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 & ID

Lee Hehir G0039534347

Lecturer: Dr Pauline Logue

Education Studies Assignment: Academic Essay Dr Pauline
Logue

Plagiarism Disclaimer

Student Name & ID:

Programme: Education Studies
Assignment Title: Philosophy Statement Essay
Due Date:

Additional Information:
I understand that plagiarism is a serious academic offence, and that GMIT deals
with it in accordance with the GMIT Policy on Plagiarism.
I have read and understood the GMIT Policy on Plagiarism and I agree to the
requirements set out therein in relation to plagiarism and referencing. I confirm
that I have referenced and acknowledged properly all sources used in
preparation of this assignment. I understand that if I plagiarise, or if I assist
others in doing so, that I will be subject to investigation as outlined in the GMIT
Policy on Plagiarism.
I understand and agree that plagiarism detection software may be used on my
assignment. I declare that, except where appropriately referenced, this
assignment is entirely my own work based on my personal study and/or
research. I further declare that I have not engaged the services of another to
either assist in, or complete this assignment.

CA1b (Final) YES

Signed: ……Lee Hehir……………………… (electronic signature here)

Date: ……20th/ 11 /2022…………………………..

Education Studies Assignment: Academic Essay Dr Pauline
Logue

1. INTRODUCTION

My name is Mr. Lee Hehir and I am a third year pre-service teacher in ATU, in the course

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION (HONOURS) IN DESIGN GRAPHICS AND

CONSTRUCTION. The aim of this essay is to explore my personal philosophy of education.

I will define philosophy, break down my values and beliefs as well as diving into some

theories and strategies from well-known philosophers. The philosophy of education is the

structured, in-depth study of education, its purposes, and shortcomings. Philosophers and

educators have discussed and debated the philosophy of education since the time of ancient

Greek philosopher Plato. Some of the fundamental questions that the philosophy of education

proposes include why should individuals be educated, what kind of knowledge should be

taught, and how does learning occur. (Ruth, Michael, 2022, Abstract.) I believe philosophy of

education focuses on how learners are thought, assessed, corrected and the impact education

can have on students in the outside world not just in the classroom.

2. VALUES AND BELIEFS IN TEACHING AND LEARNING

Here I will discuss my own personal values and beliefs. I believe that setting strong values as

an educator is key to success in the classroom in order to get the most out of your students.

Trust , respect , care are my three biggest values I like to set in my classroom as an up and

coming teacher and here I will explain each of their importance. Fairness, openness and

honesty are all values embodied in the core value of trust. All of which are key to a healthy

classroom environment. Showing mature human behaviour to role model for the students,

working authentically in collaboration with pupils, parents, management, teachers and other

professionals are all based on trust. (The Teaching Council, 2016,pg8)

Education Studies Assignment: Academic Essay Dr Pauline
Logue

Having respect is vital in a classroom in order to allow students and teacher to have a mutual

professional relationship amongst one another. Respect in the classroom allows students to

feel open and comfortable while communicating with the teacher i.e. when questioning,

struggling with topic or even general conversations. In the school placement handbook it

indicates that respect is demonstration respect for the whole school community, developing in

self and pupils, an awareness of cultural values, demonstrating respectful empathy and regard

for pupils. (School Placement Handbook, 2022, pg7) I personally believe deeply in the

importance of care in the classroom. The legal duty of the teacher in charge is too fulfil the

care of the pupils. It is not hard to see that what goes on at home definitely does have an

impact on students behaviour and attentiveness in the classroom. Its key to be alert to

warning signs such as modified behaviour and or indicators of special educational needs.

(School Placement Handbook, 2022, pg7)

3. EDUCATIONAL THEORY & APPLICATION

In this segment I will discuss two educational theories and their applications to the classroom.

First I will dive into the works of Socrates and his inspiring theories and applications still

used in classrooms today. Second we will look into Constructivist theory and its application.

