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

Pauric Clinton – G00393979

Lecturer: Dr Pauline Logue

Education Studies Assignment: Academic Essay Dr Pauline
Logue

Plagiarism Disclaimer

Student Name & ID: Pauric Clinton G00393979

Programme: Education Studies
Assignment Title: Philosophy Statement Essay
Due Date: 27-11-2022

Additional Information:
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that I have referenced and acknowledged properly all sources used in
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assignment. I declare that, except where appropriately referenced, this
assignment is entirely my own work based on my personal study and/or
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CA1A (Draft) YES/ NO (Please highlight)

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Signed:

Date: 27/11/2022
Education Studies Assignment: Academic Essay Dr Pauline
Logue

1. INTRODUCTION

My name is Pauric Clinton, I am a student teacher currently studying at the Atlantic

technological university. The course I am studying is a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in
Education in (Design Graphics and Construction). The aim of this essay is an exploration of
my personal philosophy of education and its application to the technical classroom. A
philosophy statement is a personal essay which indicates an educator’s beliefs and values
about their teaching and learning a philosophy statement also in includes solid example of
how the educator carries out their beliefs, it also includes the techniques in which the
individual uses to educate others (Bowne, 2017). ‘Teaching philosophy statements clarify
why we do what we do in the classroom, and the process of drafting a philosophy offers an
opportunity for development reflection.’ (Beaty E Joy, 2008). This statement really clarifies
what exactly a philosophy statement is. In this essay I shall talk about the values and beliefs I
have in the teaching and learning environment which has an enormous impact on the way I
teach. I will then proceed to talk two key theorists and how their key theories are relevant to
the way I teach and how I can use their theories in the classroom.

2. VALUES AND BELIEFS IN TEACHING AND LEARNING

In teaching I feel that one’s values and beliefs is key to how good they are at their profession.
My key values would be trust, respect and hardworking,

When teaching I feel that trust is one of the most important values in a practical classroom
especially, if you are not able to turn your back on the class for a minute this will really
impact how successful you will be while teaching. ‘Teacher’s relationships with students,
colleagues, parents, school management and the public are based on trust. Trust embodies
fairness, openness and honest. (The Teaching Council, 2016).

I will now talk about my beliefs. I believe that every young child has the right to an
education. I believe that everyone deserves to be treated the same no matter their race or
gender, I believe that failure can be used as a learning tool and is not necessarily a terrible
thing. I think that everyone should get an equal chance in life and in my classroom, I will do
everything I can do to help students achieve that for which they are aiming. ‘I believe that
education is the fundamental method of social progress and reform.’ (Dewey, 1897). I have
studied quite a lot of what John Dewey has written about believes and I really agree with the
quote above and feel that it is our duty as teachers to ensure students that students reach their
full potential.

I will now talk about which theorists interest me the most and how I can use their theories in
the classroom.
Education Studies Assignment: Academic Essay Dr Pauline
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3. EDUCATIONAL THEORY & APPLICATION

In this section I am going to talk about two theorists and how they relate to the way I teach
and how I use their theory in my classroom. I will first discuss Lev Vygotsky’s theory which
is the socio-cultural theory. I will then go on to discuss B.F Skinner and his theory and how I
can apply it to the classroom.

3.1 VYGOTSKY & SOCIO-CULTURAL THEORY

Vygotsky was known mostly for his sociocultural theory; he believed that a child’s social
interaction played a significant role in a child’s learning. He also believed in his theory that
interaction with adults is key as they have a lot more knowledge so the child can learn more
from them. (Vygotsky, 1978) always said that ‘much important learning by the child occurs
through social interaction with a skilful tutor’. Therefore, his theory is so applicable to my
classroom as the students will be learning from me who in Vygotsky’s theory is the skilful
tutor. However, in his theory the tutor is just the more knowledgeable person so it does not
necessarily have to be the teacher, I could also use this by pairing someone who is good at
certain joints with someone who is not as good at it this will be peer learning. Vygotsky
compared his theory to scaffolding, I like this idea as I can compare it to when new first years
start in my wood technology class. I will spend the first few weeks really simplifying my
instructions and giving each instruction clearly as the students will be new to this
environment, after time in the class I will be able to reduce the amount of information I will
have to give as they will have learned how to do it overtime. An example of this would be
telling students to cut on the waste side of the line, this only must be done in the first few
months and after that they automatically know this. ‘During scaffolding the support offered
by the teacher gradually decreases as the child becomes more skilled in the task.’ (Mcleod,
2022).

Now having spoken about Vygotsky I will go on to talk about Skinner and his theory.

3.2 B.F SKINNER & OPERANT CONDITIONING

I think that Skinner’s theory is another remarkably interesting theory that can be used in the
classroom. According to (McLeod, 2007) ‘operant conditioning applies more to classroom
and student management instead of learning content’. That is why I liked learning about this
theory as a teacher must have full control of their classroom. In his theory he uses positive
reinforcement and negative reinforcement he also used positive punishment and negative
punishment. These four types of stimuli will be easy enough to introduce to the classroom.
Education Studies Assignment: Academic Essay Dr Pauline
Logue

Positive reinforcement can be used for example when I am asking questions, I will praise a
student for answering this will encourage more students to answer questions. It is particularly
important not to overuse praise as if this occurs the novelty of being praised will wear off.
Negative reinforcement is when something students do not like is taken away when they
complete their work. An example would be telling the students they will not have homework
for the weekend if they get all the work done in class, this will encourage the children to
work try and complete their work faster. ‘Negative reinforcement can have positive effects on
the behaviour of others, like for creating a classroom that is safe for all the learners’ (Gordan,
2014).

There is also positive and negative punishment. Positive punishment in the classroom would
be giving students who misbehave extra homework or making students who make a mess
brush the full room. Negative punishment will be giving students detention which will be
taking away their break.

4. CONCLUSION
The aim of this essay was an exploration of My Personal Philosophy of Education and its
Application to the Technical Classroom. I think that I have identified what my beliefs are in
the classroom as a professional teacher these beliefs are particularly important as every
professional must stick to their beliefs to be successful. I have also realised that over time my
philosophy statement will change as I gain more experience in the education sector. I have
also explained what my values are I have chosen these because even from when I was at
school, I noticed how much it meant when the teacher could trust a student. When talking
about Vygotsky’s theory I noticed how important it is to give clear instructions from the start
this will help a student pick up good habits from the start. I also learned from dealing with
Skinner’s theory multiple ways of keeping the classroom under control using positive and
negative reinforcement and punishment.

5. LIST OF REFERENCES

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Beaty E Joy, L. A. (2008). Finding Our Roots: An Exercise For Creating a Personal Teaching

Philosophy Statement. sage journals, 33(1).

Bowne, M. (2017). Developing a Teaching Philosophy. South Dakota State University: The

Journal of Effective Teaching.

Education Studies Assignment: Academic Essay Dr Pauline
Logue

Dewey, J. (1897). The School And Social Progress. My Pedagogic Creed.

Gordan, M. (2014). A Review of B. F. Skinner's 'Reinforcement Theory Of Motivation.

Academia.

McLeod, S. (2007). Skinner - Operant Conditioning. Academia.

Mcleod, S. (2022). Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory of Cognitive Development. Simply

Psychology.

The Teaching Council. (2016). Code Of Professonal Conduct For Teachers. Maynooth: The

Teaching Council.

Vygotsky, L. (1978). Mind In Society : The Development Of Higher Psychological Process.

London: Havard University Press Cambridge.