Category: Personal Philosophy

Pro-Procrastination

As always, there is an Absolutely Crucial task that you must complete. That task always fills you with utter dread. Anything but that Crucial, Crucial Work. Here I propose a step that resists the flood of normality: Do not start on that task. Let procrastination take hold. Whilst you skip the Crucial Work, Re-examine your Register of Work. No matter what there’s always something to do, whether it’s crucial or not, and you always need to get those tasks done. Now that you have been swept along by your urges, instead of going ahead with Video Games or Netflix, consider your options.

The Professors Essay

The fabulousness of Structured Procrastination, is that you can understand the uttermost provocation in twisting the Pro- Tomorrow Mood, and flow with it instead of against it. You can steal that feeling of “I’ll pass and just do anything but this” That usually sends you to fix up your sock draw all nice and neat, or go watch youtube for hours on end. Sometimes it’s used for productivity. Acting as Stanford philosophy professor John Perry, who wrote a truly brilliant essay about structured procrastination. “With this sort of appropriate task structure, the procrastinator becomes a useful citizen” & “an effective human being” Hold on, what about the Crucial Work? Will it ever be completed? It is still Crucial! Trick Your Mind For many people, working on the Crucial Task at the very beginning can be much better. Although always remember you are still engaging in the procrastinator’s game, You must be at home with the act of computing something at a hierarchical top, sapping the catalyst to begin the work. So, the psyche deception is to view other tasks as just or more important as that in order to create the idea that the crucial task isn’t really that bad.

A Most Important Ranking

You must rank projects that have quite a significance, yet have a much more flexible deadline at the apex instead. Like re-organising your work area, or learning a new technique for something. You will also find that there are newer Crucial Tasks that have appeared on your list, which makes the original job look much more enticing.

Conclusion

By prioritizing something at the top it will drain the impetus to begin it. As John Perry notes, structured procrastination requires a large amount of trickery to your mind. Essentially you’re deceiving yourself into working while double thinking the necessity of multiple different tasks. This is no problem, though, as it turns out, procrastinators usually are amazing self-deceivers. Their innate skill of mind-bending is what gets them into a lot of trouble in the beginning, as they persuade themselves to jumble up their short term goals, and long term goals. The upside to this is that the usual encumbering guilt that erodes your motivation, is altered and caused to speed up your motivation. As many more things begin to be completed, you’ll begin to understand that the procrastinator in the discussion has transformed ‘into a highly effective human being.’

Abstract

This paper will discuss my personal philosophy of education which is based on the principles of progressivism. The pragmatist and progressivist approach to academic curricula support the individual values and differences of each student and believes that knowledge gained should be practical in the real world. This progressivist approach corresponds with my strong belief that the whole child must be considered, which includes social and emotional learning, career, and life skills. Education is crucial to developing capable, resilient, and inquisitive minds for the future. My philosophy of education revolves around developing students in areas of academic growth as well as personal/social, career skills, and other skills necessary to be successful in the adult world.

Keywords: philosophy, worldview, education, progressivism, social emotional learning

Educational Philosophy Paper

Education, in today’s world, is not only responsible for teaching students the academic subjects, it now includes ensuring that students learn social skills, develop their ability to cope in life, and prepare them for future careers. As such, education is more critically important than it ever has been in the past. In the past, most of the child’s personal development was expected to be handled in the home by families and parents. In today’s climate, these family responsibilities have been passed on to teachers and schools. As the responsibilities have changed over time, so to, the philosophies of education have changed. A philosophy of education is a belief system that an educator uses as a foundation for teaching. While there are a variety of philosophies regarding education that has developed over the last 20 years, progressivism seems to be at the forefront. In addition to academic development, the philosophy of progressivism also ensures that the social and emotional development of the child is equally important. My philosophy of education is for all students to have access to a safe and supportive learning environment that considers their individual differences, social/emotional skills, and encourages all students to become inquisitive explorers of the world.

Philosophy of Schools & Learning

The progressivist philosophy of education supports the idea that the student’s experiences and interests should drive the curriculum (Ornstein, Levine, Gutek, & Vocke, 2017). This belief aligns the closest with my personal views. The curriculum should be socially relevant, developmentally appropriate, and must be relatable to what the students are likely to have experienced. Students who have a deep interest in the curriculum and can relate to the information being learned will internalize critical thinking skills and improve the efficacy of education (Ornstein, Levine, Gutek, & Vocke, 2017). The educational environment and curriculum should also consider emotional and social growth among the students. The reason behind this belief is because students who are struggling with personal and social issues are unable to learn or retain information because of a lack of the ability to focus (Asoodeh, Asoodeh, & Zarepour, 2012). And further, students are distracted to the point where it creates a disinterest in learning. Hands-on learning is another crucial aspect of education. It has been shown that active, hands-on learning helps students stay focused, and builds social skills (Martin, 2018). When children are taught in the whole child format, the probability of producing thoughtful, considerate, openminded, and inquisitive individuals increases (Education Norhwest, 2018). Child-centered curricula have shown to increase student’s confidence, social skills, and builds a sense of “togetherness” (Asoodeh, Asoodeh, & Zarepour, 2012).

Instructional Practice

How children learn and what is truth in the eyes of a child has significantly changed over time. In the previous century, learning involved memorizing facts and being able to regurgitate them on demand via a test. Truth was objective and could be defined and was considered knowledge. What we have learned through the current century through cognitive development in how children learn and theories of education like progressivism is that knowing the facts is not learning. As children develop cognitively, understanding the implementation of their skills and the ability to explain the process is learning. Students who learn through a whole child progressive process can synthesize complex causes and can articulate an argument which can be applied across a variety of genres (Gold, 2017). To create this type of learning, teachers in today’s classrooms must understand this philosophy. The effective practices and instructional strategies that are being utilized in classrooms that promote the progressivist philosophy includes teacher clarity, open classroom discussions, consistent and effective feedback, formative assessments, and most importantly, metacognitive strategies (Gold, 2017). Teacher clarity is the ability for the teacher to provide clear goals and purpose, so students understand their expectations. When students understand what is expected, they have direction and understand what the results should be. Open classroom discussion is essential because it gives students the ability to express their ideas in a safe environment where exploration is what is important rather than answers. Feedback is another key ingredient in directing students. Teacher feedback encourages students to move forward in their thought process. Students also need to provide feedback to each other. When students can express their thoughts clearly and concisely it fosters understanding and furthers their ability to articulate ideas (Sackstein, 2012). Lastly, teachers must teach metacognitive strategies so students can take ownership of their learning. Much of the current research shows that when students are in charge of their learning, there is an increase in their knowledge and their ability to implement that knowledge into practice (Kibler & Chapman, 2018) (Minero, 2019).

