Introduction:
Philosophy is the love of wisdom and is the root of beliefs which guides in formulating ideas with reasonable judgments. It is one of the basic underpinnings of education. It integrates one’s values, beliefs, and thoughts. Every individual has a unique and diverse philosophy of teaching and learning and is not easy to learn at one point in time. It requires persistent deep reflections, experience, and efforts to find out; and inculcate inner thoughts.
My teaching and learning philosophy has started from childhood period and gradually emerged from the school days of my life. The beautiful days ever. Initially, I have learned my values from my parents, siblings and then from school, peers, and from experiences either positive or negative.
My teaching philosophy is built on a conviction that learning needs should be student centered and that students need must be equal buddied in the learning process.
Students
Every learning environment contains a unique group of students that differs in their abilities as well as their in learning styles. When students enter in academia they need a caring and motivating atmosphere in which they grow, mature, and learn. It is a crucial responsibility of the teacher to facilitate students to meet their potentials by providing an environment that is welcoming and pleasing the sharing of ideas.
My philosophy in perspective of a student is similar to Edward Morgan Foster that “Spoon feeding in the long run, teaches us nothing but the shape of the spoon” [1]. Instead of spoon feeding by the teacher, students as adult learners are self-responsible to learn, grow, and polish their skills. The teacher role is to provide learners the tools with which they cultivate their own gardens of knowledge and truncate themselves. The core purpose of the teacher behind providing an inclusive and rigorous learning environment is to challenge and engage young students in growing as passionate learners. The teachers seek to develop strategies for stirred, creative, and independent learners who can determine strong social values and leadership skills in future, when interacting with the community. The teacher works as a facilitator that offers an opportunity to share experiences and clarify queries if any. However, it is the accountability of students that how they indulge in learning and take maximum benefits from their teachers.
Teachers
Teachers are the role model for their learners. Teachers require implementation of classroom practices that reflect their philosophical beliefs because students imitate and follow them in lives. For instance, a teacher has the great opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the learners, therefore needs to be dedicated to evolving essential knowledge, skills, and attributes to foster this vital role.
The teachers’ role in the classroom includes using their expertise to put the necessary resources open for the students or more likely to be certain that students are well equipped to find and evaluate the resources they need to solve their queries. The teacher creates a conducive learning environment that forces students to work in groups and enhance interpersonal skills. Besides the content learning, I believe that unchanging values in the changing environment must be passed on to each student by teacher’s role modeling, value integration, and value inculcation in his/ her lesson.
My teaching philosophy in view of a teacher is that teacher role is to facilitate the development of each individual to the optimum and maximum level by reaching out all the learners without preconceptions, and making every student feel good and confident about her/ himself through the experience of success in the classroom environment.
Learning environment
My philosophy about learning environment is that it is not only based on the physical location or structure, but it also includes the psychological part. So, a joy-filled learning environment is one which fosters the development of curiosity, optimism, flexibility, self-motivation, and a sense of fun for the adult learners.
I consider the classroom as a better place for learning than any other setting. So, it is an incumbent upon teachers to create novel and innovative ways of learning in the learning environment to help students become successful achievers in future. Moreover, I believe that there are some substantial components that are conducive in establishing a good learning atmosphere; the teacher act as a mentor or guide and allows the students’ natural curiosity to direct their learnings.
In learning students must feel that they matter and their views are taken into consideration; therefore, it is essential for the teachers to generate friendly and collaborative environment. I have faith in what I have experienced in my learning environment that collaborative environment is the core component for developing mutual respect and nurturing positive relationships with peers.
Curriculum and Delivery
An effective curriculum of any program addresses each domain of education for the sustainability of learners in term of life-long learning [2]. I believe a good curriculum of the program reflects on the vision, mission, and goals statement of the institute. I have faith in that students learn best when their concepts, skills, and experiences are strengthened across the disciplines and grade levels in the curriculum. I also believe that learning material relevant to course content and reflect curriculum objectives is essential even more so is the manner in which it is taught.
My philosophy about curriculum and delivery is that subjects are interdisciplinary
integrative, interactive, and it must be focused on the students’ interest, current and future trends. In this way, those evidence base practices, subjects, experiences, and activities are included in the curriculum that is expected to meet the demands of society.
Conclusion
Teaching and learning is the life-long journey. It is not only limited to classroom learning, but it is beyond that level. Teacher owns the main role in the construction of student’s personality throughout the educational journey. By knowing this fact that every individual has diverse potentials with unique priority based learning needs. So, it is the accountability of a teacher to facilitate student in gaining knowledge, acquiring different skills, and developing critical thinking through designing and implementing on various innovative strategies.
Furthermore, the optimistic, friendly, and reassuring milieu along with teachers’ support system creates a good atmosphere in students’ lifelong learning.
While concluding the philosophy paper, I would say that all educational activities, from the level of students, teachers, and classroom setting to the curriculum decisions levels and to the policy level at the school, university, national or international levels, inevitably rest upon philosophical assumptions, privileges, and positions. Civilizations that value their level of education and want that it be led in a thoughtful and informed way, do not overlook the philosophy of education at their peril.
