Education Studies Assignment: Academic Essay Dr Pauline

Logue

Module: Education Studies

CA1 ASSIGNMENT: ACADEMIC ESSAY

An Exploration of My Personal Philosophy of Education and its Application to

the Technical Classroom

Student Name: Ryan Dinneny

ID: G00391688

Lecturer: Dr Pauline Logue

Education Studies Assignment: Academic Essay Dr Pauline
Logue

Plagiarism Disclaimer

Student Name & ID: Ryan Dinneny G00391688

Programme: Education Studies
Assignment Title: Philosophy Statement Essay
Due Date: 30/10/22

Additional Information:
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Date: 29/10/2022
Education Studies Assignment: Academic Essay Dr Pauline
Logue

1. INTRODUCTION

My name is Ryan Dinneny and I am a student teacher attending ATU studying a Bachelors of Science degree in

Teacher Education (Construction and DCG). The aim of this essay is To Explore My Personal Philosophy of

Education and its Application to the Technical Classroom. In my opinion, this topic is very important for every

teacher young and old to know their own philosophy statement. According to (Walcott, 1966) “The fact is that a

philosophy emerges from experience. It would be more accurate to say that a philosophy results from a

reflection on experience”. From my experiences and research from my reading of articles by ‘Helen G.

Grundman’ and ‘Teaching Portfolio and Preparation Series’ I believe that a Philosophy Statement is best

described as a document of your own Values and Beliefs. In terms of education, I feel that it is not only your

values and beliefs but why you believe in these statements and how you implement each of these in your own

teaching practices. “The beliefs and values teachers inhabit are central to understanding the practice in the

classroom environment” (Ki, 2019). I believe that having strong Values and Beliefs can be vital in shaping your

classroom and guiding your lessons to their full potential. Plato and John Dewey are two Philosophers who I

feel help me to teach in the technical classroom and are relevant to my values and beliefs.

2. VALUES AND BELIEFS IN TEACHING AND LEARNING

The importance of values and beliefs in teaching and learning is vital for teachers in planning and utilising all

the time given in a class to its full potential and by also allowing the student themselves to learn to their fullest.

My personal values in teaching and learning are respect, fairness, and commitment. I prioritise these values as I

believe respect gives you a strong student-teacher relationship which makes teaching enjoyable for students and

the teacher. “Acknowledge and respect the uniqueness, individuality and specific needs of pupils/students and

promote their holistic development” (Council, 2022). Fairness is vital as I believe every student deserves a fair

chance no matter how their abilities differ from one another and fairness between students in the classroom is

important to allow students to be fully engaged in their learning. “Fairness also supports a positive classroom

environment, which predicts personal as well as academic flourishing” (Butorova, 2022). Commitment is

important across all aspects of the classroom from teacher to student it is important for a teacher to commit to

including everyone in the class and also for the student to give full commitment to promote student success

which will help to get the best understanding of their education. “Student success optimises the learning and
Education Studies Assignment: Academic Essay Dr Pauline
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development opportunities for each student to recognise and fulfil their potential to contribute to, and flourish

in, society” (Values, 2019). I believe that my values being included in my lessons and classroom not only helps

my teaching and students learning but builds students values for the real world. “I believe that the school must

represent present life - life as real and vital to the child as that which he carries on in the home, in the

neighbourhood, or on the play-ground” (Dewey, My Pedagogic Creed, 1897).

3. EDUCATIONAL THEORY & APPLICATION

The educational theorist I will be writing about that I feel is relevant to the application of my teaching in the

classroom is Plato and how he believed that students should be educated according to their capabilities rather

than receiving the exact same education as others in the class. “Plato believes that all people can easily exist in

harmony when society gives them equal educational opportunity from an early age to compete fairly with each

other” (Shahidezade, 2019). John Dewey is the second theorist I will be talking about as his theory of

“pragmatism” which is a relevant theory applied in my classroom and how students learn through a ‘hands-on’

approach. “We learn by doing. Our world is an ever-changing, practical world that we can only know through

action” (Pedagogy4change, 2022). These two theories help my teaching in the technical classroom and link with

my values and beliefs.

3.1 PLATO’S THEORY & ITS APPLICATION

Plato was a philosopher of education, and his theory has become very relevant in today’s classroom. His

theoretical understanding of education is that he believed that students should be educated according to their

capabilities rather than receiving the exact same education as others in the class who may have stronger abilities.