Teacher-Learner Relationships

One of the most important relationships in the world of education is the teacher-student relationship. Studies show that building relationships positively impacts students’ social and academic performance (Baker, 2006) (Battistich, Schaps, & Wilson, 2004). Teachers have a great deal of responsibility to ensure the relationship is positive and productive. The role of the teacher has become multifaceted; where once they were given a curriculum and method of teaching, today’s teachers have a much different role. In addition to direct instruction of information, it is necessary to adapt learning methods to the individual student and to challenge students to use their knowledge by integrating it across the curriculum. Teachers should foster independence in children through positive role modeling. Teachers should also use a variety of resources to check for understanding and incorporate data to drive instruction. Teachers’ roles in today’s classroom environment go beyond the instruction and now include ensuring the social and emotional growth of the student. This should be accomplished through social and emotional curricula that teach empathy, social skills, and kindness. Students’ role in the education process includes active participation, metacognitive engagement, and involvement in team building activities.

Diversity

Diversity’s impact on education has come to the forefront of the nation. Where once children in schools were homogenous, this is not the case today. Across the nation schools have become extremely diverse. The diversity we see today includes race, gender identity, economic status, religious, family structure, and much more. Teachers in today’s world should be more cognizant of the different student populations within their school. Students’ background, culture, religion, language, and family life are all factors in how children learn. For teachers to be successful in ensuring the academic and social/emotional learning in their classroom understanding student’s backgrounds is critical (Thompson, 2013). As students come to school for the first time, they bring a wealth of experiences and a process of learning. Teachers who embrace this background and incorporate it into the learning process create much more successful students (Thompson, 2013). By acknowledging these diversity factors, teachers are providing a safe and encouraging environment for students to learn.

Conclusion

Education and schools today play a critical role in creating successful, well adapted individuals. Schools are required to ensure that students are learning 21st century concepts such as the cross-curricular application of knowledge. Additionally, schools have an even bigger role; that of ensuring that students develop into socially and emotionally well adapted adults. Implementing the progressivist philosophy as part of the education process is the best way to ensure that the educations system will be successful. If students are supported in every aspect of their life, they are more likely to become successful members of society. When students have a positive and engaging educational experience in their formative years, they are more likely to become lifelong learners.

References

1. Asoodeh, M. H., Asoodeh, M. B., & Zarepour, M. (2012). The impact of student-centered learning on academic achievement and social skills. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 46, 560-564.
2. Baker, J. (2006). Contributions of teacher-child relationships to positive school adjustment during elementary school. Journal of School Psychology, 44(3), 211-229.
3. Battistich, V., Schaps, E., & Wilson, N. (2004). Effects of an elementary school intervention on students’ ‘connectedness’ to school and social adjustment during middle school. Journal of Primary Prevention, 24(3), 243.
4. Education Norhwest. (2018). What the research says on supporting the social and emotional well-being of students. Retrieved from https://educationnorthwest.org/resources/what-research-says-supporting-social-and-emotional-well-being-students
5. Gold, J. (2017). The key to post-truth teaching: epistemology and knowledge. Retrieved from Teaching Tolerance: https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/the-key-to-posttruth-teaching-epistemology-and-knowledge
6. Gutek, G. (2017). Philosophical Roots of Education. In Ornstein, A.C., Levine, D.U., Gutek, G.L., & Vocke, D.E. (Eds.). In Foundations of Education (pp. 162-198). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
7. Kaltman, G. (2010). Hands-on learning. Childhood Education, 87(2).
8. Kibler, K., & Chapman, L. (2018). Six tips for using culturally relevant texts in diverse classrooms. The Reading Teacher, 72(6), 741-744.
9. Martin, L. (2018). The importance of hands-on learning in child education. Retrieved from Friends’ Central School: https://blog.friendscentral.org/benefits-of-hands-on-learning
10. Minero, E. (2019). Six Elementary Reading Strategies That Really Work. Retrieved from Edutopia: https://www.edutopia.org/article/6-elementary-reading-strategies-really-work
11. Ornstein, A. C., Levine, D. U., Gutek, G. L., & Vocke, D. E. (2017). Foundations of Education. Belmont: Wadsworth Inc.
12. Sackstein, S. (2012). Peer feedback in the classroom: Empowering students to be the experts. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
13. Thompson, K. (2013). Is separate always unequal? A philosophical examination of ideas of equality in key cases regarding racial and linguistic minorities in education. American Educational Research Journal, 50(6), 1249-1278.

“The great world, the background, in all of us, is the world of our beliefs. That is the world of the permanencies and the immensities” – William James.

Education from Socrates to Dewey has been an attempt to find the secrets of this natural world. The definition of education is a basis for all the philosophies of all these great philosophers. To define education is too general and is a wide range of opinion. One cannot give the true definition, only his opinion and what is best. Socrates to Plato had their dialogue and cave, Rousseau had the story of Emile and Dewey was a true American describing democracy and sciences. They each contributed to the definition of education.

Socrates never wrote a word of his knowledge. Plato was the one who basically put Socrates’ dialogue into words. Socrates’ educational teachings were brought through by a form called dialogue. Through this Socrates gave knowledge without really teaching it. Socrates never considered himself a teacher, and when he shared the information he knew, he never thought he was teaching the information. Socrates knew his limitations, and this was explained by him that an educated person is described to know his limitations. He in his own right believed he was highly educated. His definition of a form of education is dialogue, a back and forth linguistic motion between speakers, to uncover the truth. Dialogue allows the truth to emerge. Socrates was different from the traditional philosophers because he believed in truth. Through discourse, dialogue, and conversation education is finding the truth. Education to Socrates is not what it is today. Education is learned from other reputable people and synthesizing to find truth in the subject of the argument. Real education is expressed through person to person interaction, finding the information and concluding by finding that all mighty truth. Dialogue is in my belief the best form of education compared to the other philosophers. This is real education, non-interaction, and books cannot teach you everything, but past experiences and talking about them is a real way to learn.

The main goal of education is to prepare individuals to be contributing citizens of our society and to help them reach their true potential. Education provides the foundation that enables students to be successful lifelong learners that thrive in society. While schools are the catalyst for the spreading of education, it is a successful partnership between schools, government family and community that ensures the ultimate success of education. A clear focus on educating all students despite their diverse needs and differentiated instruction are essential. Teachers serve as facilitators who guide students in the learning process.

Education is the process of learning that can take place anywhere and at any time. I believe that creativity and activity, as well as books and lessons, lessons are essential to the learning process. As a teacher, I hope to instill in the children a sense of knowledge and self-worth that will remain with them throughout their lives.

