Education Philosophy
This page is about my education philosophy and my perspective towards learning. I always try to keep updating myself with the latest education trends and try to adapt the new knowledge based on what I believe about education itself. Furthermore, they also become my vision and mission as a professional educator and IB PYP practitioner.
Concept Based Learning
I believe that concept must be covered over knowledge/ content and skills. Whenever we teach, we need to establish key concept or related concepts as the lesson objectives.
When I have to choose between these 3 statement below, I will go with number 1.
When you focus on building conceptual understanding from students, automatically students will acquire knowledge and skills related with the concept. When we learn about concept of characteristic in a unit about living t hings, students will explore different types of animals and plants, they will be able to classify which is the thinking sking skills part, they will be able to sort out which could be mathematical logical skills.
I'm fascinated with this approach and tried to apply it in my classroom, the simplest model that I can do is by displaying the key concepts and its related concept in my classroom. Beside that, I also introduce the concept chart to my students, where I put the targeted related concept in each lesson along with the inquiry questions and the key concept. See image to see how it looked like.
When I have to choose between these 3 statement below, I will go with number 1.
- I think conceptual understanding should take priority over knowledge and skills.
- I think that students will develop conceptual understanding if they acquire the right knowledge and skills.
- I think that it is important to plan for conceptual understanding and support its development by teaching knowledge and skills.
When you focus on building conceptual understanding from students, automatically students will acquire knowledge and skills related with the concept. When we learn about concept of characteristic in a unit about living t hings, students will explore different types of animals and plants, they will be able to classify which is the thinking sking skills part, they will be able to sort out which could be mathematical logical skills.
I'm fascinated with this approach and tried to apply it in my classroom, the simplest model that I can do is by displaying the key concepts and its related concept in my classroom. Beside that, I also introduce the concept chart to my students, where I put the targeted related concept in each lesson along with the inquiry questions and the key concept. See image to see how it looked like.
I think the consistency is the key to everything, especially when we want to apply teaching methodology like this. I think there has been slight improvement on my teaching skills, especially with thehelp of concept based learning approach. My big question about inquiry based learning and how to make it happen in the classroom. Part of it is answered with this approach. I will continue to implement this and improve my teaching learning strategies.
Thinking to Learn, Learning to Think
INDEPENDENT LEARNING
The main goal for being teacher is to prepare students to be independent and effective learner. In order to achieve that target, teacher can teach them the way to learn and to think.
Teaching
AS an IB school, we use inquiry based approach to curriculum design, teaching and learning. Inquiry approach to teaching and learing both foster and requires independent in student learning. Furthermore, to teach using inquiry based learning and to prepare students to be independent learner, questioning is essential. Therefore by teaching students questioning skills, it will prepare them to be independent inquirer.
Learning
Every student has unique learning prefrences. When they are given choice, responsibility and ownership, they are more engaged, motivated and productive.
1. Differentiation based on learning preferences:
3. Differenciation based on readiness
Thinking
Thinking is central to teaching and learning, therefore, teachers should concern with what, when and how the students think.
3 Thinking Categories (Jeni Wilson and Kath Murdoch)
● Reflective thinking and metacognition
● Creative thinking
● Logical and critical thinking
Some thinking strategies:
● Thinking Disposition
● Thinking Gears
● Bloom’s Taxonomy
● De Bono’s thinking hats
● Thinker’s keys
Personal Challenge
● Setting goals
● Planning
● Self-evaluation
● Taking action
adapted from "Learning for Themselves" by Jeni Wilson and Kath Murdoch
The main goal for being teacher is to prepare students to be independent and effective learner. In order to achieve that target, teacher can teach them the way to learn and to think.
Teaching
AS an IB school, we use inquiry based approach to curriculum design, teaching and learning. Inquiry approach to teaching and learing both foster and requires independent in student learning. Furthermore, to teach using inquiry based learning and to prepare students to be independent learner, questioning is essential. Therefore by teaching students questioning skills, it will prepare them to be independent inquirer.
Learning
Every student has unique learning prefrences. When they are given choice, responsibility and ownership, they are more engaged, motivated and productive.
1. Differentiation based on learning preferences:
- Multiple Inteligence (Gardner, 1983)
- Modalities – Visual, Auditory, Kin aesthetic
- Learning Styles (Gregorc Butler, 1985)
3. Differenciation based on readiness
Thinking
Thinking is central to teaching and learning, therefore, teachers should concern with what, when and how the students think.
3 Thinking Categories (Jeni Wilson and Kath Murdoch)
● Reflective thinking and metacognition
● Creative thinking
● Logical and critical thinking
Some thinking strategies:
● Thinking Disposition
● Thinking Gears
● Bloom’s Taxonomy
● De Bono’s thinking hats
● Thinker’s keys
Personal Challenge
● Setting goals
● Planning
● Self-evaluation
● Taking action
adapted from "Learning for Themselves" by Jeni Wilson and Kath Murdoch
“ Teaching is a Work of Heart”
Being an educator, as what I’ve seen in my schooling days and what I am experiencing now, is truly a work that propose not only a wonderful mind but also a beautiful heart. It is a job where we might have possibility for sharing, giving, helping, and guiding toward others. Cares, love, loyalty and truthfulness are really needed as we will often face circumstances that demands those qualities to deal with.
During my teaching experiences, I’ve learned many things about life and love. Working with children is one of my precious experiences. They are lovable creatures and really enthusiastic to learn. We almost never find a dull moment as we always enjoy the learning process. I always tried to deliver the lesson in a fun way, though sometimes there must be a time where I should challenge them with some serious work. Teaching, as well as learning, should and can be fun. I believe that educational process should be filled with unique, meaningful, motivating, creative and challenging experiences.
I also believe for not only teaching students about skills and contents, but also to build their curiosity to learn about themselves, others, and life itself
Learning for life or life for learning…?
Learning is a part of our life’s journey and it should be a life long process. Many people think that education is the basic thing that they have to get through to achieve success in their life. On the contrary, I thought that for being succeed in life is not measured by his or her educational background. A professor , who usually spend his/her life just for studying, is not always the person who achieve the most success in life among the others. I rather believe to someone who take study and really use their knowledge in life , is the one who will get much more success in their life.
To see all article about my education philosophy, including the latest one about my perspective about teaching learning and thinking, you can visit yanyulius.blogspot.com
During my teaching experiences, I’ve learned many things about life and love. Working with children is one of my precious experiences. They are lovable creatures and really enthusiastic to learn. We almost never find a dull moment as we always enjoy the learning process. I always tried to deliver the lesson in a fun way, though sometimes there must be a time where I should challenge them with some serious work. Teaching, as well as learning, should and can be fun. I believe that educational process should be filled with unique, meaningful, motivating, creative and challenging experiences.
I also believe for not only teaching students about skills and contents, but also to build their curiosity to learn about themselves, others, and life itself
Learning for life or life for learning…?
Learning is a part of our life’s journey and it should be a life long process. Many people think that education is the basic thing that they have to get through to achieve success in their life. On the contrary, I thought that for being succeed in life is not measured by his or her educational background. A professor , who usually spend his/her life just for studying, is not always the person who achieve the most success in life among the others. I rather believe to someone who take study and really use their knowledge in life , is the one who will get much more success in their life.
To see all article about my education philosophy, including the latest one about my perspective about teaching learning and thinking, you can visit yanyulius.blogspot.com
