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Philosophy of Education

Alex Trice
University of Maryland University College

Students should be exposed to a variety of methods that support Applied


Learning in order to maximize opportunities for lasting comprehension.

Students in todays classrooms benefit from a variety of methods that


focus on different types of skills that can be applied from the real world and
derived from past knowledge and experiences. Through preparing students
for college and the world after high school, students need concepts, facts,
and procedures that have a focus on the academic knowledge, problem
solving and technical knowledge as well as methods that are built on and
support making connections and utilizing new knowledge. Having lesson
plans that are diverse and utilize various different methodologies students
will become more prepared by being able to see how various fields of study
and profession interrelate in a modern society (Bottoms, Presson, Johnson
52-53).
From the types of diversity that I have observed I have found that
many students in a particular classroom may or may not have goals that
point toward studying or utilizing the sciences on a regular basis. As a
science teacher I have found it very engaging and motivating to relate
scientific concepts to real world common situations, prior knowledge, and
past experiences to the curriculum being discussed. From my experience I
find that students become more interested in the material when they can
relate it to observations of the natural world. I think that students will
become empowered when finding logical explanations to processes that
were once unfamiliar when they can build on their own knowledge to reach
on target conclusions.

Teachers should always be learning the development of new technologies in


order to maximize educational efforts to diverse student populations
As a Professional Teacher I realize the need for constant and continual
education with technologies that are developing every day in our current
modern world. There are diverse varieties of technologies that cater to
diverse varieties of students and these have the ability to enhance the
education in students with such disabilities as Learning Disabilities, Physical
Disabilities, and with students that are Gifted and Talented (Snowman 215).
A teacher that has a continual knowledge of the developing technologies will
always give the student with specific needs the best edge in comprehending
the material and working toward their goals. Teachers that are constantly
discovering new technologies also will find programs that may be beneficial
in order to develop IEPs to me more effective as well in differentiation.
Overall, knowing the technology makes teachers who study its
different forms more flexible when the abilities of a student may seem not
so. Technology has the ability to enhance information processing as well as
communication for students in the classroom. Categories that technology
enhances are in areas of tools for writing, tools for reading, tools for science
and math, and tools for art and music. Basically, technology brings options
and opportunities for students to become engaged with material while
attaining higher level skills with such technologies that can be utilized in

later occupations such as in communications, creative project design, and


database maintenance (Snowman 209)

Teachers who promote self-acceptance and multiculturalism will create


environments suitable for students to feel comfortable to strive to high levels
Many teachers today with a liberal arts backgrounds have great
opportunities to expand on knowledge of various world cultures as well as
foreign languages. I feel that the teachers that utilize multiculturism
perspectives on a regular basis will be more effective in relating to students
and creating a classroom environment that encourages self-acceptance and
stability.
Characteristics of a multicultural teacher include experience teaching
various different cultures, clearly explaining goals and objective regardless of
language barriers, and utilizing methods that enhance and reinforce selfacceptance and self esteem (Snowman 162). Student that are comfortable
in the classroom will be comfortable giving feedback freely as well as asking
questions that they have without being self conscious about it. This will
allow a teacher to be able to more closely monitor diverse students in order
to target areas that to be strengthened.

By utilizing proper feedback from students and from assessment


teachers can more effectively be aware of the students needs, moods and
interests; create realistic expectations; and more properly align instruction
with Standards, Goal, and Objectives (Snowman 153).
Overall, multiculturalism inclined teachers will maximize the classroom
environment not only for a few but for the majority creating a classroom that
is cohesive and does not leave out students based on differences.

References
Bottoms, G., Presson, A., Johnson, M., (1992) Making High Schools Work
Through Integration of
Academic and Vocational Education. Atlanta, GA. Southern Regional
Board of Education.

Snowman, J., McCown, R., &Biehler, R (2009). Psychology Applied to


Teaching. Boston, MA.
Houghton Mifflin Company.

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