“According to Plato, a just society always tries to give the best education to all of its members in accordance

with their ability” (Murphy, 2015). In the technical classroom and in my teaching Plato’s theory is greatly

practiced as it plays a big role in one of my values which is fairness. Especially in the technical classroom, it is

important to teach students to their abilities and allow them to learn. In my graphics class for example in SP2 I

had an SEN student who struggled with anxiety so as Plato’s theory was applied, I gave this student similar

work to the students but with guides and an easier understanding allowing the student to carry out the work at

the same pace as the rest of the class but still learning the fullest of their ability. Plato’s theory can be criticised

and has been by one of his own students Aristotle. Plato’s theory believes in expecting huge amounts of work of
Education Studies Assignment: Academic Essay Dr Pauline
Logue

the teacher in a classroom “Plato expects so much from the teacher in terms of his learning and behaviour”

(Olusola, 2021). I would argue that there is a great element of teaching in which a teacher must express their

knowledge to the students in order for them to succeed and achieve their goals but I also believe that there is a

huge emphasis to be made on student’s self-learning which in my opinion consists of a student going home after

a day in school and putting time into studying the work he covered and doing extra to improve their own

knowledge which Plato doesn’t talk much about in his practices. Having examined Plato’s theory and its

application to the classroom we now move to

3.2 JOHN DEWEY’S THEORY OF PRAGMATISM & ITS APPLICATION

John Dewey’s theory focuses on adjusting to the environment around them to allow the students to learn what’s

being applied. Dewey states that “subject matter alone does not assure learning and development, the teacher

must also consider the needs, desires, interests and cognitive development of the child” (Dewey, Democracy and

Education, 1916). Experienced learning in the technical classroom is vital as students must be able to adjust to

new experiences “active engagement is one of the basic tenets of experiential learning: experiential learning

undoubtedly involves the ‘whole person’ through thoughts, feelings and physical activity” (Beard & Wilson,

Experiential Learning, 2006). For example, in my SP2 last year I had a 1 st year Wood Technology class and in

accordance with getting involved students had to adjust to health and safety hazards and if they didn’t adjust to

these rules their involvement would have been lacking which is why John Dewey’s theory is important and fits

in well with my values and beliefs of commitment. It is important that the learner is committed to adjusting to

new experiences and show full involvement to get the best learning experiences. In some cases, John Dewey’s

theory can be criticised and has been. In my opinion, John Dewey’s theory can be a great application in the

technical classroom today but in the practical classrooms, I believe that it would be a difficult matter as

experiential learning comes from active engagement and it is difficult for a teacher in a theory style class that

students have to take notes to get active engagement and therefore teachers cannot apply his theory to the

effective level as you could in the technical classroom.

4. CONCLUSION

Throughout this essay, I have provided some of the important information which I feel best describes my own

personal philosophy statement and how I use it in the application of the technical classroom. I feel the work of
Education Studies Assignment: Academic Essay Dr Pauline
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philosophers is vitally important no matter how old or new they are in producing fully engaged lessons and

when applied correctly it can produce some successful progress with students.

In my research on this essay, I have really come to terms with how I have progressed my own personal

philosophy statement and how I as a teacher of technical subjects can apply it in the technical classroom to the

best of my ability. The technical subjects are so creative and hands-on that it is important to give your students

the full experience and allow them to show off their talents and bring their own thinking to life which I aim to

do in my teaching.

5. LIST OF REFERENCES

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Beard, C., & Wilson, J. P. (2006). Experiential Learning (2nd ed.). London: Kogan Page.

Butorova, H. (2022). Citywise. Retrieved from THE IMPORTANCE OF: FAIRNESS:

https://citywise.org/importance-fairness/#:~:text=Fairness%20is%20further

%20important%20in%20equal%20divisions%20of,has%20a%20positive%20effect

%20on%20our%20academic%20achievement.

Council, T. (2022). Code of Proffesional Conduct. Ireland.

Dewey, J. (1897). My Pedagogic Creed. The School Journal, LIV(3), 77-80.

Dewey, J. (1916). Democaracy and Education 1916. School Studies in Education, 87-95.

Ki, B. (2019). `why teachers’ beliefs and values are important in p4c research: a victorian

perspective. Childhood & Philosophy, 8.

Education Studies Assignment: Academic Essay Dr Pauline
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Murphy, M. (2015). Plato’s Philosophy of Education and the Common Core. Association for

the Development of Philosophy Teaching (ADOPT) Spring. Chicago: University of St.

Francis.

Olusola, J. (2021). A CRITIQUE OF PLATO’S PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION. Journal

of African Studies and Sustainable Development. , 104.

Pedagogy4change. (2022). Pedagogy 4 Change. Retrieved from Great Pedagogical thinkers:

https://www.pedagogy4change.org/john-dewey/

Shahidezade, F. (2019). Research gate. Retrieved from Philosophy of education -Plato's

views:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336685038_Philosophy_of_education_-

Plato%27s_views

Values, N. F. (2019). National Forum for the enhacement of teaching and learning in higher

education. Retrieved from Teachingandlearning.ie:

https://www.teachingandlearning.ie/our-priorities/student-success/national-

understanding-of-student-success/

Walcott, F. G. (1966). Importance of a philosophy for teachers. Educational Leadership, 556.