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Education is complex and interesting just like a mandala. A mandala is

a symbol in Indian religion representing the universe. Now mandalas are

commonly used name for geometric shapes put together that symbolically or

metaphorically represent the universe. Each mandala is different with

unique patterns and interesting designs. Mandalas have a focal point then

spread out with different lines and paths into a beautiful pictures or meaning.

Education is like mandalas each education design or path to learning is

different and unique. Each student takes a different path to learn and

become successful making their own unique mandala.

John Dewey is an education theorist that really inspired me. I love how

he came up with the idea of child center approach, individualizing education

based on the childs needs. I enjoy the cross subject education, where all

subject are tied together, thats where real learning takes place. Active

learning is important, which he coined as progressive education, where

students learn by doing. John Dewey was an innovator in his time and really

shaped education to what it is today. Education should be fun, interactive,

individualized, and repeated through all subjects for the students to make

real connections.

John Deweys model is child centered, mandalas start with a center

shape, which I refer to as the child. John Deweys model claims that children

are born with psychological patterns. Students have internal instincts or

interests that they are naturally drawn to. Students who are naturally drawn

to different ideas, or interests are not all going to fit in the same box.
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Education should be individualized with different paths and shapes for each

child. Each layer of a mandala is shaped differently, unique to its center

(student). Each different line, shape, or design would be unique to the child.

The lines are based on the childs own interest and develops in to a beautiful

picture. Just like the students develop their own educational interests and

paths depending on how their brain works. From each path creates shapes

which represents the sociological pressure from the outside world. The

different education paths create shapes that pressure the student in to

certain ideas or paths. Education should foster individuality through

interactions with subject and materials fostering their learning. Putting

students into groups will help them bounce ideas off each other and push

their learning to a new dimension. John Dewey was a firm believe into

allowing to develop their own education through group work. Just like

mandalas create groups or shapes and change that layer of the mandala

creating a new picture.

James Comer is another theorist that interest me. I really enjoy his

support of creativity and positive environments to develop the child as a

whole; physical, cognitive, psychological, language, social, and ethical, not

just through education. James Comer believes development of the child start

early and affects how the child learns, interacts, and acts throughout adult

hood. James Comer is also a firm believer in education being child focused

and individualized. He also focusses on the collaborations from adults in the

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childs life; teachers, parents, mentors, etc. Creating learning environments

that support childs growth and development in all areas.

James Comer education model is like a mandala where he

encompasses children in a whole collaborating with the adults in the childs

life, just like the different lines and shapes in a mandala interact with each

other to create an amazing picture. He believes education should be child

centered just like John Dewey. Mandalas have shapes in the center which

represent the child, from there they have outside shapes and lines

interacting with each other developing the picture, or the child, into a more

complex patterns and designs, or adulthood. The center piece in a mandala

influences how each layer, line, and shape interacts with each other. If the

center piece is round it will have round lines and round shapes to interact

with the center piece. If the center piece has corners and straight lines then

the interacting lines and shapes will be straighter and connect at different

points in the mandala. Each shape interacts and changes the next shape

relating it to the picture as a whole. Just like the childs life connects its self

all together developing the child as a whole.

Mandalas are like education and they are unique individualized and child

centered. Mandalas are beautiful, filled with layers of different lines and

shapes representing how unique education is to each child. Each line and

shape represent a different part of the childs life and changes and the

picture grows based on the path the line or shape before it has made.
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Education is complex interesting and develops into something amazing just

like mandalas.

Reference

Field R, John Dewey (1859-1952), The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, ISSN

2161-0002, Retrieved 12/2/2015 http://www.iep.utm.edu/,

Smith, H. (2005, September 1). James Comer. Retrieved December 3, 2015, from

http://www.pbs.org/makingschoolswork/sbs/csp/jamescomer.html