ASSIGNMENT FOR PGCE [TEACHER TRAINING QUALIFICATION WITH QUALIFIED TEACHING STATUS]

Assignment for PGCE [Teacher training qualification with Qualified Teaching Status]

Assignment for PGCE [Teacher training qualification with Qualified Teaching Status]

Introduction

The main purpose of this writing is to present an overview of developing a personal philosophy of learning and teaching in your subject. My subject is Arts & Design. My personal philosophy of teaching and learning is a product of many influences including experience, instruction, a melding of the philosophies of past educators and an intrinsic sense of what is right (Addison 2000, 98). I have attempted to capsulate this philosophy in the seven belief statements that follow (Gardner 2003, 56). learners are individuals who bring a unique set of needs and abilities to the classroom and that they should be encouraged to become responsible for their own learning, especially as they mature

(Owen-Jackson 2002).

Discussion

Always among the highest expression of every culture, the arts teach us much about every historical period through its literature, visual arts, music, dance, and drama. Today it is recognized that to be truly well educated one must not only learn to appreciate the arts, but must have rich opportunities to actively participate in creative work. The arts are languages that most people speak, cutting through individual differences in culture, educational background, and ability. They can bring every subject to life and turn abstractions into concrete reality. Learning through the arts often results in greater academic achievement and higher test scores(Hickman 2005).

that a teacher's primary role is that of a facilitator of learning, creating opportunities for learning which improve the chances of student success. that the learning process is multifaceted, unique to each student, yet containing unifying threads of purpose in addressing the student as a whole person (Swanwick 1999, 78). the curriculum is a set of criteria designed, as much as possible, to meet the needs of students and should be offered to them in as compelling a manner as possible. that the learning environment is a shared, public place that must be welcoming, safe, and the responsibility of those who share it(Owen-Jackson 2002). it is important to recognize and embrace the diversity that arises from the milieu as it provides a myriad of opportunities to enhance student learning and growth (Weeks 2007, 45). Finally, if I am to be a good facilitator of the learning of others, I must embrace opportunities to expand my own learning on an ongoing, life-long basis. This includes allowing myself time to be critically reflective (Philpott 2001).

The first of these standards requires that my philosophy be based on my experiences. I recognize through this philosophy that students bring different biological, psychological and social experiences to the classroom(Hickman 2005). My philosophy welcomes and validates each of these experiences, valuing the benefits they bring to the learning environment.

My philosophy, though brief, is comprehensive in its outlook. Its focus on the needs of the individual is counterbalanced by the belief that the classroom must welcome diversity and requires that this same environment ...