As a teacher, I prefer Student-centered philosophies.

Student-centered philosophies focus

more on training individual students. These philosophies place more emphasis on the

individuality of students and helping them to realize their potential. A student-centered

classroom may be less rigid or structured, less concerned about past teaching practices and

drilling academics, and more focused on training students for success in an ever-changing world.

Students and teachers typically decide together what should be learned, as well as how this can

best be achieved.

On e of my desired philosophies is Progressivism. Progressivism is based on the positive

changes and problem-solving approach that individuals with various educational credentials can

provide their students. Progressivist educators are outcome focused and don’t simply impart

learned facts. Teachers are less concerned with passing on the existing culture and strive to allow

students to develop an individual approach to tasks provided to them.

The progressivist classroom is about exploration and experience. Teachers act as facilitators in

a classroom where students explore physical, mental, moral, and social growth. Common sights

in a progressivist classroom might include: small groups debating, custom-made activities, and

learning stations. Teachers typically walk freely among the groups, guiding them using

suggestions and thought-provoking questions.

John Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778) and John Dewey (1859–1952) are the guiding minds of

progressivism. Rousseau maintained that people are basically good and that society is

responsible for corrupting them. He supported education in nature, away from the city and the

influences of civilization, where the child’s interests (as opposed to a written set of guidelines)

would guide the curriculum. John Dewey proposed that people learn best by social interaction
and problem solving. Dewey developed the scientific method of problem solving and

experimentalism.

There are several key features that distinguish a progressive curriculum. According to

Lerner (1962), some of the key features of a progressive curriculum include:

o A focus on the student

o A focus on peers

o An emphasis on growth

o Action centered

o Process and change centered

o Equality centered

o Community centered

To successfully apply these features, a progressive curriculum would feature an open classroom

environment. In this type of environment, students would “spend considerable time in direct

contact with the community or cultural surroundings beyond the confines of the classroom or

school” (Webb et. al., 2010, p. 74).

Students in a Progressivist classroom are empowered to take a more active role in the

learning process. In fact, they are encouraged to actively construct their knowledge and

understanding by:

 Interacting with their environment.

 Setting objectives for their own learning.

  Working together to solve problems.

 Learning by doing.

 Engaging in cooperative problem solving.

 Evaluating ideas.

Some of the key instructional methods used by Progressivist teachers include:

 Engaging students in active learning.

 Engaging students in critical thinking.

 Challenging students to work on their problem solving skills.

 Developing decision making techniques.

The reason why this philosophy is my beloved is that because it creates the setting where the

students can experience everything by themselves. I believe students can get the best of the

learning process by experimentalism. As this philosophy concentrate on problem solving this

will help students to keep up with the changing world and to have social interaction in their

community.

The philosophy has helped me in improving my teaching skills inside the classroom. By

adapting this philosophy, I started to create group work activities for my students, letting them to

take some decisions inside the class and apply what we learn in real life.

Example: I was teaching them a reading class; we were reading fairy tales. I decided to watch a

fairy tale movie together the next day and discuss the movie with each other. The activity made

them use critical thinking and debating skills.

References:

https://www.theedadvocate.org/philosophies-education-3-types-student-centered-philosophies/

https://www.academia.edu/7055356/Progressivism_Schools_and_Schools_of_Education

Chapter 6: Progressivism – Social foundations of K-12 education. (2022, January 3). New Prairie
Press Open Book Publishing – Open Textbooks Adapted and Created by Faculty at Kansas State
University. Retrieved from
https://kstatelibraries.pressbooks.pub/dellaperezproject/chapter/chapter-5-progressivism/ (Webb
et. al., 2010).
Progressivism | Definition, history, & facts. (2013, November 5). Encyclopedia Britannica.

Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/progressivism