Reflection on Week 4

Topic 4: Philosophy and Curriculum

Tyler’s view of philosophy in relation to school purpose

Major Philosophy

1)      IDEALISM 

  

     a) Highest aim: research for truth
 and values that will stand the test of time.

        b) Is the group of philosophies which assert that reality or reality as we can know it, is fundamentally mental, mentally constructed or otherwise immaterial.

    c) Truth and values are seen as absolute, timeless and universal.

      d) Stress on: importance of learning ideas and concepts.

-         Believe in reasoning

-         Have confidence in ideas that remain constant through time and place

-         Sharing ideas and great works that are universal, as well as long-lived.

Idealism curriculum

• Curriculum is hierarchical.
• Concepts and abstract subjects are the top subjects
• Promotes abstract thinking.
• Language subject is important.
• Addition... 
• 
  
  

2)     REALISM

1. Highly recommend the use of scientific investigation and sense in order to learn.
2. Focus: Physical world, arguing that reality, knowledge and value exist independent of the mind.
3. Realists believe that schools should promote human rationally observation and experimentation.

Realism Curriculum

Example:

Differences between Realism and Idealism

3) PRAGMATISM

• Referred to as experimentalism, based on change, process and relativity.

• Knowledge as a process in which reality is constantly changing

• Nothing can be viewed intelligently except in relation to a pattern

• Focus: idea of change.

Pragmatism Curriculum

1. Views teaching as more exploratory than explanatory
2. Considers teaching and learning as process of reconstructing experiencing according to scientific method.
3. Focus: Problem solving 

4) EXISTENTIALISM

• Stressed in individualism and personal self-fulfillment.

• Believe in the importance of personal choice and reflection of knowledge.

• prefer to free learner to choose what to study and determine what is truth.

Existentialism Curriculum

Educational Philosophies

1. Perennialism
2. Essentialism
3. Progressivism
4. Reconstructionism

Reflection on Week 3

Topic 3: Philosophical Foundations of Curriculum

Philosophy:

1. Greek word: “philos” (love) + “sophia” (wisdom) = love of wisdom
2. Also refers to the collection of works of other philosophers
3. Philosopher is...

• People who seek after wisdom and curious about the world seeking to understand the nature of things. 

• Study the work of other philosophers and state anew what others have put forward as well as proposing new philosophies.

• Can be a person who knows philosophy even though he or she engages in title or no philosophising.

Philosophy of Education

Reflection on Week 2

Topic 2: The Roles of Curriculum Worker

Who is curriculum workers?

1) Curriculum practitioners – expertise in instructional arena

2) Classroom teachers - plan instruction from curriculum ideas 

3) School administrators – involving in curriculum adjustments

4) Curriculum disseminators – make known to curriculum practitioners the existence of curricula and the proper methods of using them.

Curriculum evaluator

Roles:

1. To select, examine and assess data for the purpose of reporting – effectiveness, efficiency, worth of endeavors and creations of other curriculum workers.
2. Reports = aid in decision making.

• Materials
• Achievement
• Effectiveness
• Accountability
• 
  

Curriculum advocates

1. Are educators and members of the general public – concern and attempt to influence what is taught in schools and how it is taught.
2. People who know well about curriculum.

Curriculum developers

1. Intentionally create curriculum materials and strategies for other use in the instructional arena.
2. Example: textbook writer, teachers, curriculum specialists.

Curriculum theories

1. Examine the philosophical and ideological underpinnings of the existing curricula.
2. Study how curricula are used, disseminate, created and evaluated.
3. Speculate on what curricula should accomplish.
4. Write book – all for purpose of contributing to the general body of knowledge.

Role of curriculum worker:

1. Coordination of curriculum planning and development
2. Definition and application of curriculum theory
3. Design and application of curriculum research
4. Provision of aid in filling in-service needs of staff