Education is important not only to maintain daily life but also to become someone who contributes to society. Without education, people have no chance to impact the lives of others in their own community. I want to give the children I teach a chance to give back to their community and society.

I feel I benefit most from the pragmatic approach to teaching. This approach states that teachers feel the classroom is a community of learners, not just a teacher standing in front of a group of students. I believe this is true because it is my opinion that if the teacher is learning and exploring along with the students, the students are more likely to be involved and interested in what is being taught. I also believe the strategies of teaching by problem-solving and encouraging democratic procedures are the most profitable in today’s society.

I believe that students are individuals (and should be treated that way), who brings a unique set of needs and abilities to the classroom and they should be responsible for much of their own learning especially as they grow and mature. This core belief represents a combination of three different classical educational philosophies: Neo-Thomism, Idealism, and Existentialism.

“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself” – John Dewey.

Although I do not agree with all the aspects of Existentialism, I do support its belief that places a great amount of emphasis on individuality. They believe the primary role of a teacher is to facilitate opportunities for learning thereby improving student success. I believe, as a teacher, one of my primary roles is to teach students to become their own person while making responsible choices.

Teachers play many multifaceted roles every day in the life of a student. First and foremost, I believe teachers must have a love for children as well as have a passion and desire to make a positive difference in their lives. Teachers have a responsibility to provide a safe environment that respects cultural diversity. When students feel valued and secure with their environment, it increases their chances of success. A good teacher is not one who rules like a dictator but instead respects each individual and acts as a guide for them. Depending on the needs of the students, educators need to develop the curriculum so that it is designed to meet those needs and guide them toward success.

My ideal vision of the way schools should be regarding curriculum consist of a few major key points. First, a curriculum should allow learners to practice and experience equality. Next, I believe a curriculum should create a safe, warm, environment where students come together for a common goal. It should enable students opportunities for critical thinking while at the same time allow students to solve problems by applying learned knowledge (Webb, Metha & Jordan 2010). Finally, a curriculum should reinforce respect for diversity as well as make learning applicable to valid issues. I believe it is essential that character education should be included in every curriculum. Teaching students ethical and moral behaviors such as respect, responsibility, positive attitude, self-discipline, caring, trustworthiness should be included in every curriculum. These are vital characteristics that individuals need to go into the real world and be successful. Character education is best taught by the teacher modeling the behaviors. I believe every time a teacher comes in contact with a student, they help in shaping the character of that child.

“Teachers are the agents through which knowledge and skills are communicated and rules of conduct enforced” – John Dewey.

Government, family, and community are important partners in education. The government needs to provide standards for education and adequate funding to offer programs and instruction for all. Families serve as important support systems that support teachers and students in the quest for each student to reach his or her full potential. The support of society, community and business members is crucial for the success of education. Community members and organizations can provide financial support and mentoring services. Community support strengthens the school community and enables schools to provide additional academic and enrichment opportunities.

Students are the focus of our educational system. They are the future citizens and leaders of our nation, and it is therefore imperative that education prepares them to be creative problem-solvers that find solutions to the challenges of the future. Each child has the potential to make unique contributions to the world. To reach his or her full potential a student needs a nurturing and stimulating learning environment that enables an exploration of individual talents and interests. Students need to be motivated to inquire about and explore the world.

Introduction to the Philosophy of Education

Education may be described as a collective and a social manner which incorporate skills, beliefs, attitudes and philosophies. The triumph and enhancement of education result in the appropriate society. So, the purpose of education is to inculcate in children the knowledge, skills and values required for them to convey tremendous adjustments in their life and to become a useful citizen within the destiny. According to Parankimalil (2012) education is a systematic process through which a child or an adult acquires knowledge, experience, skills and sound attitude. Therefore, education is an important process, which help pupil to acquire knowledge, experience, skills, and good attitude that will help them to prepare for their future life.

I believe that every child is special and classroom should be a place for them to experience challenging situations relating to real world. I believe that everything of importance cannot be taught but students can be prepared to understand themselves the knowledge, skills and values required to lead a sustainable life. My philosophy focuses on 5 broad categories of what a child should learn in the school. It is my belief that these elements should be concentrated in our curriculum. As Paulo Freire mentioned in the banking concept, education is not about considering students as empty vessels in which teachers deposit knowledge in it (Freire, 1968). For worthwhile education, teachers should be active, forward thinking, energetic, knowledgeable, sincere and punctual for changing one’s truth, belief and justification.

The Role of Teachers in Shaping Future Citizens

Being a teacher, we dig up opportunity for improving our own knowledge and skills and being part of building a better citizenship. To do so, the responsibility of a teacher is to prepare, shape and build children who love Islam, value and appreciate others, be honest with the nation and be ready to take responsibility in such a way that they are prepared for life.

For such a citizen, the children should be inculcate with the essential knowledge for the needs of the recent society, values of Islam and the universal truth as well as the skills required for the life.

Incorporating Soft Skills into Education

Moreover, I consider the children must be insist with the soft skills like communication, critical thinking, decision making, problem solving, interpersonal skills, team work, and adaptability in children through interactions with others, because soft skills can apply across a diversity of jobs and teach them how to deal with different problem face in real life situation. My main goal is to provide freedom for the children to make their own choice. Children must adopt democratic values and attitudes to guide their lives and to make decisions. In addition, democratic values will guide the children to live in a meaningful life with others in harmony. According to Moss & Lee (2010), John Dewey’s theory of education, explores the relationship between democracy and education. Dewey believed that democracy is a way of life. The main theme underlying Dewey’s philosophy was his belief that a democratic society of informed and engaged inquirers was the best means of promoting human interest (Talebi, 2015). Attitudes, skills and values are the key to a child’s entry into employment and these provide the foundation to be successful in life. As per as Talebi (2015), Dewey strongly emphasizes to educate the children how to live with the content knowledge. There should always be a room for the children to learn about the real world through their educational life.

Fostering Democratic Values and Decision-Making in Students

I wholeheartedly believe that academics alone will not prepare children for tomorrow’s global world. Students deserve an education that prepares them for life and career after school. Before children leave school after 10 years of schooling, they must develop soft-skills, because nowadays workplace demands individuals to possess the skills to deal with people, find solutions to problems and be adaptable in a world that is exposed to constant change.

The Importance of Problem-Solving and Adaptability Skills

Problem solving skill will be one of the most important skills in order to thrive in today’s global economy. The ability to apply to concept and ideas into different situations and the capacity to solve problem will determine they can survive and succeed in the world. According to Moss & Lee (2010), in a democratic society, people should work cooperatively to solve the problems and schools are responsible for equipping students with the problem-solving ability. So, I always encourage children to take risk, and to learn from mistakes.

