Appendix B

Fill in the table below by classifying each philosophy as either teacher-centered or studentcentered authority. Next, identify the main characteristics of that philosophy. (The first one is completed for you as an example.) Once you have completed the table, answer the questions below.

Educational Philosophies Table

Philosophy Teacher- or Student-Centered Authority
Teacher-centered

Characteristics

Perennialism

Knowledge is enduring, seeks everlasting truths, views principles of existence as constant or unchanging, values the ability to reason, associated with idealism Theory that emphasizes that ideas should be tested by experimentation and that learning is rooted in questions developed by the learner, favors the scientific method of teaching and learning, opposes authoritarianism and favors human experience as a basis for knowledge, draws on pragmatism and existentialism. Theory that calls on schools to control institutions and to be recognized according to basic democratic ideals, teaches students to critically analyze world events, explore controversial issues and develop a vision for a new and better world, draws on both pragmatism and existentialism. Theory limits truth and knowledge to whats observable and measurable, focuses learning on the acquisition of facts based on empirical observation and measurement of the world. Theory that emphasizes hands-on activity based teaching and learning during which students develop their own frames of thought, associated with existentialism. Theory is psychological and educational claiming someones behavior is determined by environment, asserts that behaviors represent the essence of a person and all behaviors can be explained as responses to stimuli, associated with realism.

Progressivism

Student - centered

Reconstructionism

Student - centered

Positivism

Teacher - centered

Constructivism

Student - centered

Behaviorism

Teacher - centered

AED 200

Humanism

Student - centered

Essentialism

Teacher - centered

Theory is educational that contends that humans are innately good, enhances the innate goodness of individuals, believes education should be a process of developing a free, self-actualizing person, centers on students feelings. This philosophy holds that there is a common core of skills and education that an educated person in any culture should have, seeks to educate, and advocates the teaching of basic core information that will help a person live a productive life today.

Questions: Compare the behaviorist and constructivist educational theory. In what situations do you think either theory will be more effective in the classroom? Why? Behaviorist is both an educational and psychological theory that suggests that education can contribute significantly to the shaping of the individual as long as the teacher controls the stimuli in a classroom influencing student behavior. This theory believes that school environment should be highly organized and curriculum should be based on behavioral objectives and that learning occurs when approved behavior is observed and positively reinforced. Constructivist theory on the other hand focuses on the personalized way a learner internalizes shapes or transforms in formation and believes that students learn by shaping their own understandings about their world. In situations where rules of conduct or mastery of skills are being taught, behaviorist theory would be most effective in a classroom through demonstration and recitation. When teaching about personal choice, freedom and development, constructivist theory would be most effective because of its focus on individual exploration, responsibilities, decisions and preferences.

AED 200