Historical and Philosophical foundations of education that shape my work as an educator & Influential Philosophers

Although I do not necessarily agree with each and every idea these influential philosophers had, I have highlighted the ideas that have had the biggest impact on my experience in EDCI 303.  

John Dewey in 1902, from http://en.wikipedia.org

Progressivism

• The elements of progressivism, which lead to the creation of progressive education, that have influenced me most and shaped my future work as an educator are as follows:
• Education focuses on experiences in the here and now.  It moves beyond the traditional modes of education, which prepare students for University:
• Although I believe that University, as well as the process to get there, can be extremely beneficial, I do not believe it is for everyone.  Experiential learning, which Dewey emphasized in his philosophy, is just as important as the core subjects (math, science, social studies, reading, writing).  
• Teachers should act as a guide in students learning:
• Rather than acting as the all mighty leader of our students' learning process, it is important that we allow them to make discoveries on their own.
• School is a community, which promotes lifelong learning:
• I firmly believe that in order to have a beneficial school experience do not believe that learning ever ends.  Whether we are in school or gaining knowledge through experience, we are still learning and as long as we keep on living we keep on learning.
• Importance of social skills:
• Dewey believed that by providing students with the opportunity to work with others, would allow them to develop their social skills, and I agree.
• We must give students the opportunity to learn how to work cooperatively with others.  At a primary level, educators can create a foundation for the progression of their social skills, which they will continue to build upon as they continue with their education.

Rousseau in 1753, by Maurice Quentin de La Tour,
 from http://www.iep.utm.edu

Naturalism/Romanticism

• Rousseau believed that children are pure and innocent.
• Children and their natural environment are pure, and; therefore, as educators, we must protect and nourish them in their purist form.
• He believed that children have a strong connection/bond with nature.
• I believe that it is important for educators to utilize this connection to their full advantage.  Rousseau believed that students learn through their 5 senses and I believe that providing students with hands on activities will lead them to discovery their own ideas about the world.  
• Children know what and how they want to learn.
• They do not need teachers to tell them this.
• We should let children direct their own learning.
• Rousseau explained that children already know what they want to learn, and it is our job to act as a tutor or guide in the learning experience.
• I believe that although teachers should be respected by their students as a knowledgable human being within the classroom, we should not instil our beliefs on our students, but rather guide them in their educational journey as we allow them to follow their natural curiosity.

Aboriginal Worldview

• The Aboriginal Worldview is a foundation, which has greatly influenced my work as an educator, as it promotes:
• Holistic approach to learning - communal and experiential based education where the students are learning practical skills needed for survival in their environment.
• Although I believe it is important for students to have a thorough understanding of the traditional core subjects, I feel it is imperative for us as educators, to provide them with more practical skills that will be useful for them outside of the classroom.  These are practices that are not the most important focus in our current education system, although Montessori schools do emphasize this is their philosophy.
• Learning from nature, family, elders, community members - reciprocal learning.
• This creates a more holistic learning process for the students.

My Educational Philosophy

For a group activity we took part in in class, we were asked to answer the following questions: What is a child? What does childhood mean? I realized that by pondering these questions, I was actually developing my own educational philosophy, as it was a question I became extremely passionate about discussing.

A child/childhood includes:

• Experimentation/New experiences:
• When children are young, they have yet to have many different experiences.  They are trying new things, discovering the world and what their likes and dislikes are
• Because children haven't had many experiences, most experiences they do have are new.  This helps them come into their own and develop a sense of themselves.
• This is a chance for children to focus on themselves, their personal development and happiness.  

• Development of social skills:
• Spending time with other children allows them to learn how to interact with others i.e. playing fair and being respectful.

After discussing these questions, I began to see a connection with what is important to a child and what is most important to me as an educator.  I feel passionately about incorporating the wonderful world of childhood into my teaching.  I feel very strongly about the following information, which has resulted into my philosophy of education.  

• Childhood is special:
• Just as Rousseau emphasized in his naturalistic philosophy, childhood is a special time that only happens once.  We, as educators, must nurture this and use it to our advantage.  Young children are sponges, soaking up various information they are exposed to; therefore, educators must create a learning environment that encourages their curiosity and desire to learn.

• Children have a strong connection to their natural environment and we must foster this:
• One of the main reasons Rousseau and Dewey's philosophies resonated with me is because of their emphasis on a child's natural environment.  Before children are put into the education system, they spent most of their time outdoors playing make believe, building forts, discovering animals and other new and exciting things.  From an Aboriginal point of view, children used to learn essential life skills in the great outdoors.  This, to me, is a huge part of education.  Being outdoors, allows children to discover new things, develop their likes and dislikes and social skills on their own.  They already have an intrinsic connection to nature, which is why we must not take that away from them.  This will hinder their development and educational experience.  In my practice, I intend to promote the importance of outdoor education.

• Knowledge is gained during exploration and experience:
• Just as Dewey believed, children learn best from exploring and experiencing things on their own, and this should take place outdoors and well as indoors.  Just because exploring ones natural environment isn't in todays curriculum, doesn't mean we should completely disregard its importance.  I feel as though it is much more beneficial to nourish our students desire to explore the outdoors as well as teach them the necessary skills already included in our school curriculum.

• Children should have a choice:
• I believe, just as Dewey, that students should have a choice in their learning experience.  That is not to say that I believe children should be able to come to school and draw or play outside all day, but I do feel there should be a balance.  It is important to teach the students the required curriculum, but asking students how they want to learn it would be extremely beneficial.  If a student is artistic, for example, they could create a poster or sculpture representing their knowledge on a particular topic the class is learning.  If a student is not interested or enjoying what they are learning, they will not remember it and it will not prove to be meaningful to them.

• Importance of Mutual Learning:
• When I was interviewing my Oma about her experience in Elementary School (for our multigenerational project) she explained that students were taught to look at their teacher as a "god."  They were to respect them, and do exactly as they say all the time.  Luckily, this notion has changed and I feel this is for the better.  Although I feel teachers should be looked to as the authoritative figure within the classroom and should be respected by their students, that does not mean that students should feel as though they do not have anything valuable to offer.  Teachers learn just as much from their students as the students learn from them, a philosophy, while not emphasized in this blog post, of Jane Addams.  The classroom should be a collaborative environment, where students feel their voice is heard.  This is important for their learning process, as well as building upon their self-confidence and social skills.

• Relationships are important:
• Quality relationships with fellow students, teacher, administration and community creates a happy, healthy and comfortable learning environment for everyone.
• Allowing students to have good relationships, especially at a young age, provides them with a foundation for the development of their social skills.

• Hands on learning:
• Just as Dewey believed, I feel as though hands on learning is a great way for students to really understand the subject at hand.  I am a firm believer that students learn best by doing rather than hearing or seeing how to do something.

• Practical Experiences:
• As mentioned before, I feel is it imperative that students be given the opportunity to learn how to do practical things, which the Aboriginal views on education emphasize. 

• Balance:
• All in all, I feel as though the most significant part of my educational philosophy is the importance of balance.  Too much of anything is never beneficial.  We must find a way to have a balanced life.  If we eat unhealthy foods, we must exercise, if we have a hectic lifestyle we must find a way to relax.  The same goes for education.  Because we, as educators, are required to teach the core subjects found in the curriculum (which are extremely important) we must do so in a way the students find interesting and feel passionately about.  We must also give them the opportunity to be free to explore and experience things on their own in the natural environment.  I truly believed that it is possible to create a balanced education system that will result in happy, healthy and educated individuals, ready to take on the world!