Theories That Align with My Teaching Philosophy

Theories That Align with My Teaching Philosophy

Equality in education is one of the philosophical arguments brought forward since antiquity, with the need to ensure that all learners’ needs are considered. As an educator, my philosophy statement revolves around the need for equality in education by providing the needs of all learners are catered for. This philosophy also aims to ensure that all learning environments are developed and resources are equally distributed within the education systems to ensure no children are left out while others benefit more. I understand that children come to school bearing differences; therefore, the different cultures and attributes should be celebrated because they contribute to improving education. When teachers apply equal measures while guiding varied types of learners, they are more likely to help them move towards achieving their educational goals, learning to express themselves freely and embracing others despite their differences (Gray & MacBlain,2015). Therefore, my role in the classroom is to guide learners to exploit their abilities and potential while developing in their perspective areas of learning. Different theories revolve around the need for equality in education; some of these theories include the Theory of Justice.

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Theory of Justice by John Rawls

This theory was published in 1971 by American Moral and Political Philosopher John Rawls. The theorist aimed to advocate the need to resolve distributive justice in society. Rawls opposed the traditional philosophical arguments of what constitutes an institution and the justification of social actions and policies. Barry (1973) noted Rawls reasoned that, for any education system to achieve equality, it should teach the need to pursue the greatest good for the greater society without looking at the differences among members of the community. His argument went against the practical traditional opinion that advocated for the idea of tyranny of majorities over minorities. Rawls attempted to establish an unbiased version of social justice based on the social contract approach, which holds that society is in the form of an agreement with those living within its environments. Based on the traditional theory of social justice, education should only benefit those who surrender some of their freedoms to the authority in exchange for maintaining their social rights and protection. However, Rawls opines that the education system should strive to benefit all people fairly and justly without looking at the characteristics of people and differences.

Rawls was the first theorist to advocate the need for education equality, especially for the least advantaged groups (Barry, 1973). The economic inequalities in education should be arranged so that no individual is denied access to education based on race, sex, ethnicity, or social background. As such, all children should be given equal opportunities to access educational resources and facilities without prejudices. Rawls, therefore, sheds light on why all educational institutions should celebrate and embrace differences. At the classroom level, teachers should educate all students on the need to avoid biased views about others to create an environment where all learners are celebrated.

The theory of justice resonates with my education philosophy because it aims to celebrate differences, hence advocating for equality in education. Rawls opines that every classroom is unique, and therefore, it is essential to help learners develop a sense of community within themselves, which is one of the significant responsibilities of any teacher. As such, because learners come to school bearing these differences in their levels of understanding, the theory advocates the need to incorporate various teaching styles in the context of curriculum and lesson development. According to the idea of justice, in a multicultural context, applying multiple learning styles will enable the learners to relate to the teaching material and connect the knowledge to the outside society, hence feeling the need to belong (Lynch & Baker,2015). As such, when different parts of the curriculum are brought together in a way that aims to celebrate unique differences, it helps to bring up an all-rounded learner. These activities should be characterized by different projects, partnering activities, hands-on learning, and individual work. Together, these activities will produce molded learners who are ready to face the future.

Adam’s Equity Theory of Motivation

Stacey Adam’s Theory of Motivation revolves around the need for motivation, as stated in her process model motivation framework. It says that the level of reward one receives compared to one’s sense of contribution affects the group of motivations teachers put forward when teaching children. The theory considers the importance of equality and fairness as factors that affect the way teachers compare themselves to others. According to this idea, every human being reaches the level of input and output, and the rewards they get from the work they do will affect the level of energy they bring towards accomplishing their goals (Al-Zawahreh & Al-Madi, 2012). Teachers tend to compare themselves with others based on the rewards they receive by comparing their lives if they received equal prizes as compared to those of others. In short, this theory advocates the need for fair compensation across the working population because when workers are compensated equally, they tend to show the same motivation when completing their work.

