My+Philosophy+of+Education

My Philosophy of Education ** I believe ** that the broad goals for education are to help students to develop the skills and build the knowledge necessary to participate fully in Canadian society and their community. These skills include literacy, numeracy and having a curiosity and awareness of their world and its many facets. I am passionate about learning. In my classroom, students could expect to be given opportunities to learn collaboratively. Lessons would be designed such that different learning styles would be used and any special needs could be met. Opportunities for differentiation would be identified and offered to those who wish to pursue them. These opportunities may be found in the breadth and depth of the material which is being presented, the pace at which it is shared and/or the manner in which the student demonstrates what they have learned. Technology can play several roles. As the teacher, I may use presentation software such as PowerPoint in classroom, educational software in a computer lab, or show relevant videos/DVDs. For some students, technology may be the tool used in preparing an assignment. The product may be a podcast, an animated presentation or a photo essay, for example. Communication with the students and their parents may be done through a wiki on the internet, e-mail, or the more traditional telephone call or printed copy. The lessons in my classroom will show similarities to those of other teachers assigned the same course because we will discuss and share our ideas. In some circumstances this will be required of us but, even if it is not, I expect to share my successes so that others may benefit, and look for input so that those ‘other’ lessons can be better next time. I believe that teamwork is essential for a productive, positive environment. Such teamwork will build on our collective strengths and help us to deliver the best learning environment to all of our students. Students must be challenged. Since each student brings different knowledge and experiences into the classroom, an activity which may be challenging for one may not be for another. Students also learn well from one another. Working with their peers, such as doing a lab activity with a partner, or planning a debate in a small group, allow for the students to contribute to each other’s learning, and for some differentiation. Circulating among them as they work on a shared task allows me to observe, contribute and build a sense of what they know and understand, and how they think. There will be times when my classroom is full of activity and productive noise. I hope to give them enough choices which both meet the curriculum expectations and allow them to learn about what interests them. While the subject which I teach may not ever be their favourite, I hope that by the end of the semester the students __all__ feel that they have learned something useful and have developed a greater appreciation and understanding of that subject. For those who have discovered a new interest, I would hope to be able to share with them ways to allow their passion to grow and develop. When I completed my undergraduate degree, over twenty years ago, I did not feel that I knew enough to share my knowledge. I wanted to learn more, so I went to graduate school. Now, after a PhD, seventeen years at the Canada Science and Technology Museum and two children, I am ready, willing and able to share. While I did some sharing in a variety of ways over the years through my volunteering, I now wish to share my passion and my enthusiasm with students in the classroom on a full-time basis. After years of interacting with them along the way, I want to join students in their journeys of discovery. I am confident that, together, we can help each other learn and grow.
 * I believe ** that students learn in many different settings and by doing many different things. School is where the framework for all of their learning is built and re-enforced. Their complementary experiences should be recognized as being contributions to their overall education.
 * I believe ** that every student needs to develop into the best person that they can be. They must be free to present themselves as who they are and should expect that that person will be respected and accepted by myself, and the others in the school community.
 * I believe ** that I have knowledge and experience which, if shared in an effective manner, will be of benefit to the students as they follow their own educational pathways.
 * I believe ** that, as a teacher, my job is to facilitate my students’ learning. I will do this by providing many varied opportunities where learning can occur. I must also give the students opportunities to demonstrate and share their learning. I will gather evidence of that learning and provide feedback such that each student will see how their knowledge and understanding is growing and where there are places for further improvement. This feedback will be both informal and formal.
 * I believe ** that, as a teacher, I must be a model for the commitment, willingness to learn, dedication, cooperation, respectfulness and caring that I hope to see in my students. They must see this in how I interact with __all__ members of the school community.
 * I believe ** that the popularization of science is an important tool in the development of //scientific literacy// which is crucial for an informed citizenry. Our future needs to have citizens who can understand the issues and have informed opinions on them. This future will also be improved if many members of our country can express themselves in //both of Canada’s official languages//. I wish to contribute to the realization of those two goals.