 FUNCTIONALISM school of thought was emerged as a reaction to

structuralism.
 William James-is the founder of Functionalism and also known as
the father of American Psychology.
 Functionalism emphasized FUNCTION rather than STRUCTURE
of human consciousness.
 Functionalism also emphasized individual differences, which had a
profound impact on education.
 Functionalism is a theory about the nature of mental states.
According to functionalism, mental states are identified by what they
do rather than by what they are made of. This can be understood by
thinking about artifacts like mousetraps and keys. In particular, the
original motivation for functionalism comes from the helpful
comparison of minds with computers. But that is only an analogy.
The main arguments for functionalism depend on showing that it is
superior to its primary competitors identity theory and behaviorism.
Contrasted with behaviorism, functionalism retains the traditional
idea that mental states are internal states of thinking creatures.
Contrasted with identity theory, functionalism introduces the idea
that mental states are multiply realized.
Example Scenarios of Functionalism in
Classroom
Imparting Skills

 One of the primary functions

of schools is to impart skills
to students and make them
employable or capable of
generating employment
Socialization & Respect for Law

 Durkheim viewed schools as

“socialization agencies” where
children learn how to be a part
of society by interacting with
others (Durkheim, 1956
 A child learns skills such as
cooperation, coexistence, and
conflict management within the
school environment
Inculcation of Values

 Every society has a certain

set of values and its
education system is primed
to inculcate those values in
its students
Implications of the school of thought in Learning
According to functionalist, the role of
school is to prepare students for
participation in the institutions of society.
Schools socialize students to be part of
economic, political, and social
institutions. They should shape
individuals to fit existing social practices.
The school helps to educate them to find
good job and support community. School
allows student and professor to make
social connections and expose the student
to new activity thru extra curricular.
The functionalist theory of education
focuses on how education serves the
needs of society through development of
skills, encouraging social cohesion and
sorting of students. According to
functionalists, the role of school is to
prepare students for participation in the
institution of society.
Functionalist focus on the positive
functions performed by the educational
system. There are four positive
functions that education perform
1. Creating social solidarity
2. Teaching skills necessary for work
3. Teaching us core values
4. Role Allocation and meritocracy
Functionalism In Teaching And Classroom Management
FUNCTIONALISM IN TEACHING

 The functionalist theory of education focuses on how

education serves the needs of society through
development of skills, encouraging social cohesion and
sorting of students. According to functionalists, the role
of schools is to prepare students for participation in the
institutions of society.
Example of functionalism in teaching

 One of the primary functions of schools is to impart skills to

students and make them employable or capable of generating
employment. To this effect, schools teach skills such as
language, numeracy, and vocational and technical skills.
Functionalism In Classroom
 A functionalist will put an emphasis on positive aspects of
schools such as socialisation: the learning of skills and
attitudes in school. Education helps maintain society by
socialising young people into values of achievement,
competition and equality of opportunity
 Example of functionalism in
classroom management

 For example, you might notice an attractive fellow student

when he gives a particularly interesting answer in class—
catching up with him and making a date speaks to the latent
function of courtship fulfilled by exposure to a peer group in
the educational setting.
Functionalism Curriculum
 Functionalism Curriculum is designed for language learners
who have not had time to study the target language of their
own and want to improve their understanding.
 It also focuses on the educational needs of students.
 It is based on functional education which focuses on what a
student will do instead of just what the student knows.
 The curriculum functionalism is based on the work of Jane B.
Smith and Alfred Schutz, who were both influenced by the
developments in and biology and sociology at their time.
 There are two types of theories Mechanism and traits.