Running Head: ARTIFACT #1 PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION 1

Artifact # 1

Personal Philosophy of Education

Teresa Silva Cipriani

EDU 202

College of Southern Nevada

April 19, 2020

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Profession

Nelson Mandela, the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize winner and the first black President in

South Africa, said: “Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world”

( Mandela, 2003), and he is undoubtedly right. I decide to pursue a career as an educator because

I firmly believe that knowledge is an essential and incredible force. Education is much more than

a simple tool for unlocking the complexities of this world. For me, knowledge enrichment is the

essence of life, and educating is the best tool for social transformation. Being a teacher is a

unique force where I will have the opportunity to contribute to change in society.

Throughout my life, I have had different experiences that inspired me to be a teacher. The

main reason is that I have always wanted to help the less fortunate because I saw children

struggling in my country, and I promised myself to help them to have at least a primary

education. Furthermore, I have had many teachers and professors who have both inspired me as a

student and made me feel confident that this is the career I want to pursue in my life. Aside from

learning, my favorite part of school was always getting the opportunity to share my knowledge

with friends, family, and anyone else I have met. Teaching is not only providing information but

helping to learn. As a teacher, I must have specific characteristics, abilities, aptitudes, and

knowledge to perform effectively. By updating my experience, I have acquired and reinforced

these essential skills for this 21st century:

a. Ease in constructively relating to students: Having a good relationship and

communication with your students is essential in the training process and its

development. Giving individual attention required will increase the chances that they will

receive learning more efficiently.

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b. Improved my strategy to plan the teaching process: I think it is essential to organize what

you want to teach and what students are expected to learn. It is not only about applying a

manual to the letter, but it is also necessary to know how to select what content and

resources to use in each class.

c. I reinforced my strategies to administer teaching methodologies: It is necessary and

crucial that each teacher knows various teaching methodologies to apply them

appropriately in each situation (individual classes, group work, reinforcement, etc.).

d. I always research and reflect on teaching and how to improve my techniques: Not only

must students learn, but as a teacher, I must be continually learning. Applying what I

think appropriate, and modifying some processes, always looking for the good of the

students and their development.

e. I can make a bond easily with the students: Talking with them about their previous ideas

are, what they are capable of learning at a given moment, their learning style. What

inspires or discouraging motives they have, their work habits, the attitudes and values

that they manifest towards the detailed study of each topic, and so on.

The class can no longer be a one-way situation. The interactive methodology is better

because the management of the relationship with the student and the students among themselves

is part of the quality of teaching. With all the knowledge acquired plus the experience, I have the

capability and the skills I need that will serve to give the pupils a quality education that will

benefit future generations. The field observation experience opened a fresh vision of knowledge

on my educational perspectives. I was assigned to an excellent cooperating teacher. She got

prepared to teach her class, and most of her students confided in her by asking for advice and

seeking her wisdom. I found my field observation as a tremendously significant educational

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enrichment. The fact of knowing how the students worked, developed, and reacted in the school

environment was very exciting and intense for me. The teacher was efficient in planning

coursework. I could appreciate that the methodology she used was very accurate, and I could

observe the active participation that the teacher achieved in the students. I must say that this

activity helped me to reinforce the decision already made about my future field of work. Through

these hours of research and observation in class, I have opened my eyes to what the teaching

career is about, and I began to feel the emotion of familiarizing myself with my future work. I

also remembered the happy moments and the satisfaction when I was teaching in Peru. All this,

together with children's love, makes me feel eager to be an educator.

Teaching

My educational philosophy is centered on essentialism, perennialism, progressivism,

social reconstructionism, and existentialism. However, at present, schools need more than that —

psychological orientation: constructivism and behaviorism — both are crucial keys to guiding

the current educational practices. If I blend them, my educational philosophy, and my

psychological adjustment, the students will learn more efficiently. Creating this new scheme will

encourage the students to be the managers of their educational development and in which the

teacher or instructor will be a guide, a facilitator.

On the other hand, every educational center should work together with the teachers and

help learners to stimulate their creativity and develop critical thinking. Critical thinking, along

with creativity, enable students to analyze, synthesize, and apply what they have learned in

different ways. Understanding the similarities and differences creates a greater awareness of

diversity. It avoids other's discrimination for being different since discriminatory practices exit
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from the fear generated in the person by the factor that others are different, and this fear, in turn,

creates hatred, rejection, stereotyping, and finally, bullying.

The better knowledge and respect of those around us, especially in a multicultural

context, allows the teacher and students to broaden their world view by learning about other

cultures and the reasons why it differs from their own. Even when speaking of culture, we point

to human groups; we must not forget that each person is individual and unique, with their

personal stories, expectations, experiences, and hopes. To be unique implies that everyone has a

particular way to understand the world. As a future teacher, I must know the individual

differences of the students, adapt the work to these differences and create an environment

comfortable and free so that they can participate in this learning process in a warm, open,

relaxed, and creative way.