Promoting Social and Cultural Diversity in Education

Considering the environment they choose to work, accepting and respecting difference views and not imposing own thoughts to others are important life skills children need to learn. For the future occupations, children should learn to work collaboratively with individuals from diverse cultures and religions that provide them with the skills and character traits that is necessary for future success.

Adaptability will be another crucial skill that students need to develop before they complete their formal schooling. It is fundamental to encourage such skills to shine forth in the academic life of the student, because different workplaces have different expectations. Children need to understanding in any workplace it is important to understand cultural and social differences.

According to those using a critical theory lens, a teacher should view students’ culture as important (Moss & Lee (2010). Therefore, social and cultural diversity should be considered before they complete 10 years of schooling. So, I allow students to interact effectively with others, work cooperatively in diverse teams, respond open-mindedly to different ideas and values, and to work effectively with people from a range of social and cultural backgrounds.

Creating a Fun and Stress-Free Learning Environment

To satisfy these educational needs, learning should be a fun mechanism for students in which they enjoy by responding, interacting, socializing, inventing, sharing, discovering and deciding about knowledge, skills, values, ethics and discipline by expressing a permanent change in behavior. In this stress-free environment, students should put in every effort in obtaining maximum from the teacher within the context of teacher-student relationship without being oppressed (Freire, 1968). The students must master the skills required for a specific task throughout the course on the basis of guidance from the teacher. To achieve this, children must take responsibility and have accepted discipline. Hence, teachers are highly responsible for the child’s progress in learning and making them independent learners (Joyce, 2014)

Great teachers achieve these through the contents of what they implement in the classroom, thereby, motivation, reinforcement and encouragement in alignment with varieties of teaching and learning strategies. Moreover, it is common belief that every child is special and capable of producing truthful responses to the appropriate stimuli from the teacher in a positive learning environment for the purpose of learning. Teachers enjoy the involvement of students in the activities as part of active, guided, inquiry based, deductive, inductive and discovery learning. Due to such divesting capabilities of teachers, they are considered to be immense change agents in the educational institutions. As I strongly believe, that teachers must construct a positive learning environment for children in the school and the home environment should be modified by the teacher who emphasizes the parents in doing so.

The Critical Role of Curriculum in Holistic Education

Moreover, there must be consistency in implementing the curriculum and it should not be used as a political party’s manifesto. No matter the contents in it, students must receive general education in which they acquire knowledge which emphasizes to gain practical skills required for daily life. Students should be assessed and evaluated based on the materials taught using appropriate tools where constructive feedback should be given. The curriculum should not only be focused on vocational education because in doing so, students are directed to a narrow path of education. Therefore, each child should be provided with general education in which they learn subjects like Arts, Sociology and Philosophy to become an accepted human in the society.

When students are allowed to work together and tackle on a common issue, they are subjected to avoid confusion and conflicts. By working together, they learn to respect and listen to others in a friendly environment. A progressive curriculum favors the children respecting social status, race, sex and age. The frequent get-together of groups to work would produce a better community which emphasizes on common understanding, morality, ethical values and spiritual growth between individuals as they develop essential knowledge (Hanci, 2008).

Developing students morally and ethically is a significant factor in the current education system (Barrow, 2006). Motive of education is to survive in this changing world. One should be well-developed based on religious concepts as well as moral and ethical concepts. The education should cultivate moral and ethical characters. What we teach to them should emphasize on creating a rational person capable of making better judgments over extreme situations. It is impossible to cultivate all the skills but allowing students in an inquiry-based education system where selected contents having incomplete and proactive answers will lead to the habits of thoughtful inquiry. Therefore, curriculum contents should be minimized on the basis of memorizing and recalling. However, the contents should be designed in a set boundary of a general theme and questions. Even in the huge schools of America, the major issue is students having lack of required skills as a result of memorizing and recalling. There are four requirements of a curriculum in order to provide a thoughtful education where necessary skills will be gained (Wiggins, 1989). These are mentioned below:

1. Emphasis the curriculum on improving knowledge through questioning carefully.
2. Improve the ability of students to turn their questions in to knowledge.
3. Students’ craftsmanship should be developed with the little knowledge they know.
4. Involve students in questioning happily in searching for new knowledge.

According to (POPOVA, 2016) philosophy is 99 per cent about critical reflection on anything you care to be interested in. There are various educational philosophies identified by various educators. Some of the philosophies are Essentialism, Progressivism, Constructivism and Perennialism.

The progressivist group stated that a teacher should acknowledge that there is individual variation in the way that students approach learning and a teacher’s focus should be on their students’ strengths (Moss & Lee, 2010). I feel educational inequality is still present in current education system, because public schools are for those people who cannot afford high fees and private schools are for those students whose parents have more resources.

With reference to Marx conflict theory, current education system supports the wealthy in society and the students enrolled in elite school system can benefit more chances of getting quality education and highly paid jobs and social prestige in the society (Omer and Jabeen, 2016). On the other hand, functionalist believes that the education system provides opportunity for people to achieve the best that they can, according to their ability.

Out of the theories of education, I agree the most with progressivism constructivism. This educational philosophy believes that education should focus on the whole child, rather than on the content. My main focus is to make curriculum relevant to the lives of students, since the majority of students’ learning time is spent in school.

Therefore, the education they receive should match to the needs and expectations of different students. Dewey’s educational pragmatic ideas influenced education by encouraging more student- rather than curriculum-centred schools (Khasawneh, Miqdadi and Hijazi, 2014). Moreover, pragmatists believe children cannot learn unless they are active, and learners should put into practice knowledge in actual conditions through experimental investigation (Khasawneh, Miqdadi and Hijazi, 2014). The idea of democracy and social reforms are continually discussed in Dewey’s writing on education.

According to Talebi (2015), Dewey makes a strong case for the importance of education not only as a place to gain content knowledge, but also as a place to learn how to live. I believe learning should not stop even after school. Young children must leave school with the motivation and capacity to continue learning throughout every face of their life and they need to learn how to use knowledge for its own sake. It is important for children to realize what they learn in the classroom are just a poor imitation of a more real world. I consider them to gain knowledge of global awareness, internet safety and contemporary social issues including sex and drugs. I believe it is almost impossible to chain children from learning these things, thus I feel providing high level of awareness regarding outside world is more important than chaining them. It is important that young people receive age-appropriate drug and sexual health information and develop practical skills for keeping safe. Moreover, children need to understand economic and political issues around them. According to Moss & Lee (2010), critical theorists’ educational agenda includes making students aware of power and politics.

