This I believe...

Hiya Differentiation class,

Here is my "Philosophical" summary of what I believe about education/children/learning:

This I believe…

1. I believe that all learning is "local". Tenets:

a. every individual learns differently, but all learning follows some
general patterns

b. every individual's past experiences influence how new information
is processed and assimilated or accommodated

c. communities/learning environments significantly shape how
learning is accomplished for local members of society

d. personal relationships greatly affect learning/instruction

e. individual values greatly shape the context in which learning
can take place

f. the drive to learn is fundamental to personal existence

g. it does "take a village" of experiences to educate the whole person

2. I believe that setting high goals/standards are essential in learning:

a. true achievement empowers individuals with self-esteem and/or
a sense of accomplishment only possible through great challenge

b. knowledge and understanding must be both broad and deep for
individuals to achieve their greatest potential

c. individuals possess an imperative to develop their gifts and talents in
areas of interest to be the best person possible for their own
affinity and for the greater advancement of society

3. All learning engenders a sense of community responsibility:

a. respect for oneself and one's place in the community

b. respect for one's peers and their diversity of perspectives and
backgrounds

c. respect for those of greater wisdom and experience (parents,
teachers, mentors, counselors) who contribute to one's
overall education

d. respect for the environment/planet and the necessity of proper
stewardship of precious resources

4. Diversity is a key to greater understanding:

a. A variety of perspectives/ideas enriches the learning process

b. A diversity of instructional techniques enriches the learning process

c. Personal expression is an important aspect of individual growth and
should be respected and utilized appropriately

5. All true understanding involves thinking:

a. The best definition of "teaching": is to cause one to get into a situation
from which one can not escape except by thinking!

b. literacy is not enough, we must learn to transcend foundational
knowledge and rise to meet the challenges through a greater
creative synthesis of our collective intellect…only through
encouragement of critical thinking, will all individuals
gain the greatest understanding of mind and universe.

Hope you enjoyed this!

Tim

Differentiation blogs

Hiya,

This is Tim from the Differentiation of Instruction class at UVA. My blog will contain reflections and discussions about my experiences in EDLF 739. Check back here to see what I am up to.

Thanks,

Tim P.