We have undergone many significant changes in recent decades, which have been

accentuated in the last years. There has been a change in values, forms, demands, and attitudes

that affect all personal and social areas of education. I believe that my knowledge of different

events in the dark corners of world histories, including racism, slavery, gender inequalities,

discrimination against those of other sexual orientations, and other human rights violations, will

help me as a future educator. I will focus my lessons on a constructive educational, multicultural

environment with equal opportunities, concentrating on doing positive change in this world.

Instruction

To enhance educational achievements, we must be willing to spend time and attention to

work with the students, parents, and the school. I have always believed and agree, that “barriers

to learning are not, in fact, inherent in students' abilities, but arise from their interaction with

inflexible methods and materials” (Burrello, Saylor, & Kleinhammer-Tramill, “Unifying

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Educational Systems”, p. 146). I will implement strategies and approaches to create an inclusive

and deliberative classroom environment. Students and I will develop a language of thought,

autonomous learning, and collaboration that I will use consistently. All of that is going to

provide me the right tools I require to achieve students become familiar with the language of

thought, and they will become more metacognitively aware of their thought processes and

acquire more control over these. All of that will help them to be mature and strategic thinkers. As

a teacher, I must keep in mind the purpose of educational strategies is to help educators develop

the strengths of students. I hope they will be formed as people proud of themselves, capable of

facing any situation presented to them with critical thinking, with a high level of responsibility

and values.

Future

As a future teacher, I know that teaching is not just about the dissemination of academic

knowledge; you have to guide students on the right path. To be a good teacher, you have to have

patience, respect for learning, empathy, compassion, and a desire to help others. The profession

of a teacher involves many sacrifices, but it is well worth it for the love we feel for our students.

a. I must be responsible and an excellent example to follow. As a teacher, I must adhere to

the same rules that I hope my students will abide by.

b. Surpassing myself and acquiring new teaching tools. Like all competent professionals

and dedicated teachers who love their work, I will continuously seek ways to be better

and never allow myself to be overcome by pride or feel more or less than anyone. Find

mentors to keep moving forward.

c. Always maintain a positive attitude and love for my work. Teachers who love their work

are easy to recognize as they convey a sense of vitality and positive energy in their
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classes. They also often have a sense of humor and wit that motivates their students to

learn with them, no matter how difficult or boring the subject may be.

d. Be adaptable and flexible. Have the ability to make changes to lesson plans because of an

unanticipated situation or issue. A teacher must be willing to make changes. If half the

class does not understand a particular concept, they cannot go ahead and have to find a

better way to explain that concept quickly.

e. Know how to listen to students and adapt to their needs. Great teachers know when to

look to their students and when to give them emotional support. However, they also have

the intuition necessary to know when to ignore them and continue with their instincts,

since they are aware of the usefulness of what they are teaching and the way they do it.

f. Know how to communicate and work with families. Depending on the educational level,

much of the teaching work takes place outside the classroom in communication with the

parents of the students. For the student to be successful, it is essential that teachers can

work collaboratively with them and that a direct and open communication channel is

always maintained. This does not mean that what parents want or recommend is ever

done since a good teacher knows what is best for their students.

g. Trust my students. A great teacher sincerely believes that his students are capable of

success and demands them accordingly. This does not mean that mistakes are seen as a

failure, but that you have enough confidence to motivate them to overcome them and

always reach more. A good teacher cares about his students.

h. Always Forgive and quickly forget incidents with students, parents, or other teachers so

that this does not negatively impact my teaching. As a teacher, I must be able to
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overcome swiftly hurtful actions or accusations. Teachers should not hold a grudge

against any student or allow that to affect the classroom.

I have my goals very clear and specific. I am going to prepare myself conscientiously to

pass my Praxis Core exam; I am currently working part-time for the Clark County School

System and part-time in the CSN student worker program, to cover my expenses. I need to take

four more classes to obtain my AA Degree; I am planning to transfer to the National University

of Las Vegas (UNLV) or maybe accept one of the invitations from other universities and start

my career in artificial intelligence. I also have in mind to do a few hours of volunteering to gain

experience.
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References

Burrello, L. C., Saylor, W., & Kleinhammer-Tramill, J. (n.d.). Unifying Educational Systems.
Retrieved April 16, 2020, from https://books.google.com/books?
id=Y4zCBYaG6CMC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world and Mindset Network is
a powerful part of that world changing arsenal. (2003). Retrieved April 18, 2020, from
https://www.mindset.africa/#tenfold

Sadker, D. M., & Zittleman, K. R. (2018). Teachers, schools, and society: a brief introduction to
education (5th ed.). NY, NY, NY: McGraw-Hill Education Create.