Reflections on a Graduate Program

As a student of education, I have been able to gather many ideas and opinions about practices and ideals I want to implement in my future classroom. My philosophies about education are still being formed and continually change with every class I visit and with every educator I encounter. My ideas, admittedly, come from random experiences and intangible texts, but as I gain more experience in the field through my courses, my philosophies about teaching will become more clearly defined. These few ideas I have now will undoubtedly be added upon as I enter student teaching and my professional career, nevertheless, they are concepts of which I hope to never lose sight.

The constructivism learning theory benefits teachers and students alike in several ways. One benefits is that students are given the opportunity to be involved in the learning process therefore find learning enjoyable and interesting rather than sitting, listening, and perhaps avoid learning. The same concept applies to employee training. When a trainee participates in the learning process he or she not only becomes eager and interested in the

It is for this reason that I plan to undertake my graduate studies. The _______ Course at ___________would be a good opportunity for me to interact with the international student community and will also prepare me to excel in the global arena. I am confident that the program will help me accomplish my long-term goal of working as a senior analyst in a leading analytics firm using my professional educational background along with the program’s industry

Constructivism and explicit teaching styles almost appear to be opposites of one another, especially when used in the contexts of the classroom. The more I read about these two styles the more I thought that if a teacher could use both styles in a harmonious balance the students would have the greatest benefit. Not many students want to sit and listen to the droning lecture of a teacher. Memorizing facts, reading chapter after chapter with no connection to how it will be used outside of school. This old fashion way of teaching typically does not assist students in retaining information. Nor does this help with motivating students to continue reading. I also believe

This applicant admits that it was very difficult to tackle some of the challenges faced after being away from school environment for so long however; it was worth it because after twelve months of arduous work this student was able to earn a well-deserved college degree. This significant accomplishment has motivated this applicant to continue with higher education and continue to expand the educational aptitude afforded by the graduate experience. In addition, today’s demand for educated professionals is unrivaled and having the knowledge and skills provided by the graduate program will enable this professional to be more

The benefits of constructivism for teachers and learners, in an ideal setting include focusing on students allowing students the time and opportunity to investigate big ideas, and along the way helping them to understand concepts and skills, rather than just memorizing and regurgitating facts or ideas. Constructivism engages students’ natural curiosities to help them find answers to the questions inherent in their minds (Constructivism). Intrinsic motivation would be expected to be high when students are provided the freedom to choose their course of learning and given the time to investigate until questions are answered.

In conclusion, so far in this class I have found many things meaningful to me. The academic success skills and tools they shared with myself and the class have actually helped me complete this essay in a timely manner. I am beyond thankful to have three great instructors to teach me more about the great Midland University and what it all has to offer. I believe that if I make the most out of this class, I am more likely to find success in the future. Module One has had a positive impact on my student life and I am beyond excited to learn more every week in the following

My teaching philosophy is based on theorist, Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky. I believe that children benefit from experience. Children are curious from

There are two educational philosophies that influence the way I want to teach in my own classroom. Essentialism and progressivism correspond to my beliefs. They both represent the values that I hold important when coming to running my future class. These philosophies interconnect to form the view of the best educational philosophy for me.

Why is this Graduate program right for you, both academically and professionally? What might you contribute to the program, both as a student and afterwards?

In my classroom I teach about real life, real experiences and real injustices. I use these real discussions to help students make connections between prior and new knowledge. I teach students to think deeply, to ask questions and to defend their opinions even when they are talking to me, I teach them to own knowledge, to be confident and identify evidence to defend their positions. As an educator the most valuable thing I can give my students is to show them that even I at my best am a student always willing to learn and grow. The philosophies

Furthermore, as I read the assigned articles and viewed videos, I realized that my teachers obviously, followed Piaget’s, Vygotsky. Dewey, and Bruner constructivist view because they used the theory of assimilation and accommodation, e.g., the learning of a new experience and changing of a person’s worldview. I also discovered after deep reflection on this week’s assignment, how much of an impact my teachers had on my teaching style. Before retiring, I taught based on what my students needed. Therefore, much of my teaching mixed the theories of, Constructivism, Social Constructivism and Cognitive-Behavioral depending on the student.

In terms of philosophy, I feel I benefit most from the pragmatic approach to teaching. This approach states that teachers feel the classroom is a community of learners, not just a teacher standing in front of a group of students. I believe this is true because it is my opinion that if the teacher is learning and exploring along with the students, the students are more likely to be involved and interested in what is being taught. I also believe the strategies of teaching by problem solving and encouraging democratic procedures are the most profitable in today’s society. My beliefs in student involved activities, emphasis of curriculum, and democratic classroom management are all part of the pragmatic approach.

After reviewing these teaching philosophies and educational theories, many of them reflect my own personal educational philosophy and my instructional practices and choice of classroom curriculum. The four that I found the most appealing are: Realism, Pragmatism, existentialism and progressivism. I find the combination of the three very complementary.

There are five identified central tenets of constructivism as a teaching philosophy: Constructivist teachers seek and value students’ points of view. This concept is similar to the reflective action process we call withitness, in which teachers attempt to perceive students’ needs and respond to them appropriately; Constructivist teachers challenge students to see different points of view and thereby construct new knowledge. Learning occurs when teachers ask students what they think they know about a subject and why they think they know it; Constructivist teachers recognize that curricula must have meaning for students. When students see the relevance of curricula, their interest in learning grows; Constructivist teachers create lessons that tackle big ideas, not small bits of information. By seeing the whole first, students are able to determine how the parts fit together; Constructivist teachers assess student learning in daily classroom activities, not through the use of separate testing or evaluation events. Students