Educational Philosophies

Teacher-Centered Locus-of-Control:

Perennialsim: Classical thought, core values. Tries to create good citizens by looking at landmark thinkers. Schools need to be structured and organized to properly facilitate learning. Idealist

Essentialist belief is that there is a common core of information and skills that everyone should know. "Universal truths" are learned by repetition, examination, reading, lectures, memorization.This includes creating good citizens by learning various subject matters including literate, history, foreign language, religion,math and sciences. Idealist

Behaviorism is the theory that behavior represents the being of an individual and that behaviors are responses to various stimuli. This view also believes that the school should create a learning environment that develops wanted behaviors in students. Looking at the effects of environment on individual behaviors, much can be learned about the student. This view values high organizational skills, as well as empirical evidence and the scientific method. Realist

Positivism rejects essences, intuition and inner causes because they cannot always be measured. The teacher is expected to directly state what each student is to learn and master through clear, precise expectations. They focus on empirical verification, valuing information that is based on experimental/observable evidence. Students are viewed as being able to develop their information by studying experts and observing.Realist


Student-Centered Locus-of-Control:

Progressivism believes that learning occurs through various questioning and experimentation by the individual learner. This view also values experience as the basis for all knowledge. Progressivists believe that schools should prepare students for change, focusing on how to think instead of what to think. Pragmatist

Humanism is the belief that human nature is generally good; this involves creating a "free and self-actualizing person." Instructional content should be based on the students abilities, interests, and needs. Humanists view education as being important to not force students to learn, and they encourage students to make their own choices about their own individual learning. Pragmatist

Constructivism believes that learning allows the student to develop their own thoughts. Curriculum is based on student questions.Students need to be given multiple and ample opportunities to develop their own individual thoughts and discover answers their own questions. Constructivist thought believes learning to be the student developing individual personal meaning. The teacher gives situations that allow the student the think and develop their own questions.
existentialism

Reconstructionsim: Experiences that you have had.

Reflection:
As a future teacher, I consider myself most aligned with two of these theories, the Progressivism and Constructivism. I like the parts about questioning and experimenting, as well as focusing on experiences and problems. One part that I like about Progressivism is learning how to think instead of what to think. I like Constructivism because of the individuality that is associated with the student's own learning.