Week 13 Philosophy of Education - Final

Being a teacher is easy but becoming a good teacher is not so easy. Personally, I believe the purpose of education is not only about delivering contents of knowledge in certain subject, such as how to calculate using equations or how to read, but also about helping students building confidence and skills that they will benefit in their entire life. Education is more about experience rather than simple knowledge.

I wish to be a teacher for several reasons. First of all, being a good teacher can make a positive influence on the future of children. It can be a challenge but also a great fulfillment to help children become life-long learners. Second, I also learn a lot from students, about the new trends in their generations, which keeps me updated.

As a teacher, the first important role is to teach students knowledge. However, this is far from enough. It is also necessary to teach students the skills and techniques to learn so that they can transfer their knowledge and skills in one setting to another. In addition, helping them becoming persons with high moral standards and proper personalities are also the role of a teacher.

As a teacher, it is also important to follow the code of professional conduct for teachers. The role of a teacher is to educate. This includes four major aspects, including respect, care, trust and integrity. A teacher should be fair and committed to the best interests of his students. He must acknowledge and respect each student. Developing positive relationship with students is also another important ethical code that a teacher must follow.

Students are the center in the education. My learners are primarily children aged four to five years old who show some rebellion at their ages. They have various needs during education. For example, they need to be guided for what is right and what is wrong. They need to be guided for how to think critically. My goals for my students include: 1) training them into life-long learners who are able to think critically and independently; 2) training them to collaborate with others with proper communication skills. I think I will reach the goals using myself as a role model and using teaching activities (pedagogical practices) to train them, such as group discussion, independent research, etc.

My pedagogical practices will have great impact on the development of students. I typically use instructional strategies like projects, group work and discussion to foster their learning. Group projects allow students to work together, to develop their communication and collaboration skills. Discussion helps student to learn from each other and helps them to do independent research. I think technology plays an important role in modern education. The Internet and computers, for example, offer students plenty of resources to search and read. They may also help students to learn interactively. SMILE, for example, allows integration of images and videos during learning, which provides learners more vivid explanation. Microsoft Powerpoint or Preiz allows students to prepare their presentation in a more attractive way to their peers. It also permits students in arranging their thoughts and expressing their ideas in a logical way based on their understanding of the course contents. Simulation programs, for example, allow students to experience in-person.

One of the most important learning theories that I think I will make use of in my pedagogical practices is the multiple intelligence theory, which is the basis for SMILE. The multiple intelligence theory states that students learn through various ways. For example, visuals can be very helpful for students to learn in addition to textual books. The images and videos on SMILE are great examples.

Assessment, of course, is another key component in education. I prefer essay and presentations for evaluation. Writing essays show not only students’ abilities for incorporating various pieces of information but also show their skills in independent research. Presentations will help them deliver their thoughts in public. Some informal assessments are also very useful. Anecdotal records, for example, are an informal assessment that monitor students’ behaviors based on standards. It offers a more comprehensive evaluation of students apart from high-stakes tests. The focused assessment is targeted towards a small group of students which gives instructors deeper and more accurate understanding of the levels of students on their learning progress.  

I have limited experience in teaching and I think I will improve my teaching through peer evaluation, student feedback, theory learning, and life-long learnings. Peer evaluation from other teachers will help me see my shortcomings quickly. I will invite advanced teachers to help me go through the curriculum, rubrics and lesson plans that I make for my students and ask them to give me recommendations and suggestions. Student feedback helps me knowing what I need to improve to guide them better and more effectively. I will invite students to participate in designing rubrics so that I will have a better understanding what their needs and their wants. I will also ask students to evaluate the technology tools I apply in the classroom, such as Google Earth, SMILE, to see if they are helpful for their learning. Life-long learning, such as attending educational workshops, will guarantee that I will not fall behind in this era. Continuous listening to other teachers’ courses also allow me reflect on my shortcomings and improve my teaching.

There are some concurrent educational issues in the United States. For example, the needs of students are rather diverse. It is highly necessary to know various levels of my students and design corresponding practices and teaching for them. Some students may learn better through visual aids while others may learn better via group presentations. It is important for me to realize their unique earning style so that I can offer an inclusive education for the entire class. Anyhow, I think through this course, I know much more about theories and practices of education and instruction, which is extremely helpful for my future career.