Application: Developing Your Professional Philosophy of Teaching and Learning

Throughout this course, you will learn about the various philosophies, theories, and influential thinkers who have shaped (and are shaping) education today. Based on this growing knowledge and the critical issues that you will be challenged to consider, you will develop a five-part Professional Philosophy of Teaching and Learning. You will submit Parts 1-3 in Week 3, and Parts 4-5 in Week 5.

Each week, the Application Assignment will present questions to inspire your thinking and contribute to a section of your Professional Philosophy of Teaching and Learning. Certainly, throughout your career your philosophy will continue to grow, change, broaden, and deepen as your knowledge of and experience working with children and their families increases.

Part 1: My Ideal Educational System Based on Classical Thinking

To complete the first section of your Professional Philosophy of Teaching and Learning:

Review Plato's and Aristotle's ideas, theories, and philosophies related to education. Reflect on your own ideas, theories, and philosophy with regard to education based on your experience and the knowledge you have gained of classical thinking this week. Think about your ideal educational system (early childhood through young adulthood). Then, summarize your thoughts, incorporating the ideas, theories, and/or philosophies that you chose from Plato and Aristotle. Be sure to credit the philosophers in order to illustrate how their thinking contributed to your vision of education at its best.

Assignment length: 1 page

Part 2: My Beliefs About Education and What I Hope to Accomplish

One of the goals of this course is to broaden and deepen your knowledge of education while encouraging you to reflect on and develop your own beliefs and define what you hope to accomplish in your work with children and families. To that end, consider the philosophers that you have read about this week-< /font>John Locke, Horace Mann, Jane Addams, and Paulo Freire.

For this section of your Professional Philosophy of Teaching and Learning:

Choose one of the philosophers that you studied this week and summarize some of the ways your beliefs about education and what you hope to accomplish in your future work agree with, or differ from, those of the philosopher that you chose.

Then, choose one of the philosophers that you studied this week whose work you find particularly inspiring. Delve into the person's writings (i.e., the readings for this course and others that you find on the Internet), and choose two or three quotes by that person or about education and learning that exemplify your thinking and/or represent your aspirations. For this section of your Professional Philosophy of Teaching and Learning, record the quotes you chose (cite them appropriately), and explain the impact that each has on your beliefs as a future educator.

Summarize in one paragraph what you hope to accomplish in your career as an educator and/or in your work with children and families.

Part 3: Environments and Experiences That Inspire and Support Development and Learning

Each of the people you studied this week-< /font>Johann Pestalozzi, Fredrich Froebel, John Dewey, and Maria Montessori - developed his or her philosophy of education based on personal and professional experiences. Each was interested in understanding and defining the environments, experiences, and resources that inspire children's learning.

For this section of your Professional Philosophy of Teaching and Learning:

Think about the people that you studied this week and what you have learned. Carefully choose at least five points that have inspired your thinking and helped clarify, expand, and/or deepen your philosophy of education with regard to environments, experiences, and resources that define and inspire teaching and learning. Then, summarize these five points in such a way that also explains how these philosophers have influenced your philosophy of education and the environment you hope to create. Be sure to cite the sources of each of the points you include.

Assignment length: 1-2 pages

Submit Parts 1, 2, and 3 of Your Professional Philosophy of Teaching and Learning

Read over the three sections of your Professional Philosophy of Teaching and Learning that you have written so far:

Part 1: My Ideal Educational System Based on Classical Thinking

Part 2: My Beliefs About Education and What You Hope to Accomplish

Part 3: Environments and Experiences That Inspire and Support Development and Learning

Remember, you are just beginning to learn about each of the areas listed above. Your Professional Philosophy of Teaching and Learning will grow and change as you progress in your studies and gain experience with children in your chosen field. Consider this assignment a work-in-progress, one that will continue to grow in depth and breadth as you continue to develop as an educator.