My philosophy of education is a combination of essentialism and progressivism. I know one’s ABCs of education is that knowledge can be learned from a textbook, but I also want my learners to use other means of knowledge. I believe a too-good-to-be-true teacher has a powerful faith in the future. Like a foster planting an oak seedling, knowing he will never see the tree in all its glory. My calling is to plant and nurture seeds that will grow and shape tomorrow.

As a future educator, I have many goals. My first goal would be never to overpower my learners. Being a teacher should not be a job, it should be a passion. I will focus my classroom around the learners’ needs, rather than my own. The classroom will revolve around the learners. I will be their guiding hand through education. Another goal of mine is to have the learners interact positively. Social interaction is the apple of the eye in education. As learners combine with peers, they share knowledge and learn how to solve problems. I believe the classroom is a living community, and everyone, from the principal to the students and parents, must contribute in order to maintain a positive atmosphere.

A good teacher must know her subjects and how to help students learn those subjects. I know a good teacher must have a deep appreciation of how knowledge is created in a discipline, how it is organized, and how it is linked to other disciplines. I will use my knowledge of the discipline to expose my students to modes of critical thinking, encouraging them to analyze, apply, synthesize, and evaluate all they read and hear. I believe in the power of questions and questioning strategies to cause thinking. I will try to ask questions for which there are no ‘right’ answers. I understand that a teacher’s greatest gift to a learner is helping them be motivated to think, and then to want to learn more. Many of us have come to accept a working definition that teaching means giving information, which I believe is only a small part of learning. Memorization is not always learning, because learning requires thinking.

I believe a teacher is the most powerful of role models. I am aware of the awesome obligation I have to ‘walk my talk’ with my students. If I ask them to live their values and beliefs, I must also do the same. I expect the best of myself and others and, therefore, I usually get the best. I try to treat people with dignity and respect, and I expect my students to do the same. A too-good-to-be-true teacher helps to create new knowledge. To live this belief, I must continuously examine my teaching methods and find new ones. I eagerly and willingly learn from my students as they learn with me.

I believe students learn best when they are intrinsically motivated. Therefore, I focus on creating lessons that are engaging, relevant to my students’ real lives, and encourage active discovery. To motivate my students, I aim to tie my lessons to their interests and hobbies. This requires me to build strong rapport and relationships with my students so I know how I can tailor my lessons for them. I believe motivated students are engaged, spend more time on task, and cause less disruptions to their peers. Education is the foundation for a child’s future. As a teacher, I take pride in my profession as someone who shepherds future generations.

As I get older, I will adapt to changes, so my philosophy has the potential to change. In my opinion, that’s great. It shows I’m learning and progressing. It can show the students that change can be good for the better. One thing won’t change, and that is my passion for teaching.

I am studying master at Electric Power Engineering Program in the second semester now. I am used to delays in my task including study and others household activities that are needed to complete on time. When someone ignores a task or delays completing it on time is called procrastination. Further, it can be said that when someone avoids doing the more important task and leave them for the future is called procrastination. It’s a common problem of human life which is one of the reasons to restrict human activities or careers. I always delay in preparing my projects, and assignments and submit them at the eleventh hour of the deadline. Even I delay taking preparation for the examination. I think, it is intentional, habitual, or maybe a psychological issue that comes from laziness or unwillingness of the human mind. Sometimes I plan every day to do my task including studying, shopping, and laundry and I make a routine to do it accordingly. But later I lose my interest and leave it for the future. In this way, I leave over a lot of tasks and then promise myself every day to complete them which I can’t do as I am used to.

Procrastination causes health problems like stress and self-doubt. It makes a person lazy to take any initiative and creates fear in the human mind to start any task. Delaying tendencies in duty sometimes create in the human mind feelings of indecision and depression. It is critical to prevent procrastination by using some practical steps. I think, to overcome procrastination, the first step is to start any task. We should identify what we are doing and the reason behind our activities or behavior. We have enough knowledge to complete any job but we can’t start it because of fear or laziness even though the task is important to us. So before doing any task, we need to plan that, we will do the task just for five or ten minutes and then we will stop the task. If a student wants to study at midnight but feels lazy or uninterested that makes disrupts his or her study, then he or she has to be decided to study just for five or ten minutes. To avoid procrastination, we should have the ability to start our tasks without fear. If someone plan for a morning exercise but feeling unwillingness, then the person needs to keep in mind that, it is just for five or ten minutes. I believe that it will not be difficult for a person to do his duty only for some times like for five or ten minutes and this time will increase slowly after starting the duty. By using this intellectual technique of the five or ten minutes rule, a person can make a habit to complete his job very easily and can avoid procrastination problems. Although setting a goal or starting any task is a difficult part for a procrastinator, following this technique can surely minimize or end the procrastination habits in e effective way.

Now a day’s social media has become very popular such as Facebook, and Youtube as people are using them as study tools. We can find a lot of information about course materials and resources on social media that is very much helpful for a student. Although social media can be used to take a little break from academics, students can build communication globally to learn and achieve knowledge through social media. Thus online habits help me a lot in my study.

Education is the greatest innovation of mankind that had been transformed our lives and the behaviour in a preferred way. It is my belief that education is the development of assisting in one’s learning and stated as the act of developing the brainpower, critical thinking capabilities, social and cultural understanding which brands us to be a true humans. According to (Parankimalil, 2012) John Dewey stated that “Education is the process of living through a continuous reconstruction of experiences”. Education is an endless and ultimate process. As education begins with mother’s womb and finishes in the tomb indicates that to every human being education is important and valuable.

I strongly agrees that as a teacher, the main purpose of education is to train students through reconstruction of experiences along with socializing them in the norms and values of society and highlighting the values of a democratic society such as honesty, corporation, competitiveness and moral responsibility. The purpose of education consist of the invention of knowledge and knowledgeable students by nurturing the curiosity, enthusiasm and rationality within students. In my viewpoint, the main role of the school is to prepare individuals to live as members of the society with the skills that are essential to each of the learner for living morally, creatively and effectively in a democratic society within civic development, emotional and cognitive development. The popular author, the American philosopher Mortimer Jerome Adler suggested that the development of citizenship, self-improvement and occupational preparation are the three objectives of children’s schooling. (Wesleyan University, 2019).

