Aims of Education

Module tutor - Raj Dhimar

r.dhimar@shu.ac.uk

Welcome:
14th Oct 09
 Session 3: Outline
1. Group study task feedback on Raymond
Williams article

2. Focus on Philosophy
- looking at ideal models for education
- using and working with philosophy in
education
- arguments for different approaches to the
nature and purpose of education
 Feedback discussion on Williams
(1961)
 Mixed group feedback
1. Talk through your group's experience of the task

2. Outline of Raymond William's main arguments:

- what is the chapter about?

- what headings did you give each section and why?
- what did you make of his definitions of education?
- what was interesting/distinctive/informative/useful to know about
when looking at each section of the article?
- summarise Raymond William's suggestions about education from the
middle ages to the late 1950's - how did your own schooling
compare with that?

3. As a group - what 3 issues/questions would raise from your

engagement with this article?
Foundations of Ed: Philosophy
 The nature and purpose of education concern
philosophers, and indeed the questions they
ask support the historical arguments we have
surveyed. This is a big subject, a start can be
made by looking at ideal models for
education and those arguments for a more
practical approach to the discussion over
nature and purpose of education.

Philosophy of education
 What is your philosophy of
education?
Thinking and discussion time
Mixed table group approach (1,2,3,4,5)

 In your new tables discuss all the things which you think
make up the philosophy of your education.

 What do you understand the philosophy of education to

mean to you?

 Write down/draw/record your ideas on the big sheets

Feedback to rest of whole group

Philosophy of education - some of
my general views
 encourage my students to seek their inner spirit
 model courage, creativity and effort
 have ideas
 not be afraid of the unknown
 trust in others and myself
 enable
 inspire
 learn and grow through my students
 learn from mistakes, not hold grudges
 be empowered by others
 continue to learn and be willing to listen
 believe in others who don’t know how to believe in themselves
 encourage creative thinking and think creatively in myself
 provide creative and exiting learning environment
 laugh and smile
 seek new resources to share with colleagues and students
 be attentive and patient when sharing information with others
 prepare for learning

But where have all these come from???

 Some philosophers
 Aristotle - contemplation of life, pondering, classification of knowledge
according to objects/subjects (level and accuracy). What causes motion and
change in the universe?

 Plato - legislator of life, "no one knowingly does wrong", justice and virtual
values

 Mary Wollenstonecraft - strive for equality between people, male and female

 Maria Montessori - intellectual contributions to the study of mind and

society - development of educational theory of child development - learning
from others

 Rousseau - nature and wholeness development of people as individuals,

growth and maturity
Using and working on philosophy in
education - sheet notes

 Where to begin?

 Different thinkers - focus on the legacy of Aristotle

 Models of educational philosophy (J.J.Rousseau,

Emile (1792), Mary Wollstonecraft (1792), Maria
Montessori (1967)

Key theme - can education, principles, practices help

us achieve personal and social flourishing?
Focus on Aristotle - his legacy
1. A philosophy of life. What makes for human
flourishing, well being.

2. Body, mind and soul. The whole person.

3. Education through habit and Education through

reason, the practioner and the emergence of the
critically reflective practioner.

4. Theoretical, practical and technical knowledge:

the basis of educational practices
 Table group in session task -
discussion

 Now, refer back to you big sheets on

philosophy of education- would you change
or add anything?

 Add further information

to your sheets
Study group task- your philosophical
perspectives
 Is schooling the most appropriate way for helping us to develop?

 Do our ideas and experiences help us work out the best kind of curriculum for
study and educational practice?

 What is curriculum anyway?

 Why have education broken down into modules? Does it help you to make
connections, understand your discipline, understand how knowledge is
acquired?

 Is there a better way to learn? If so, what and how?

 How do the ideas you've heard about today help you understand educational
philosophy?

Post your responses as a group on the module blackboard site

Next week's session: Wed's 21st Oct, Stoddart
Building, Rm 7139, and Adsetts Centre, Rm
6624
 Summary of feedback on your learning so far

 Group study task - your feedback on Philosophy of Education

 Focuson literature searching and databases exercises (Adsetts

Centre, 6624 10-11.30ish)

 Focuson Psychology
- discuss the relationship between learning and development
- human development and it's relationship to education