Philosophy of Education

How do children learn best? It may seem a simple question, but many educators would provide very different responses. My philosophy of education stems from various theories and approaches to learning, which I have tried to encompass in my everyday teaching. Early childhood educators play an important role in their students’ lives due to the fact that they teach information, while also creating a nurturing environment in which children ought to feel safe throughout the day. Additionally, with the current advances in technology, teachers ought to utilize new tools in order to stimulate learning, motivation and growth in our young students. It is our job as teachers to make this learning accessible within our classrooms.

Teachers must understand that education does not stop at the door to the school. Children are learning all the time, whether in the classroom or not. We as educators need to understand each student’s life outside of the classroom in order to relate their learning to reality. We need to help eliminate those risk factors that impede learning, and provide a safe, nurturing environment where children can express themselves and feel protected. Despite race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, religion– students all deserve to feel successful and appreciated. Each child has something to add to the classroom climate, and thus each child’s creativity should be fostered. Teachers need to extend their learning from textbooks to real world knowledge, which includes involving the community. Technology is a fantastic tool that allows us to extend our classroom borders to include the world at large, with its materials, collaborative values and multisensory applications.

Furthermore, a great teacher is not a knowledge dispenser. I believe a true educator needs to present materials to students in an interesting, meaningful way so that students may construct their own knowledge. In Piaget’s theory of constructivism, “the fact that knowledge is presumed to come from students defines students as knowledge-holders, an identity usually retained by the teacher”. Using activities which are hands-on and student-directed allows children to engage as active learners, rather than relying on a teacher to give the facts. Students should be given choices to empower their learning, and they should be given information on many levels based on individual learning styles; whether auditory, visual, or kinesthetic. To create a classroom climate conducive to student learning, the students need to be guided towards information in a meaningful context, providing the intrinsic motivation to learn. In the current digital age, most of this context can be found by moving beyond print to integrate technological resources into the classroom. Pedagogy based on student interest fosters motivation and encourages the students to gain a love of learning.

Overall, teachers have an important job to do. The teaching profession is no longer about teaching to a test or reading aloud from a curriculum manual, but rather creating an accessible learning environment capable of reaching students with diverse needs. Through technology integration in our classrooms, we can enhance student learning through resources not available in print or on a test.