In regard with education, to my belief that the system should have a procedure that follows. I strongly believe that the primary people of the educational system are the learners and teachers. A learner is someone who is learning about a specific subject or learning how to do something. Basically it is acquiring something generally in the context of acquiring a skill through experiences. A teacher is somebody who delivers to the learner about the importance of their life and living. I believe that teaching is training and guidance associated with ideas that gain from teachers through interaction. I strongly believe that a teacher can transform students by applying various different strategies that can change their lives. My personal philosophy of education is, I believe that every child is special and unique in their own way who desires a loving, safe and inspiring atmosphere by which they can learn through real life experience, hands on activities, where they can grow and mature through emotionally, physically, socially, mentally and rationally. My decision to pursue a profession in teaching is to develop students’ capability by believing in them as they are capable of creating something and assisting them to discover who they are. As a teacher it is my responsibility to guide students to reach their fullest potential. I believe that the class environment should be a safe place that motivates the child’s learning. I will help students to grow a deep affection and respect within the students and environment.

Personal communication with my students is one of the most important aspects of my teaching. My role as a teacher is to provide children the main gears that cultivate students learning of knowledge. It is my responsibility to diagnose and set the targets based on students’ needs, their abilities along with their learning styles. As a teacher, my role is to guide students by providing relevant information where students can learn by themselves. I provide the opportunities to discover by themselves and practice different skills. I Let students to do hands-on activities and provide them adequate time and space to apply materials and formulate them to do different experiments and allowing them to construct knowledge. To accomplish these goals, I teach according to the needs of every child so the students will have trust in them to achieve their goals. I strive to continue a classroom atmosphere that is conducive to learning. Students frequently work in groups or with a pair in order to emphasis on communicative rather than a teacher-centered approach, I use the audiovisual equipment as well as the other electronic resources. I know to be flexible and to adjust my teaching whenever necessary. A conducive learning atmosphere has to be one of mutual respect. In line with this I present the curriculum that contains the curiosity of the children makes them learning in essential to life. I make students to learn through various experiences and reconstruct new ideas. I integrate the curriculum with themes, integrated units, project-based works, group work, individual work, pair work and providing active learning through hands-on activities. I believe that to teach students, a curriculum is the key element in education. It is the reflection of education. A curriculum is the total learning experiences of the individual. The concept is dynamic as the changes occur in society. I strongly agrees that the main purpose of the curriculum is to advance educational assistance and activities and practices that it helps to improve students’ engagement in learning when accomplishing their goals. My personal philosophy of education believes that certain goals should be incorporated in the curriculum. A curriculum should be based on basic needs, social aspects, cultural factors, individual talents, intellectual, moral, religious and tradition. The main aim of the curriculum should be to deliver information and develop the elementary skills, attitudes, values essential to personal development which are essential for living in and contributing to a developing and changing society.

After going through an in-depth reflection on my life, it opened my eyes to how greatly holding respect in high regard has significantly constructed various aspects of my life. Respect has acted as a prime shaper of my life because it has been very important to me in numerous things in everyday life and I didn’t even realize it. It is important to me because it plays a significant role in addressing disputation with other people around me and it’s also a key to many things in life. One example of what respect is key to is success. Whether that be obtaining a job for myself, having a successful intimate relationship, being successful in school, etc. I have to respect my manager or teachers, even if I don’t agree with them to increase my chances of succeeding in that way. In partners, respect is crucial to shaping the relationship in a good or bad way. Even though in particular, one relationship of mine didn’t exactly last, what was successful to me was the fact that I loved and most importantly respected him. I gave him space, listened to him, compromised, built him up, did things I didn’t exactly agree with, for his sake, etc. It was a success for me because personally, I know that I tried my best and respected him in any way I could and that’s all I could do. I wanted to make him feel like he mattered to me. Although the respect wasn’t mutual, that also plays into respect because I had to respect myself and leave him, and if I hadn’t have showed respect to him or respected myself in that situation it would have caused a lot of conflicts. In everyday relationships, respect makes me feel valued, and I’m sure it does for everyone else and it brings a sense of peace even with strangers. Respect is fundamental to an abundant quantity of relationships that form my life because to respect is to grasp the fact that the other individual is not you, not a reflection of you, not a version of you, they are their own person and raised differently. Respect was to open my eyes and realize that I need to acknowledge that someone is a unique individual and learn to connect my personal needs to theirs. It was realizing that my job isn’t to change them in the direction I want, but it creates an emotional bond. It helps carry a relationship with anybody when conflict comes up. Even now, if a fast food place is taking a long time I take the time to understand instead of jumping to creating conflict and I think that is respect, opening up your eyes to the fact that even if I didn’t understand what was taking them so long or when I don’t understand why another car is speeding, that I never really knew the circumstances so had to understand that I don’t understand them. Respect is also very valuable to me because it enables peace and opens many doors in all relationships like trust and security. Respect allows other people to disagree with me but also still allows a sense of other people in my life to have the ability to express things. There are so many conflicts in today’s world and society; respect can overall, unite people, so that is why it’s important to me in everyday life.

Well, respect obviously did not come naturally, it is something that I learned. I was socialized into this perspective of respect being necessary socially from many different factors. Respect is shaped in my life based upon values that people around me like family, culture, and many more people, have. The family was my first social bond. Growing up, in my game stage, my parents were never really strict but also didn’t let me do whatever I wanted. One way my parents have constructed me to value respect is by simply respecting me. I started to notice that when I would talk back or negatively approach a disagreement with my dad, he would react in a negative way, but when I would talk to him in a calm way like I wanted him to react with me, his reaction would be far less as extreme. Another way I was socially constructed into respect was I saw certain family members acting disrespectfully and I noticed the negative sanctions it brought and saw how it affected the other person. There are many other instances that I could explain with that but my main point is that I learned by example from them that I should treat others the way I want to be treated. I started wanting my grandma to respond in a more respectful way so that there wasn’t conflict. The school was another huge contribution to being socialized into respect. I remember in elementary school we every single day would repeat a pledge for our school and one part along the lines of it “I will respect myself. I will respect others, and I will respect property.

As I grew older, I realized that there was a norm when it came to respecting socially. Respect is a folkway and not following it can lead to many different negative sanctions as well. I began to realize when I started to be disrespectful that there would be a negative reaction whether that be from my in-group or out-groups. Obviously, respect is stigmatized and it is expected, especially in certain social situations. For instance, at work, I am respectful to customers not just because I want to be successful and keep my job, but for the fact that I want to have a positive impression on them. Of course like Goffman thinks about situations, my interaction with others changes on the context of the situation. It goes along the lines of dramaturgy. It is what I want to present to people. If I am at work, it affects how I act, I am more respectful to people I know less rather than how I may be to a sibling. In public, I don’t wear skimpy clothes because I respect myself and others may perceive it as rebellious. Being disrespectful, in most cases, is being deviant. Different cultures are socialized differently and although America has freedom of speech there are social consequences to not following the norms of that. I perceived that by observing other people in my out-group more specifically struggle;e to achieve what would be looked at as society’s norms and fall short.