The theory resonates with my education philosophy because I advocate for teacher motivation. My philosophy sheds light on the importance of teacher empowerment as a way to motivate them because they hold essential responsibilities such as being role models, motivators, guides, and, most importantly, providing safety to the learners. As stated in Adam’s Equity Theory of Motivation, inputs and outputs go hand in hand, and this contributes to teachers showing the same efforts toward understanding their roles, the types of learners they have, what they need, and what will make them succeed in their academic endeavors (Al-Zawahreh & Al-Madi, 2012). Notably, when teachers are motivated, they shift the same energy toward their students; thus, learners feel loved and appreciated by showing them attention, and they are more likely to participate in lessons. Additionally, motivated teachers tend to apply various teaching techniques throughout the class, and this helps to equally motivate learners to participate in studies while interacting with others. When students are not fully engaged, they lose focus. Therefore, motivation is one key strategy that helps teachers gear their energy toward building a constructivist classroom.

Behaviorism Theory

Behaviorism theory was developed in 1898 by Edward Thorndike. However, the theory was later introduced in the education setting in 1937 by B. F. Skinner, a teacher and an advocate for applying a behaviorism approach in the classroom setting. The pedagogy supports the need to motivate student’s actions as a way to encourage them to learn effectively (Faryadi, 2007). The central part of this theory is that students learn through reinforcement. As such, teachers should provide students with constant feedback. Faryadi (2007) asserts that observation is one crucial part of this theory. Teachers should observe the behaviors of the students and reward them for showing good actions while at the same time discouraging negative behavior patterns. This theory resonates with my education philosophy because it advocates for rewarding reasonable efforts and discouraging bad habits as a way to build on inclusion in the classroom. Every good behavior deserves a reward, and therefore, this theory aims to create an equal learning environment where all learners feel appreciated and loved.

How These Theories and My Personal Teaching Philosophy Will Impact the Teaching Practice

All these theories resonate with my teaching philosophy because they advocate for justice, inclusion, and equality. Both the views of Justice by John Rawls and behaviorism by B. F. Skinner will impact my teaching philosophy because they will guide me in striving to achieve more equality in the classroom setting. However, Adam’s Equity Theory of Motivation will impact my teaching philosophy because I will advocate the need for equal motivation among teachers as a way to motivate them to perform their responsibilities better. These theories have taught me the need to be a good leader, and instead of being a strict teacher, I will be a facilitator. In addition, I will guide students in the direction of taking control of their learning, hence becoming more independent at a young age. Gray & MacBlain (2015) assert that when students are given more freedom, they develop their leadership powers and respect for their peers and teacher as a facilitator.

These theories will help me create a democratic learning environment where all learners can channel their views. Hence, their voices are being heard. This will help students explore and share ideas while at the same time helping me, as a teacher, develop my learning as much as possible. The theories will help me learn new skills regarding how to confidently engage in two-way communication. When students are able to interact with their teachers, they tend to model the same behavior, hence helping them recognize their hidden abilities and talents (Rogoff, 2003). Additionally, the theories will help me understand how to develop my confidence levels by responding to the questions raised professionally. Therefore, my teaching will revolve around the need to help all learners achieve their education goals by being attentive, listening to their needs, and guiding them accordingly all the time.

References

Al-Zawahreh, A., & Al-Madi, F. (2012). The utility of equity theory in enhancing organizational effectiveness. European journal of economics, finance, and administrative sciences, 46(3), 159-169.

Barry, B. M. (1973). The liberal theory of Justice: A critical examination of the principal doctrines in a view of Justice by John Rawls.

Faryadi, Q. (2007). Behaviorism and the construction of knowledge. Online Submission.

Gray, C., & MacBlain, S. (2015). Learning theories in childhood. Sage.

Lynch, K., & Baker, J. (2015). Equality in education: An equality of condition perspective. Theory and research in education, 3(2), 131-164.

Rogoff, B. (2003). The cultural nature of human development. Oxford University Press.

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Mid-Term Theoretical Paper (25 points)
¬ In a double-spaced, typed, 5-page paper, you will identify three (3) theories/theorists that most align with your personal teaching philosophy. Your paper must include the following:
• A brief description of each theory chosen

Theories That Align with My Teaching Philosophy

• A description of the ways in which these theories align with your personal teaching philosophy
• A description of how the combination of your personal teaching philosophy and theories will influence your actual teaching practice specific to: interactions with children, families, and the physical learning environment.
• APA style citations throughout and a reference page
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_style_introduction.html

I got my personal teaching philosophy written by you guys as well so I will be uploading that to this order and providing a couple of the readings that we have read so far in class that you can review as well while doing your research.