Education
is a form of learning where knowledge, habits, and or skills are introduced,
practiced, and mastered to an individual or a group of individuals. Education usually takes place with the
facilitation and guidance of a person that specializes in that particular area.
An experienced person is mainly the one who guides the education process. The
processing and organization of ideals and information is also another example
of what education is. Any situation or experience that effects the way someone
thinks, feels, acts, responds, or reacts is education.
Education
should be first and foremost fun and interesting. Education should make the
students feel a certain way; it should motivate them to learn more than before.
Often times people will forget what is said, what is done, but rarely do they
forget how something made them feel. Educators must strive to touch the heart and
souls of our students. If they are able to get them to feel passionate about
something, anything, than they have won. If we are able to talk to their
emotions and hearts, teachers have found a direct path to their souls. Movies
and music have an effect on human beings that is hard to put into words.
Movies, music, and art touch students emotions like nothing that may have come
before. There is a reason that people say the arts speak to the soul, and pulls
at our heart strings and transports to another world. This is what education
should be like. Even the greatest artists in the world that have the most
creative genius still need guidance and education to continue to grow. Without
the proper education and guidance, this genius will be put to waste. Education
allows students to find new ideas and solutions to problems with a new outlook for
problems that have puzzled them before.
Education
should be demonstrated in an ethical and responsible manner. After all,
educators have the highly regarded responsibility of educating the youth for
the future. Educators must relate to the moral principles and the branch of
knowledge that they are dealing with. Teachers have influence over the students
in the classroom. Respect and responsibility need to be modeled, so students
learn how they are supposed to interact. If students do not respect their
teachers, they are not going to want to learn the lessons being taught. This
carries over into the community and the real world. If teacher are moral and
ethical, the parents will have more buy in and will support what the teacher is
trying to do.
Educators
must have an efficient and effective way of measure achievement, whether it is
a reward system or a fair and clear grading policy. Educators must continuously
collect data on their students and also themselves, to make sure they are on
track and see how they can improve. If done properly, educators will establish
a trend of lessons and an accountable solution to what works with the students
and their teaching. If things are fair in the classroom, students will be
comfortable because things are consistent and it makes it in a way a safer
learning environment.
We
as educators must stay as positive as we can at all times. Students feed off of
emotion so we have to create a structured and safe environment for them to
learn in. If students feel safe in a classroom they are less distracted and
more willing to step out of their shell and try new things. In order for
educators to be “highly qualified” we must obtain a mastery of the subject they
are teaching. This is done by specialized degrees and testing that shows their
knowledge and the application of their skills.
If an educator wants to
effectively and efficiently teach a subject, they must have mastery. A teacher
has to be a master of the subjects they are instructing. Students will know
quickly if the teacher is on top of their game, if not, there will be no
respect given and anarchy will ensue.
True mastery will come through to the students and enthusiastic, energetic,
and confident message. This will help motivate the students when they see their
teacher that into the subject matter. The courses at WGU have prepared me and
given me the confidence to I know I can handle what will be put in front of me
in any learning situation, in the classroom, on the track, and in life. If a
question arises that I don’t know the answer to, an out of control situation, a
crisis, or a discipline problem, I know where to find them because of the
foundation WGU has given me. I feel prepared to handle most any situation is
put in front of me because of the groundwork I have done at WGU
Clearly
stating what my philosophy of teaching is, it will put a tangible goal in front
of me to try to achieve throughout my career. This philosophy will keep me
striving each and every day to be the best teacher I can be. By learning at WGU
and applying what I have learned, I get to apply the knowledge and perform the
task of education and positively influencing young people on a regular basis. I
will get to practice my craft and hone my skills daily. This repetition will
increase my drive and my motivation to educate with a passion. With this
passion I hope to inspire and positively influence my students for years to
come. There is no test to see if you will be a good teacher, I think it comes
down to confidence, preparation, planning, and passion. Ward (1965) “The mediocre teacher
tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great
teacher inspires.” (p. 32)
