Educational philosophy. What is education? Why do you want to teach?

1
Educational philosophy. What is education? Why
do you want to teach?

• Neil Denby

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Key Questions

• What are your core beliefs about the nature and
  purpose of education?
• How do these beliefs manifest themselves as
  values?
• What have been the beliefs and values of others?

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Objectives

• Explain and evaluate the values and attitudes
  of individuals towards education (schooling
  schools)
• Provide examples of educational beliefs and
  attitudes theorists
• Explain and exemplify the concept of reflection
  in practice.

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Concepts and terminology

• Concepts
• Terms used to classify, interpret, describe,
  explain and evaluate e.g. education may be
  defined using instruction creativity etc. but
  not everyone will agree authors therefore tend
  to stipulate what they mean by the concept
• Perspectives
• Set of concepts?
• Selected facts, values and assumptions are used
  to create a screen for viewing events

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Concepts and terminology

• Theories and models
• Explanatory and often evaluative accounts
• Bundled related concepts
• Theories coherent system of connected concepts
• Models small bundle of concepts and their
  relationship to each other
• Theories/models may or may not be informed by
  research or experience
• Metaphors
• A way of describing one thing by reference to
  another
• Assumptions and ideologies
• Taken for granted
• System of beliefs, attitudes and opinions
• Poulson L. and Wallace M. (2004) Learning to read
  critically in teaching and learning, Sage.

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What is education for?

• Intrinsically valuable
• Preparation for life
• Preparation for work
• Socialisation
• Indoctrination
• Diversity
• To create opportunity
• Or ?

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Activities

• 20 mins - whole group discussion
• Definition of terms what do we understand by
  what do others understand by
• 20 mins - small group discussion
• From the readings outline the history of the
  philosophy of education why has it changed what
  are its problems?
• 60 minutes
• What do you believe is meant by education? What
  do others believe? How do these beliefs manifest
  themselves as values? How can you defend your
  viewpoint?

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In school.

• Examine the handbook/prospectus in your first
  placement school and try to identify the
  values/attitudes and beliefs about education it
  exemplifies

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Readings.

• OHear A. (2005) History of the philosophy of
  education in The Oxford Companion to philosophy
  (2nd edition) Honderich T. (ed) OUP Oxford pp
  228-231.
• Plato-Republic to educate people to bring about
  a just society child farming turning
  towards what is good (p.228) educators
  will notice that some youths are suited by
  temperament
• Authoritarian or child-centred (p.229)
• Francis Bacon truth about nature would be
  manifest to the individual
• Locke moral aspects of education
• Rousseau Emile (1762) child-centredness
  learning by doing
• Dewey childs social experience

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Readings

• White J. (2005) Problems of the philosophy of
  education in The Oxford Companion to philosophy
  (2nd edition) Honderich T (ed) OUP Oxford
  pp231-234.
• Hirstian liberal education logical forms of
  knowledge - logical patterns of reasoning e.g.
  mathematics, history physical sciences each
  with own unique concepts and truth
• Educational aims in liberal society liberal
  democratic society creating autonomy what is
  personal well being
• Education and politics Education for Work
  Society or Activity Society Concept of
  Citizenship
• Childrens minds and learning child development