That then brings me into, caring about what others think. I, like most people, want my given expressions to be positive. If I were to get a negative response from someone I would internalize it and start viewing myself differently, so I think it really comes down to a positive reaction from something like respect, is almost like a self-fulfilling prophecy, There is a norm that is supposed to be followed especially in an ingroup like my friends or grandparents. When my manager points out what I’m doing wrong or a customer is disrespectful in any circumstance, I take it personally and start criticizing myself more than I already do. I try to avoid these reactions through impression management, more specifically using mainly respect. having respect so others don’t think badly of me This relates to the looking-glass self. People in my life act as a looking glass. When they give some sort of validation, I view myself in more of a positive image. I basically lean on people’s responses to gain information about myself so am emotionally affected by what they think, and therefore show respect. I think everyone cares about how people view them, these types of norms of how I’m supposed to act in society, help construct a moral development and open my eyes to what is good for other people and what is good for myself. Every culture does have its own way of life so some things that are respectful where I was raised here may be disrespectful but through the people around my culture.

I continue to hold respect as such a significant value in my life because I strongly believe that you should treat others the way you wish to be treated. I think respect is more important than love in any relationship. Everyone is human and we all have different things we do that someone will consider deviant. It is almost inevitable to completely receive positive sanctions all of the time but to me how I react to it is what matters.

When you are in a profession as important as I am, it is principal to be in touch with your “why”. Understanding your reason for choosing a career allows you to uncover what fuels your passion by helping you become connected mentally and emotionally. The foremost thing about personal philosophies is that every single person is different. People who choose the same profession have many different reasons for pursuing it based on their values and beliefs. Philosophy roots from the ancient Greek world as philo-sophia, love of wisdom. Wisdom develops from experience, through reflection, seeking to understand relationships, and how to lead a flourishing life (Meehan, 2017).

The philosophy of nursing is one’s personal perspective and reflects their purpose of nursing education and practice. It encompasses one’s values, beliefs, actions, and ethical behaviors and goes beyond day to day beliefs we carry and conduct. The philosophy of nursing is vital to the nursing practice and the well-being of the patients, as well as the nurses. Without such, one purpose of being a nurse may diminish overtime. As a nurse it is important to take a step back and remember what it means to be a nurse when going through hard time such as burnout or no longer feeling fulfilled with the job. Remembering your own philosophy reminds you why you responded to the call of nursing in the first place. Having such values and beliefs provides exceptional care to oneself and those they care for.

Values are things that you believe are important in the way you live and work. Our core values highlight what we stand for and determine our priorities (Jeffrey, 2019). Throughout life our values change. Values that suited you as a child change as you become a young adult (excitement); things that were important as a single working person (promotion) may not be as important when you are married or have children (family). It is a fact that our values change as people mature but it is also true that many remain the same across time. Beliefs are our own opinions of the way things are and what we believe to be true. We form these beliefs from an early age, based on environment, what we are told, and what we have observed and experienced. Beliefs are more difficult to update due to the fact that staying the course is much easier than questioning yourself and everything you have believed in for a lifetime.

Values refer to my standard of behavior and judgement of what is important in life. As a person my top values are family, compassion, health, and success. Personally, family is everything, they are there during the best and worst times of my life, they give me a sense of belonging, and they love me unconditionally. As a nurse my top values are compassion, trustworthiness, humility, and curiosity. Although my top values changed with the different roles I play, the eight I listed above belong to the list of core values that make up my personal philosophy. Beliefs are assumptions that I hold true that are related to past learned experiences which affect morals and values. One of my main beliefs about nursing is that every individual should receive the same standard of care no matter their race, sexuality, cultural beliefs, or social status. It is also my belief that nursing should incorporate holistic care of patients in order to achieve and maintain the greatest quality of life. Personally, I believe that my values and beliefs are things that every human should understand and uphold. I believe that by doing this, patients could receive a higher quality of care in every aspect.

My personal philosophy is to treat every patient as if they were family. Family is there for you during the worst times of your life, and as a nurse I am often present during my patients’ worst times of their lives. For example, if my patient was family, I would treat them with nothing but compassion, be trustworthy, know the fine line between confidence and arrogance, and never stop learning about ways that I can help them. Patients want their nurses to be compassionate, trustworthy, and to advocate for them when they cannot. As a person and a nurse, I find these to be a part of my core values. I know personally if I was in my most vulnerable state, I would want someone to care for me and advocate for me as if I was family. I often think of my mom in my patients position and think about what type of care I would want a nurse to give her. Many patients come in without family, confused, and scared. It takes one person to treat them as if they were family, to show them that they are by their side and will do whatever it takes to make them comfortable and at ease.

My personal philosophy is a statement that each and every professor declared before we started clinicals. When you actually begin to put this philosophy into play, your routine ways suddenly become inhumane and cold. Treating patients like family not only improves their quality of care but allows them to feel like a person rather than an obligation to an oath. I believe that everyone should incorporate this into their care as we care about more than our patient’s diagnosis, we care about them as persons too. When you apply this statement to your nursing care, you begin to realize your primary role isn’t to just sustain a life, but rather to recognize and attend with open arms and an open heart to the complexity of life.

A personal philosophy is more than a blanket statement that covers one’s values and beliefs. It is the reason you are the way you are, and the reason you chose your profession. It is a reminder during the tough and soul-searching times. Taking a step back to revisit our personal philosophies gives a sense of purpose and is the motivation that drives you to be successful. Our values and beliefs help us create the future we want to experience and keep us humble. When us as nurses develop our own personal philosophy of nursing, it benefits our careers and the lives of our patients and their families. Nursing is a privilege taken on by those who have answered their calling by helping those who cannot help themselves.

Introduction: Forming a Personal Philosophy in Teaching

My personal philosophy is still being formed and organised as I discover my way through the teaching field. I believe that it will grow and change as I explore my career and discover who I am as a teacher. As of now my philosophy is built by my personal beliefs, values and experiences within primary school settings as well as my own life experiences.

Throughout my work I have come to develop a sense of inclusivity and the lack of it within areas of the schooling system and Australia. I am a big believer in that all children, teachers and parents have a right to be respected for who they are regardless of their background, class, ethnicity or gender. As a teacher of the next generation I believe that teaching students this core value is necessary.

Inclusivity and Respect: Core Values in Teaching

School is more than a place children go to learn reading, writing and math. It is also a place where students learn and develop social and communication skills. These skills are extremely important to interact in Australia’s cultural environment, it’s imperative that these skills are developed properly, this is why I believe that a stimulating classroom environment will help students excel inside and outside the classroom.

