Philosophy of education -Version 2

I would like to be a teacher because I truly believe that children are our future and it is important that teachers provide them with the right information and tools to lead their lives in a positive way. John Dewey is a famous philosopher and educator, and its far-reaching impact on modern education. He promotes that education and learning are a lifelong process, and promotes the overall concept of the learning and life. As an educator, my teaching goal is through active teaching encourage students' learning enthusiasm and let them realize learning is a lifelong process.

In my classroom, I would like to keep student-centered learning and want students to have the freedom that allows for expression and creativity. I want to teach students in a way that has some straightforward instruction, but that also gives students room to grow, expand on their own. To help my students achieve these learning goals, I use various of pedagogical methods for teaching.

To help my students foster creativity, I would like arrange two art classes every week.

They are divided into small teams to finish the project. Before they are doing the special project, groups need to discuss how to do and make sure everyone is assigned to the task. For example, students learn to create an egg carton caterpillar. Groups take the egg cartons and cut them, so each group has a section three eggs long. They can  attach something on and color with markers. When finished, groups can attach them to a bulletin board. Through the art class, students will learn to appreciate the art created not only by them but by others as well.

To help my students expand their own, I allow them to pose their own questions and try to answer independently. I feel it is beneficial for students to sometimes work for the answer rather than being told because it stretches their knowledge and teaches them how to find information in a variety of ways. So I would like to introduce SMILE platform to my classroom. SMILE allows students create their questions. These generated questions on SMILE require students to think deeply about the material, make connections to prior learning, enhance their creativity, challenge themselves with peer discussion and debate, and self-assess. Before using the SMILE platform, I will teach them how to ask and why higher order thinking questions are meaningful. SMILE makes student thinking visible and motivates students to learn the content at hand. Students can monitor their own learning, at the same time, I can monitor student learning problems.

To encourage my students to synthesize and demonstrate what they have learned, I would like to use informal assessment. For example, they learn about the structure of human body system. I provide brief explanations of necessary background knowledge and play the video, select the article to let them read aloud with a discussion. In the end of the class, I make a list of questions that make sure everyone understands. Though review their answers, I can know what they learn about, and what they confuse.

Overall, educators should help students develop their individual talents and abilities, reach their potential, help them develop into responsible members of groups, assist them respect the environment and create a meaningful life. As a future educator, it is critical to remember to enjoy students and everything they have to offer.