Marilynn Tulcey

Philosophy of Education

To instruct someone... is not a matter of getting him to commit results to mind.

Rather, it is to teach him to participate in the process that makes possible the

establishment of knowledge. We teach a subject not to produce little living libraries on

that subject, but rather to get a student to think mathematically for himself, to consider

matters as an historian does, to take part in the process of knowledge-getting. Knowing is

a process not a product (Bruner p. 72).

My personal philosophy of education has been changing from the moment I

stepped into the classroom or execute an educational course. I perceive this as something

that is positive. In fact, I think that a teacher's personal philosophy of education should

forever be evolving. Teachers should continually make efforts to enlighten themselves of

new pedagogies, technology or innovations that aid to facilitate learning in the classroom.

I believe that all students have the capacity to accomplish any goal that is set for

them as long as they feel connected to what they are learning; without a link between the

students and material, the interest is lost and the learning is harder and may take more

time. According to Jean Piaget's theory of development and learning, a developing child

builds cognitive structures, or schemas, that connect previous knowledge and/or

experiences to new knowledge. This connection cultivates the student's understanding

and responding to his or her environment. Thus, as students make progress, their

cognitive structures increase in sophistication.

A teacher must also have positive expectations. This means believing in each

student and believing that the student can learn and be successful. Students only learn as

much as the teacher expects; teachers who set high expectations for their students will

receive higher achievement from their students. It is amazing to observe what students

can achieve when they know and sense that someone believes in them. It is my aspiration

as an educator to help students meet their fullest potential by establishing an environment

mtulcey@gmail.com updated December 3, 2012

where my students feel safe, are comfortable taking risks with new learning, and present

them with opportunities to share their thoughts and ideas.

My philosophy of education aligns itself closely to Jerome Bruner's Theory of

Constructivism as well. In the Constructivist theory, the learner selects and transforms

information, constructs hypotheses, and makes decisions; its focus is on knowledge

construction, not recitation of knowledge. Knowledge is constructed through one's

personal experiences, previous knowledge, and beliefs. For me as an educator, this means

that I attempt to encourage students to discover principles by themselves. I continuously

provide them the opportunity to dialogue among peers and with myself. My main task as

a teacher is to present information to be learned that matches or closely matches the

students, current level of learning. My curriculum is organized in a spiral manner, so that

students continually build upon what they have already learned. As the teacher, I would

also attempt to modify my teaching strategies to student responses and encourage my

students to analyze, evaluate, interpret, and predict information in the course of their

learning.

Other key educational philosophies in the field of education that I can relate to

and sometimes integrate into the classroom teaching include: Essentialism, Perennialism,

Progressivism, Existentialism, and Behaviorism (Eagan & Kauchak, 2004). My emphasis

here is progressivism, which is relevant to this ever evolving technological society. This

philosophy greatly impacts the way in which I decide to integrate technology, design and

develop a curriculum. My curriculum would focus on promoting progress and

improvement to self and society. The emphasis would focus on the learning process,

develop critical thinking skills, enhance interpersonal relationships, and meeting

students’ interest. The students would be encouraged to be creative, express their own

ideas, and appreciate the differences between themselves and others. My responsibility

would be to guide and arouse curiosity and interest in students and allow them to develop

their full potential.

An educator's personal philosophy of education is an important element in his/her

approach to instruction. The educator’s can build or destroy the students’ academically,

mtulcey@gmail.com updated December 3, 2012

personally and professionally. It is clear from what I explained above that I am

committed to students’ growth. It is my pledge and duty to educate others as I am long as

I am in the teaching profession. I intend to keep constructivism and progressivism alive.

mtulcey@gmail.com updated December 3, 2012