​I believe that in the near future technology will be a dominant figure within Australian classrooms, this is why I believe it’s important for me to be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of its use within my classroom. It’s also extremely important that I have an understanding on how to use certain technology within the classroom.

The Role of Technology in Modern Classrooms

When I was in my senior year in high school social media had started to become bigger and bigger, Instagram was in its infancy, snapchat had just been launched and everyone had Facebook accounts. It wasn’t long until it engulfed everything we did, everyone was posting photos and videos with no care to who could see them. Even though Facebook has a strict “12 and over’ policy it’s well know that children younger than twelve are using these sites. This is why I am very passionate about schools having informational lessons on the effects of social media, especially when it comes to bullying, photographs and consent to post. We are in a world where technology overshadows everything we do, it’s imperative that students are being taught how to navigate and stay safe in this technology driven world.

Social Media and Cyber Safety: A Teacher’s Responsibility

I want students look forward to coming to school and enjoy themselves. As a teacher I want to provide a caring, supportive and happy environment where all students are striving to achieve their best. I will encourage students to take pride in their work and to not be ashamed. With an open-door policy, I want students to know that I am there to listen and help to the best of my ability, whether academic or personal.

As a teacher I want to create positive and respectful relationships with every student, but also with parents, co-workers and the community.

Guided by the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers I will determine my students learning capabilities and will create an environment that will bring the best out of each child. Australia is large a multicultural country and as a teacher I will have a classroom with students with many different backgrounds. As not all students are at the same level in their learning, my teaching will need to be differentiated for each student and by doing so I will meet the APST 1.2: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research into how students learn and the implications for teaching (Australian professional standards for teachers, 2011).

When I was in primary school I remember having a large blackboard at the front of the class and a separate computer lab we would visit occasionally. But over the years the classroom has embraced new technology to allow for better teaching and learning opportunities, this is why I believe it’s imperative for me to address APST 2.6 Implement teaching strategies for using ICT to expand curriculum learning opportunities for students (Australian professional standards for teachers, 2011).

Adhering to Professional Standards and Codes of Conduct

Through understanding my students learning abilities l will be able to create an environment that compliments each student’s needs to further their education. As a Pre-service teacher I want to see my students thrive and grow into wonderful people, and I will do this be following the Australian professional standards for teachers and my values as a teacher.

Code of conduct

The NSW Department of Education’s code of conduct is comprised of standards of behaviour that is expected to be obeyed in all educational workplaces. The conduct applies to all employees of the NSW Department of Education, including those employed on a permanent, casual or temporary. This includes all pre-service teachers assigned within NSW schools.

Duty of care

Duty of care is a standard within the code of conduct. For a pre-service teacher, we have a legal duty to maintain a safe environment free of any harm for any student within our care. This includes providing students with adequate supervision and safe environments. A common example of poor duty of care would be incompetent supervision in the playground resulting in a student hurting themselves (Churchill, 2016). It is imperative that teachers behave in a way that promotes the safety and well-being of students. It is forbidden for teachers to harm a student, or to participate in any personal relationships. Failing to abide by this could result in termination and/or legal action (Lembke, 2017a).

Teachers and the law

Teachers need to have adequate understanding of the terms within the duty of care. This includes being where you are supposed to be, if you’re running late to work your class could be left unsupervised and an incident can occur. By planning ahead, you can eliminate any potential risks they may arise.

Cybersafety

Laws and requirements are in place to keep students and teachers safe when using technology. Cyberbullying is the use of targeting/bullying someone through the use of technology and it is becoming an epidemic within schools.

Teachers can also become victims to cyberbullying, this is why it’s vital to protect and hide your online presence. As a pre-service teacher I have made my online presence private and have changed my name (Lembke, 2017a). If I become aware of any cyberbullying in the classroom or towards myself it is a part of the duty of care to report all concerns to my mentor teacher.

Child protection

All teachers have a responsibility to recognise and respond to any concerns about a student’s safety, welfare or wellbeing being at risk. Teachers must conduct mandatory reporting to the correct services or person in authority. As a pre-service teacher I would report any concerns to my mentor teacher who would ten take it to the appropriate person.

Lesson plans

It is a requirement that all pre-service teachers produce written lesson plans for each lesson that is taught. Lesson plans need to be written and given to your mentor teacher at least 24 hours before the lesson. Your mentor teacher will then be able to provide feedback regarding the lesson plan and adjust if necessary. After the end of your lessons must provide self-reflection, this will help you in your next lesson (Lembke, 2017b) .

Supervision

While on your professional experience you must be supervised by a qualified teacher at all times. You must be supervised during all activities, this includes activities inside and outside the classroom. If you find yourself alone with any students make a teacher aware immediately.

Involvement

During your professional experience you’re expected to be involved in all aspects of school life. You’re required to become involved with your mentor teachers’ duties, this includes playground duties, staff meetings and extracurricular activities. You are expected to be present at least thirty minutes before and after school, this time can be used for debriefing with your mentor teacher and planning for the following day(Lembke, 2017b).

Assessment

During your professional placement your mentor teacher will conduct an interim and final report assessing your abilities to achieve the Australian professional teacher standards to the graduate level.

The professional experience

Your professional experience is an opportunity for you to utilise your knowledge obtained from university into a real classroom. You should always be observing and taking meaningful notes when your mentor teacher is teaching. You can later discuss the use of certain techniques and how and why they implement them. By doing this you will become aware of certain behavioural techniques your pre-service teacher utilises, for example they may clap to get the students attention.

You can use this opportunity to trial new learning experiences by working with your mentor teacher. Professional experience is where you develop professional growth and start to build the type of teacher you want to be.

Rationale

The expectations and requirements of a pre-service teacher during a professional experience demonstrates and understanding of focus area 7.2 comply with legislative, administrative and organisational requirements (Australian professional standards for teachers, 2011). The artefact demonstrates the legislative policies required by those who work within the education system. An area in which pre-service teachers must abide by is the duty of care, as we have a legal duty to maintain a safe environment free of any harm for any student within our care. The artefact also identifies the crucial role a teacher has in regarding a student’s well-being, this includes the importance of mandatory reporting.

References

1. Churchill, R. (2016). Teaching: Making a difference (3rd ed.). Milton: John Wiley and Sons.
2. Lembke, C. (2019a). Topic Nine: Policies & Legislation [Tutorial Notes]. Retrieved from Southern Cross University TCH10014 Blackboard site.
3. ​Lembke, C. (2019b). Topic Ten: Preparing for professional experience [Tutorial Notes]. Retrieved from Southern Cross University TCH10014 Blackboard site.
4. The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership. (2011). Australian professional standards for teachers.