Strategies used by teachers are crucial for effective transmission of knowledge. These strategies are mainly guided by educational philosophies invented to suggest how teaching should be done. Four major educational philosophies define the nature of knowledge. The primary role of teaching philosophies is to guide the way teachers disseminate knowledge to their students. The four theories mainly used are Essentialism, Perennialism, Progressivism, and Social Reconstructionism (Diehl, 2006). The theories give different beliefs on aspects of teaching and importance of each idea.
The first theory perennialism states that teaching should be a major way in which, students acquire knowledge on the importance of western civilization. The main aim of education should in this case be to pass everlasting constant ideas to the human at their critical. Perennials further explain that people are rational beings and need to be developed mentally. It is through this belief that the improvement of the intellect should be considered the most important aim of education. Therefore, teachers should ensure that as they teach, they could make students understand the subject by using strategies such as discussions, which help facilitate deeper understanding.
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The second theory Essentialism states that teaching should be conducted in a systematic and disciplined way that ensures that students maintain a particular standard of morals. Practice should be the main way teachers transmit knowledge to students enabling them to gain skills that help them become useful members of society. According to the essentialists, schools should not use policies to force students to live responsible lives. Students should be taught the importance of hard work, respect for authority, and discipline as part of their curriculum to ensure that they grow up as responsible people (Diehl, 2006).
The third theory that is used by most teachers is progressivism, which states that education should focus on the well-being of the student rather than that of the content being taught or the person teaching the student. In this theory, students are expected to learn more by testing ideas taught by their teachers. Students can gain more from their education if they solve problems and think of new ways of improving existing ideas.
The fourth and final theory that is mainly used by teachers is the social reconstructionism theory. The philosophy explains that education should be utilized as the primary source of social reform. According to the founder Theodore Brameld, human beings have the capability of making the society a better place by using technology, which helps in changing systems to overcome oppression and improve human conditions (Erkilic, 2008).
In conclusion, educational theories assist in guiding instructors to realize the right strategies to use in their classrooms to make learning useful. Perennialism and social reconstructionism can be termed as the greatest theories for the state the importance of teaching students content that is helpful and also adds value to the society. Teachers, in this case, are encouraged to make use of infrastructure such as technology to help students to learn and invent new things that assist them to make their communities better places. Therefore, the teachers should teach students skills they can put into place for them to make changes to existing societal laws that may not be making the world a better place.
References
Diehl, D. E. (2005). A study of faculty-related variables and competence in integrating instructional technologies into pedagogical practices (pp. 1-108).
Erkiliç, T. A. (2008). Importance of educational philosophy in teacher training for educational sustainable development. Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research , 3 (1), 1-8.
