Learning Philosophy
As an educator do you know what drives or motivates you to want to learn? If your answer is no, then how do you expect your students to know? Everyone can not just sit and listen to someone talk and expect to have the information retained. Whether it's learning by doing (Kinesthetic), learning by hearing (Auditory), or learning by seeing (Visual), everyone learns differently. Learning is that part of life you can not escape from, anywhere you go whether it's school, work, or the store, learning can happen every day if you are open to it. Sometimes it can be challenging to learn a new skill, and other times it can be so natural and effortless. I believe that learning is for everyone, we just have to find what motivates us to want to know that information instead of just memorizing it. Everyone is able to determine their learning philosophy because only we know what motivates us. Learning is not about passing or failing or trying to get the right answers on assignments. I feel the more the students are engaged and know why they are learning, learning happens more naturally than them learning for memorization and trying to force it.
To be a teacher, you must first be a learner. Teachers focus more on how they are teaching and what they are putting out, rather than how the students are learning and what information they are retaining, and if they are retaining information that they actually learned, or is it by memorization. I worked so hard to receive the title of “teacher” and worked even harder to be called a “Special Education Teacher ''. But honestly, I am not just a teacher. I care about the information my students are retaining, how they are retaining it, and how they can use it in everyday situations. Reading Harapnuiks Learning Philosophy I am now taking on the same role of a learning facilitator rather than a teacher. A learning facilitator is focused on the learner and on creating a desirable environment in which the learner can come to know, acquire knowledge or make a meaningful connection (Harpniks 2021). I set up my classroom environment so that everyone feels special, and fits in. displaying my students' work, and making sure there are cool-down areas are only a few things to help create a significant learning environment (CSLE).
“Tell me and I forget, show me and I remember, involve me and I understand.” I like to take this a step further by adding “challenge me and I learn.”
Learning vs. Teaching Philosophy
Learning and teaching philosophies have changed drastically across the globe. Learners and teachers must work together so they know why and how the are teaching and why and how they are learning. Education should not only focus on what the teacher is putting out but it should also be about how the learner is retaining that information. Your belief on learning and teaching philosophies determines the way a person educate. Teaching and learning go hand and hand. You can not be a teacher if you did not first learn about the skill or lesson. You know when you are a learner when you are able to reteach a skill or lesson. When a person is actually taking the time to acquire the knowledge, they should have no problem then to impart the knowledge to someone else. Creating an environment that demonstrates both can be challenging, but is also doable. Teaching philosophy explains their perspective on teaching and how they will apply their knowledge to lessons and strategies. Learning philosophy enhances problem solving. It is the way one retains information and acquire new knowledge. Both philosophies are important to an educator.
My Beliefs About Learning
Learning has always been something I was interested in. I love to learn, I love going to new training, Professional Developments, and just being able to say yes it has nothing to do with me, but it doesn’t hurt to learn. I have always wanted to have broad knowledge. Knowing a little about everything can go a long way rather than knowing absolutely nothing. Just because it's not your subject area doesn't mean it does not apply to you. Having a broad knowledge allows and gives your students the opportunity to ask about things they are interested in and you can provide the answers.
I have always been a Kinesthetic learner. Bay Atlantic University described Kinesthetic learners are those who learn by doing, engaging, and not just sitting and listening (2022). When it comes to learning theories, my learning styles are related mostly to Bruner, Festinger, and Bandura. Jerome Bruner's major theme was how learners can learn by connecting past knowledge to new knowledge. Constructivist Theory is an active process in which learners construct new ideas or concepts based on their current/past knowledge. I identified closely with this theory because when I start new lessons for my students, I always do a review of what we just finished. Having that review and making sure students understand the last unit will help prepare them for the new unit. Having my students partner up and work in groups is also a form of active dialog. Socratic learning in a SpEd setting gives students a chance to expand their voices and connect to their peers. With being a special education teacher, consistency is important to my students. Leon Festinger discovered Cognitive Dissonance Theory which is the tendency for individuals to seek consistency among their conditions. My students follow daily schedules from the time they arrive at school, to the time they leave. Most of my students automatically will know what they do next if they develop a routine. I try to change their schedules as least as possible because when there is an inconsistency between attitudes or behaviors, it can discourage them a little because they didn't know what to expect. Albert Bandura discovered Social Learning Theory which emphasizes the importance of observing and modeling behaviors for students. To get those rules and behaviors in place it needs to start from day one and stay consistent. Students that are new to my class did not come in knowing how to check schedules and follow schedules. My aide and I had to model what was expected and what each schedule means to show them where they go and what they do next.
Conclusion
Students are not just learners and teachers are not just teachers. My ultimate goal is to have everyone be considered a teacher and a learner. My learning philosophy impacts my innovation proposal by giving the students a chance to also teach their peers. By Having SpEd and Gen Ed students collaborating, it gives both students a chance to teach and learn from each other. Giving students opportunities to be taught by others helps them understand lessons better and also helps their social skills by connecting. We as educators all want our students to be able to connect with one another no matter if they are in SpEd or General Education.
Annotated Bibliography
Graduate School. Graduate School iCal. (n.d.). Retrieved September 21, 2022, from https://gradschool.cornell.edu/career-and-professional-development/pathways-to-success/prepare-for-your-career/take-action/teaching-philosophy-statement/
This article gives better insight into what a teaching philosophy is, how to write yours, and how to take it into effect.
Harapnuik, D., Thibodeaux, T., & Cummings, C. (2018). COVA: Choice, ownership, and voice through authentic learning. Retrieved from http://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=7291
COVA recognizes that learners learn through choice, ownership, and voice in authentic learning environments.
Harapnuik, D. (2016, March 11). Four keys to understanding learning theories. [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://www.harapnuik.org/?p=6344
This article will help you understand the learning theories better. Also, teach you more about the ones you did not know. Start here to get insight into what your learning theory is.
Sayani, A. (2015) My Philosophy of Teaching and Learning. Open Access Library Journal, 2, 1-4. doi: 10.4236/oalib.1102109.
In this article, the author discusses how he developed his philosophy on teaching and learning through various viewpoints.
SBD INC. (2020, March). What is kinesthetic learning: Benefits of hands-on learning. successbydesignplanners. Retrieved September 21, 2022, from https://www.successbydesign.com/blogs/news/what-is-kinesthetic-learning-benefits-of-hands-on-learning?gclid=Cj0KCQjw7KqZBhCBARIsAI-fTKLTj-0w1ymUUoW0Iy4HdaDjFeVLqhcfR57rIX2FSNv2MQJdxuKOxy4aAoGkEALw_wcB
Some learners learn by hands-on, listening to a lecture, or by seeing a lecture. To get a better understanding of hands-on learning, please read this.
Showers, Alyse H., "Cognitive Dissonance and Special Education Teachers: Examining Instructional Decisions in a High-stakes Testing Era." Dissertation, Georgia State University, 2021. doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/22213429
This article explains Cognitive Dissonance in students with learning disabilities.
References
Bay Atlantic University , University, B. A., & *, N. (2022, June 14). What is a kinesthetic learner? Bay Atlantic University - Washington, D.C. Retrieved September 20, 2022, from https://bau.edu/blog/kinesthetic-learner/
Culatta, R. (2018, November 30). Learning theories. InstructionalDesign.org. Retrieved September 20, 2022, from http://www.instructionaldesign.org/theories/
Harapnuik, D. (2021, November). Learning Philosophy. Harapnuik.org. Retrieved September 20, 2022, from https://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=95