WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION All teachers have a personal philosophy
that colors the way they teach
Philosophy helps clarify
what they do or intend to do justify or explain why they do what they do
in a logical, systematic manner
Philosophical Question Eric Berne’s three important questions: Who am I?
Why am I here?
Who are all these other people, and what do they want of me?
REALISM Universals have a real objective
existence
The theory that particular things exist independently of our perception
Matter has its own existence independently of our mind
Each thing has a purpose or function
REALISM Knowing one’s self is the beginning of all wisdom
Only through studying the material world is it possible to clarify or develop ideas
Matter is real independent of ideas
The inductive method moves to generalizations from specifics
Reason is the instrument to help individuals achieve balance and moderation
WHAT IS REALISM?
A doctrine that the objects of our senses exist independently of their being known or perceived by mind
Deals with the fact that reality has an absolute existence independent from our thoughts, ideas and even consciousness
Connection between the classroom and reality
INDUCTIVE METHOD
A tree creates sound waves as it falls Sound comes from things that exist
Sound waves are moving patterns of air compression
These compressions are heard as sound when they strike the eardrum
All falling trees create air compression patterns
Therefore, all trees create sound as they fall
REALITY AND ITS 4 CAUSES
Material cause (the substance of which the thing is made)
Formal cause (its design that shapes the material object)
Efficient cause (its maker or builder)
Final cause (its purpose or function)
ARISTOTLE Believed that people
be much involved in studying and understanding the reality of all things
Aristotle believed that everything had a purpose and that human purpose is to think.
THOMAS AQUINASReligious Realist
Believed God teaches us and, teachers motivate us.
Each person is born with an immortal soul
God made it possible to acquire true knowledge so that we may know him better.
SIR FRANCIS BACONModern RealistHe challenged Aristotle logic and use of
theological methods for examining scientific principles
Focused on scientific—or inductive—method
Science is a tool for creating new knowledge
Human knowledge is divided into three part: History, Poetry, Philosophy
JOHN LOCKEModern Realist
His major contribution was the development of an acute awareness of experience
He believed we gain knowledge from what we experience
We are born as a blank slate.
JOHN R. SEARLE The external world
exists independent of human thought
The truth system about that world on dependent
Consciousness is as much an ordinary biological phenomenon as is digestion
FORMS OF REALISM Realism has acquired different meanings and even contradictory ones at different periods of history. Applied to education, realism manifested itself in 4 forms namely:
Scholastic Realism
Humanistic Realism
Social Realism
Sense Realism
SCHOLASTIC REALISM A demand for truth or reality rather
than beauties of Roman days arose
It started when medieval thinkers wanted to bring together a relation between faith and reason.
St. Thomas Aquinas who wrote Summa Theological used philosophy to help explain the guideline and ambiguities of the church
CHARACTERISTICS OF REALISM
Relied on authorities from the past
Synthesizing of knowledge
Deductive approach to reasoning
Use of syllogistic logic
METHODS OF TEACHING • Scholastic schools had two methods of
teaching: • Lection (the simple reading of a text by a
teacher/ no questions were permitted) Disputation (where question to be disputed
was announced beforehand)• Education is the process by which he lifts
himself up to the eternal.
HUMANISTIC REALISM
A reaction against emphasis on form & style of old classical literature
Humanist realist emphasized content and ideas
Aim: To acquire meaning & spirit of the classics
Purpose: to master his own environing life, natural & social through knowledge of broader life of ancients
HUMANISTIC REALISM The study of old literature (Literature of
the Greeks & Roman) is a means to understand the practical life.
Basic concerns in education: Physical, moral and social development
Humanists believed that classical literature should be studied for the information and the knowledge of the facts of the pasts so that such knowledge could be used for the preparation for practical living (answer to any problem that man might need).
SOCIAL REALISM
Reaction against a type of education that produces scholars and professional men to the neglect of the man of practice
Aim: To train a “gentleman” for active participation in social life and social judgment and to prepare the practical man of the world
Social realists follow the method of travel of journey method.
SOCIAL REALISM• Direct contact with things, people &
social conditions through travel rather than books.
• Study of gymnastics, sports, riding, modern languages, customs of other countries
• Study of one’s self but also others• Social realism explains that education
should equip learners for a happy and successful life as a man of the world.
SENSE-REALISM
• Emphasizes the training of the senses:• Senses = gateways of knowledge• Learning takes place = operation of the
senses.
• Amalgam of humanistic & social realism
• Sense-realism attached more importance to the study of natural sciences and contemporary social life.
SENSE-REALISM• Aim: To develop a natural society by
working in according with the laws of nature.
• Purpose: Happiness with God
• Through education, man can still know laws of nature and thereby control nature.
SENSE-REALISM
Two characteristics of representatives:
• formulation of basic assumptions
• formulation of new curriculum based on natural sciences & contemporary life
SENSE-REALISM The sense-realists emphasized the three things:
Application of inductive method (Bacon) in order to organize and simplify the instructional process
To replace instruction in Latin by the instruction in Vernacular
To substitute new scientific and social studies in place of the studies in language and literature
to manAs Innovators, their goal is discovery and utilization of the secrets of nature for the real and practical benefits they could bring
DIFFERENCES
Idealism Realism
See things in an ideal or perfectly
Focus on ‘what could be’
See things in hopeful manner
Reality is shaped by our thoughts and ideas
See Actual view of a situation
Focus on ‘what actually is’
View a situation through less hopeful eyes
Deals with the fact that reality has an absolute existence
DIFFERENCES
Idealism Realism
Willing to make more risky decisions
Not clarity to achieve focus goals
Realists make safer and more practical choices
More goals oriented
• Understanding the material world through inquiry
• A study of science and the scientific method
• A need to know the world in order to ensure survival and good life
• Basic, essential knowledge with a no-nonsense approach
• Transmit culture and develop human nature
AIMS OF REALIST EDUCATION
• Problem-centered (subject-centered)• Practical and useful• Highly organized and systematic• Physical activity has educational value
(Locke) • Extensive use of pictures (Comenius) • Attention to the complete person (Locke)• Use of objects in education (Maria
Montessori)• Highly organized, separate and
systematically arranged (Science, Social Sciences and Mathematics)
THE REALIST CURRICULUM
• Emphasis on critical reasoning through observation • Supports accountability and performance-based teaching• Scientific research and development • Mastery of facts: Recitation, experimentation,
demonstration, drills, exercises• Education should proceed from simple to complex and from
concrete to abstract. • Enhanced learning thru direct or indirect experiences: Field
trips, lectures, films, TV, audio-visual aids, computer technology & library.
• Learning is based on facts – analysis – questioning.• Vernacular to be the medium of instruction. • Precision and order: ringing bells, time periods, daily
lesson plans, pre-packaged curriculum materials• Children should be given positive rewards
REALIST METHODS OF TEACHING:
• A teacher should be educated and well versed with the customs of belief and rights and duties of people, and the trends
• He must have full masteryof the knowledge of present life.
• He must be able to expose and guide the student towards the hard realities of life. (neither pessimist, nor optimist)
• He must be able to co-relate between utility in daily life and education.
• He should define simple rules• He should teach subjects in proper order• He needs to find out the interest of the child and
to teach accordingly
REALISM AND THE TEACHER
1) School organization would be based on the real needs of society. (not due to politics)
2) The opening of science classes in every school is a must.
3) Co-education is a natural happening so it cannot be rejected.
4) School is the mirror of the society. It is a miniature form of society and it presents the real picture of the society.
SCHOOL ORGANIZATION INFLUENCED BY REALISM
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