Mina Badiei (GS31016)

Theory in Education

Curriculum TheoryEDU5356

Dr. NOR HAYATI BT ALWI

Definition of TermsTHEORY

Oxford:-a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explained.

Business Dictionary:-A set of assumptions, propositions, or accepted facts that attempts to provide a reasonable or rational explanation of cause-and-effect (causal) relationships among a group of observed phenomenon.

Definition of TermsLogan and Olmstead(1955):Statements about sets of events differ greatly

in complexity.Rudner(1966):A systematically related set of statements,

including some law like generalizations, that is empirically testable.

Kerlinger(1973):A theory is a set of interrelated concepts, that

present a systematic view of phenomena by specifying relations among variables with the purpose of explaining the phenomena.

Definition of TermsStatements of a theory may be expressed in

such forms as statements of facts, definitions, propositions, hypothesis, assumptions, generalizations, laws , or theorems.

Facts is a phenomenon known by observation. Definitions is a formal statement of meaning or

signification. Propositions is a formal statement affirming or

denying something about a subject. Hypothesis consists of one or more propositions

designed to explain a set of events. Assumptions, generalizations, laws , and

theorems are also special cases of the propositions.

Definition of Terms

EducationOxford:-The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university.education is the delivery of knowledge, skills, and information from teachers to students. -According to Pestalozzi, "Education is the natural, harmonious and progressive development of man's innate powers."

Definition of TermsJohn Dewey stated, "Education is the

development of all those capacities in the individual which will enable him to control his environment and fulfill his possibilities”.

According to John Adams, "Education is conscious and deliberate process in which one personality acts upon another in order to modify the development of that other by the communication and manipulation of knowledge"

Theory In EducationFigure1 in page 5

Theories in Social

Sciences

Theories in Education

Curriculum Theories

Theory in school

Administration

Instructional Theory

Theory In EducationTraditionally, the word “theory” has been

employed in education without definition. - The dimensions of educational theory had not been defined. - There was no sufficient research on the subject.Recently theory in education has been a

topic of serious discussion.So the definition is that Educational

theory is speculative educational thought that guides, explains, or describes educational practice.

Theory In EducationNotice:The educational theory will grow, but it will grow first from the sub-theories now being developed within the broad field of education.

Approaches to Educational TheoryTheory and Practice Theory by its very nature is impractical. The world of practicality is built around cluster

of specific events. The world of theory derives from

generalizations, laws, and theorems which are explaining specific events and the relationships among them.

Meaningful relationships may be established between the work of theorists and the work of practitioners, but theory and practice are not the same.

Approaches to Educational Theory

Theory may direct practice or it may explain the nature of practice.

In another way, It is the job of educational theory to guide educational practices.

According to John Dewey “We may propose to use practice work as an instrument in making real and vital theoretical instruction; the knowledge of subject-matter and of principles of education”.

Approaches to Educational Theory

Theory and Philosophy

- Individuals frequently have used the name of philosophies of education and theories of education interchangeably.

Philosophy is  the investigation of the nature, causes, and principles of reality, knowledge, or values, based on logical reasoning rather than empirical methods. 

Dimensions of philosophy have much to contribute to educational theorizing.

Theory and Philosophy in Education

Types of

Theory

Descriptive

Theory

Prescriptive

Theory

Theory and Philosophy in Education

Descriptive theories consists of a set of propositions that are logically interrelated from which relationships may be demonstrated and new information derived by deductive processes.

Prescriptive theories consist of a set of proposals for action or a set of propositions about related problems. Here the techniques of philosophy relates to theory.(page37)

There were various philosophies have been posed as theories of education such as realism, idealism, pragmatism, reconstructionism, etc.

Theory and Philosophy in Education

Philosophy has a close relationship to theory development in education:

A good philosophy must encompass a theory of knowledge.

A philosophy of education should lead to formulation of a theory of method.

Value and ethics, in the preview of philosophy, play a significant role in education.

Theory and Philosophy in Education

Theories must be developed within general area of philosophy to account for the many dimensions of education.

Among all educational theories, Black(1952) labeled four theories: Traditionalists, Progressive, Learning-Product theory, and Learning-Process theory.

These four theory show four aspect of education:

1. Education as transmission of social heritage2. Education as individual development3. Education as product4. Education as process

Theory and Philosophy in EducationWe should also note the role of

philosopher is theoretical work in education in two points of view;

1- Main function of philosopher is to clarify the language ( a tool for educational theorizing) used to talk about problems.2- The skill of correctly use of language and the building of more adequate logic.

Other ApproachesThe problem for educational theory is to

explain all dimensions of education , and to explain all aspects of education or even schooling as a limited domain of education, both prescriptive and descriptive theory are needed.

One approach in developing educational theory was voiced by Broudy who called for unifying principles to be used in the resolution of conflict associated with innovations in school practices.

Other ApproachesA much different approach to educational theory was taken by Brauner(1964), who analyzed six major traditions in American Education. 1)Monitorial Method , 2)Object-Teaching3)Herbatianism , 4)Child study5)Experimentalism , 6)Current Academic EmphasisA growing theme in educational theorizing is

the conception of education as a discipline.Education is the application of many

disciplines; a discipline develops its own way of study and behaving.

Theory in School Administration

An excellent example of educational theorizing is the field of school administration.

Professors of school administration, are actually building a sub-theory of educational theory.

Individuals working on these projects used theory development as their route to improvement.

The theorists in administration have disciplined themselves to use basic rules for theorizing from social and behavioral sciences.

Theory in School Administration

Griffiths (1978) presented a paradigm for theory development:

presumptions

Observation Resulting in Descriptions

Sensitizing Concepts

Integrating Concepts

Theory : A set of assumptions from which are derived laws

Theory in School Administration

During recent years theoretical work in administration has shifted to management, organizational theory, and system development.

Theoretical models are being developed that may apply to the solution of administrative problems with respect to organization and functions in various environments.

There is a conflict between theoreticians and the practitioners in educational administration because administrators are very practical people and they truly been leaders in this activity.

Instructional TheoryAnother sub-theory to educational theory

is the rapid growth of thinking and research relating to instruction.

There are articles on pedagogy that lead toward theories of instruction.

Bruner in his book “The Process of Education” proposed four aspects of a theory of instruction:

Instructional Theory1. Theory of instruction should concern

with the factors that influence a child to learn effectively.

2. It should concern with optimal structuring of knowledge.

3. It should concern with the ideal sequence that is required for learning.

4. It should concern with the nature and pacing of rewards and punishments and the success and failures.

Instructional TheoryJames Macdonald(1963) suggested

that it should be a valid distinction between curriculum, instruction, and teaching.

Having singled out the instruction as a unique concept, he discussed the needs for research and theories about models of instruction and identification and description of principle variables.

Instructional TheoryThe concept “teaching” appears more

broadly than concept “ instruction” on research.

Broudy(1972), distinguished 3 types of teaching :

- Didactics : imparting and reinforcing of skill and knowledge.

- Heuristics: efforts to promote discoveries by pupils.

- Phyletic: behaviors associated with love.This classification is for study the effects of

teaching process on learning outcomes.

ConclusionIt is significant that the domain of

theories of instruction is being differentiated from other potential areas of education such as administration and curriculum.

The Demand for bringing together the theoretical work done in sub-theories such as curriculum, instruction, and administration into total educational theory is increasing.

THANK YOU.