Welcome to my first blog :o)
Hi I’m Megan. I’m currently in class to earn my teacher’s license. This blog, or phlog (philosophical blog), stems from my class Foundations of Education. This is my first phlog and I’m excited to share my views and findings from this class.
I will be phlogging (philosophical blogging) weekly! I hope you enjoy!
I am beginning my journey to become a teacher. This semester, our primary focus is determining our personal Philosophy of Education. This is an important subject to think about, as I believe having a personal philosophy can make you a strong teacher, mentor, person, etc. For example, I’ve been coaching figure skating for over ten years and have developed and refined my coaching philosophy since the beginning. Having a specific philosophy, I’ve witnessed how my coaching and students have improved over the years. I’ve also learned that this philosophy must continue to develop and evolve.
After this class, I expect that the philosophy of education I walk away will too continue to evolve.
Our professor provided us with some phlogging questions to use if we choose…I decided to use one: What do you think is the fundamental purpose in teaching?
This is a simple and tough question all in one. Actually all of the questions were like that. I have an analogy that helps sum up what I believe teaching is (at this point at least)…I actually use this metaphor for my coaching. I believe that the fundamental purpose of teaching is like creating/building a house; teaching begins by laying foundation then adding bricks. You have to lay down a strong solid foundation then you may begin building the house. I believe all teachers help with laying the foundation to give the students a solid area to build upon.
Hi Megan, welcome! I like your analogy of the house. Now, I'm going to challenge you some more with it. What is the purpose of that house for the students? Are we building skill houses, self-determination houses, moral/ethical houses, houses of self worth?
ReplyDeleteAre all of these house individual and separate from each other, like in a suburb? Or, are they linked like a four-plex or apartment building to other houses of other students?
And, what is the best way, do you feel, to lay that foundation and add the bricks? Should we tell the students specifically how the foundation is to be made, or are we willing to allow some individuality to be expressed in each student's foundation? Is it okay if students make mistakes in the building of their houses? If so, what kind of mistakes are okay, and which are not?
Have fun with you construction project this semester.
Jesse
Hi!
ReplyDeleteI am not in your "phlogging group", but I took a look at a few others in our class just for fun. I noticed you are a figure skating coach - and I was like, wow! I figure skated for 15 yrs until I fractured my back and was told I shouldn't return (or was that my mother not wanting to drive me to the rink twice a day...hmmm?) Anywho, times have changed since then, but I thought that was cool that you coach!
Also, great analogy. What an interesting way to think of teaching; makes total sense.
Hi Meghan. I have not yet had a chance to really form my philosophy of education, but I know in part it has been form by my work in museum education. I feel that museums have a great deal to offer students.
ReplyDeleteThe question you address is an important one to our field that we are going in. The readings for the coming week about Jefferson and Mann have helped me a prospective of how formal education took formation in America. What is the fundamental purpose of teaching? I like the analogy that you use of the house and building a foundation. It reminded me of a saying, a professor from my master’s program liked to say, “Put as many tools in your toolboxes as you can.” I feel by giving students the foundation and tools the advantage to succeed in life. I feel part of my fundamental purpose of teaching to help morally guide your students and help foster their interest in the world around us. Teachers have the responsibility to be a good influence on them and make good decisions for themselves. I am so glad my parents were who they are and that they introduced me to the things that are out there in the world and I want to share my experiences with my students. But I know this that my answer to this question will be continually evolving.
I like your analogy with the house and the bricks. Hopefully the house will just keep getting built and never be capped with a ceiling. Or maybe it's all just foundation, spreading out and out until it abutts the foundation of another house, and they become the foundation of a housing complex of some kind and then spread out to meet other foundations. And then when the foundation is as wide and far-reaching as it can be, then another layer of bricks is started atop it by a new generation. Or is that stretching the analogy a bit?
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