3.1 SOCRATES & HIS APPLICATION

Socrates was an ancient Greek philosopher born in 470 BC who’s theories and thinking have

helped pave the way education is today. Although Socrates was never a professional teacher

the way he taught/ preached by the streets is still seen in classrooms all these years later,

many of these techniques I will continuously use myself as a teacher. Myself , like many of

you I’m sure, spent hours upon hours sitting in a classroom writing notes or listening to a

teacher lecture on with no real interaction, that will never be the case in my classroom as I
Education Studies Assignment: Academic Essay Dr Pauline
Logue

plan to follow in Socrates footsteps and teach through dialog and not writing. This can be

applied by using class discussions, questioning or class debates. ( Logue, 2022, p.5) Socratic

questioning is a theory of his where you would start by asking an easy question then

following it up with another allowing the students to think for themselves and break it down.

Doing this allows the students and so called know it all lecturer / teacher to become equal

level of participants in the conversation. ( Fisher, 2021, p7) Having looked at Socrates now

we will move onto Constructivist learning and its application.

3.2 CONSTRUCTIVIST LEARNING & ITS APPLICATION

Here I will discuss constructivist learning and how its applied. Plato , Vygotsky, Bruner and

Papert are all well-known philosophers who started this theory. The spiral curriculum is one

constructivist teaching method with I believe in. I believe its concept has always impacted

students for the better and will continue to do so if used correctly.  The spiral curriculum is

based on Bruner’s idea that education should be cumulative, with new levels of knowledge

and skill adding layers of complexity to those already learned. (Purdy,2021,5)

Education Studies Assignment: Academic Essay Dr Pauline
Logue

(IQTEFL,2022,https://www.iqtefl.com/post/educational-theory-of-the-month-spiral-

curriculum-jerome-bruner) Spiral theory is applied by starting a topic and keep going back to

it to recap and revise until students have mastered the topic. The zone of proximal

development is a theory of Vygotsky, ZPD is defined by Vygotsky as the distance between

the actual developmental level as determined by independent problem solving and the level

of potential development as determined through problem solving under adult guidance or in

collaboration with more capable peers. (Media and information literacy in higher

education,2017,p.86)

(Lets go learn,2022)

Constructivist theory focuses on the workings of the mind , this is called cognitivism. It is

used to build on previous learning and to add to your knowledge and skills. Common ways of

achieving this would be recapping, making artefacts and using visual aids and props to help

students visuals tasks (Logue,2022,p.15) the idea is that students will remember more and

more by revisiting the topic in more than one way, for example the first time you could use
Education Studies Assignment: Academic Essay Dr Pauline
Logue

Socrates Socratic questioning to begin the topic and secondly using different artifacts or

visual props to hand around.

After examining the works of Socrates and constructivist learning I would now like to

conclude my essay.

1. CONCLUSION

To conclude my essay: An exploration of my personal philosophy of education and its

application to the technical classroom I would like to recap the main aims of this essay. Three

main points I would like my readers take away from this essay are your values and beliefs

and how your values and belief play a roll in the development of young students. The

methods of constructivist learning and its roll in the classroom as well as Socrates’s

mythologies and theories and how they are still so widely used today in modern classrooms. I

look forward to widening my learning and knowledge of these fascinating mythologies as

well as further exploring my own person philosophy of education.

Education Studies Assignment: Academic Essay Dr Pauline
Logue

2. LIST OF REFERENCES

 Philosophy of education ,Ruth, Michael, 2022, Abstract.

 Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers, The teaching council, 2016, pg8

 SCHOOL PLACEMENT HANDBOOK, ATU, School placement handbook, 2022,

pg7, ATU

 SCHOOL PLACEMENT HANDBOOK, ATU, School placement handbook, 2022,

pg7, ATU

 EDUCATION STUDIES CLASS NOTES ,Logue, 2022, p.5

 SOCRATIC METHOD, Fisher, Salem Press Encyclopaedia, 2021. P7

 Spiral Curriculum. By: Purdy, Elizabeth R., PhD, Salem Press Encyclopaedia, 2021.

P6

 IQTEFL,2022,https://www.iqtefl.com/post/educational-theory-of-the-month-spiral-

curriculum-jerome-bruner

 Media and information literacy in higher education,2017,p.86

 (Lets go learn,2022,https://www.letsgolearn.com/reading-assessment/what-is-the-

zone-of-proximal-development/

 Introduction to Theoretical Perspectives in Teaching & Learning., Logue,2022, p15

Education Studies Assignment: Academic Essay Dr Pauline
Logue