My Philosophy of Education
One of the abilities that set humans apart from other living things is their ability to pass information and knowledge from one generation to the next, thanks to the sophistication of human language. However, language alone is not sufficient for effective passing of information and knowledge; both the educator and the learner have to intersect at an optimal point. Having put into consideration the difficulties of learning I have experienced as a pupil and student over my years in school, as well as my current preparation for being an educator, I have developed a philosophy of my own regarding education.
I believe that no two pupils or two students are an exact replica of each other in terms of their ability and capacity to learn. While the differences can vary from almost equal to significantly unequal, I believe that each child is unique. The uniqueness of each student or pupil creates the need for a special learning environment for each student or pupil. The consideration of each learner as an individual helps the educator create the learning environment that helps the learner to meets his/her full potential.
For education to be successful, a conducive learning environment is one of the necessary elements that have to be put into account. To grow intellectually, socially, and emotionally, of which influence learning, there should be a stimulating, secure, and caring atmosphere for learners. It is my role and duty as an educator to provide that environment. The environment should be one that encourages discussions, welcomes sharing of ideas, accepts different points of views, respects opinions and supports risk taking, and considers the uniqueness of each student/pupil, background, and cultural diversity of the students in my class.
The teacher’s role should not be to spoon-feed his/her learners, or provide answers to the learners’ questions. Learning is more effective if the learners are encouraged to find answers for themselves. The teacher’s major role should be to provide intellectually challenging questions to the learners, and make them find answers to them by discussing with fellow students or doing research. The educator’s duty is to guide the students in their discussions and arguments as well as offer advice on the most relevant, appropriate, and endorsed sources of information. There are at least two benefits associated with taking that approach: in the process of doing their research, the students learn more things than the teacher intended, and researching and discovering for themselves help them retain the information and knowledge they find longer.
A proper learning curriculum should incorporate aspects of life that are not found within the academic environment. In addition to stimulating the passion for learning and fostering motivation, the curriculum should also cover ways of confronting the challenges that the learners are likely to face in life when they leave the academic environment. Learners would be more successful if they are equipped with both academic and life skills. Education should nurture individuals who would be socially productive.
Being a teacher is not just an opportunity to educate others; it is also a learning opportunity. Teaching is a learning process to both the learner and the teacher, and an opportunity for both to grow. Everything I learn from teaching will help me improve my teaching skills. Being a teacher should be more of passion than just a means of making a living. Otherwise, the learner will not get the full benefits of good education.