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Philosophy of Education
by Dr. Jerry R. Griffin
I first developed the
fundamental principles of my philosophy as a graduate student at
Southern Methodist University. It is one that has not only
guided me in my educational development and that I have used in
teaching continuing education courses, undergraduate and
graduate courses, but also in motivating students at all age
levels. It has proven both valid and reliable as a basis for
course development and teaching throughout the years. It
consist of a subset of principles and assumptions that must be
used to establish the basis of the learning process.
Learning Is A
Life Long Process
When I first learned and made this principle one of my
educational values I was involved in a college education
experience. Certainly while it seems to be addressed to the
college level or adult students, a closer analysis shows that it
is really a principle that must be applied at the secondary and
high school level for it to be effective. It’s basis is that we
never stop learning, regardless of age, and that the more you
are involved in learning the better student or community member
you will be. However, if we do not teach this to younger
students they will never adapt this as something that applies to
their life. I recall discussing this with older students, and
while at one level they could ‘buy-into’ the concept, it was not
an emotional feature of their learning processes. Therefore by
making this an ‘emotion’ and ‘value’ to younger students
when they become older they truly will continue their learning
journey.
Learning Must Be
Active
While you can ‘learn’ something in a passive state, the highest
learning takes place in an active state. A student should be
‘actively’ involved in learning both through his or her
emotions, and by doing. While this is stressed at the adult
level I believe that students at all levels need to be actively
involved in the learning process. By becoming participants and
‘actors’ in learning, the things they learn will not only have
more meaning but will help them as they apply their learning to
new learning situations.
Learning Must Be A Value
Inherent in the first principle of Learning Is A Life Long
Process is the fact that learning is a value. Most values are
learned at an early age. It is thought that many of our core
values are with us by age 5. However, I believe that through
education and environment even core values can be molded. It is
important that students in all age groups adopt learning as a
core value. The basis of this must come from family, but
through an enhanced educational system teachers with that same
value can assist in instilling it in his or her students.
The Most Important Thing About Learning is
Learning How To Learn
While learning of subject matter is vital, subject matter is
more easily learned if a teacher can help students learn how to
learn. This is done by not only exposing students to the life
long value of learning, but by teaching them active and passive
learning methods that they can adapt to all their learning
situations. |
