Whether seeking to improve their learning environments or enhance programs and curricula, many educators in leadership and development roles gain necessary expertise by earning advanced degrees. Options like the online Master of Science in Education (MSE) in Educational Theory and Practice program from Arkansas State University (A-State) offer the advanced studies and credential aspiring leaders need within a convenient, flexible format, ideal for the working educator.
A-State’s specialized master’s degree introduces educators to theories and best practices that can elevate their teaching and student learning. A core course in this advanced program focuses on the philosophies of education, as exploring the foundational philosophies that inform teaching theory, practice and strategy is key to understanding and improving educational programs, curricula and instructional methods.
The Fundamentals of Successful Teaching
A core understanding of the principles of education is foundational to advanced knowledge and practice in the field. These fundamental principles provide a basis for developing the range of skills teachers use to reach as many students as possible, despite the different learning needs that may exist in one classroom.
For instance, learning skills such as differentiating instruction allows teachers to adapt their teaching methods to student learning needs and make sure that no one student falls behind others in the classroom. Integrating approaches like inquiry-based learning can further engage students in the learning process, helping them develop critical thinking, problem-solving skills and the intrinsic motivation to continue learning. Incorporating reflective teaching methods spurs educators to continuously advance their own practice, in turn improving student learning outcomes.
Such techniques and practices may seem like modern innovations and forward-thinking approaches. Yet they are often rooted in educational philosophies and principles that formed the bedrock of successful teaching for decades or even centuries.
Tracking Philosophies of Education
Teachers who earn an MSE in Educational Theory and Practice from A-State acquire an advanced understanding of the philosophies of education that generate today’s teaching approaches. Knowing how education arrived at its current state enables teachers to keep a critical eye on the field’s direction, ensuring that it develops in a manner best suited to student learning.
This area of study helps teachers grasp the broader scope, direction and foundations of modern education. Yet, it also helps teachers understand emerging practices in the context of how they fit into educational philosophy and theory. Viewing innovative techniques through the lens of their philosophical underpinnings provides teachers with a unique perspective that can be crucial for selecting and implementing instructional methods intentionally and successfully.
Educational Philosophy Examples: Teacher-centered Learning
Philosophies of education generally fit into two categories: Teacher-centered learning and student-centered learning. Teacher-centered philosophies emphasize that the best way to ensure student learning is to maintain teaching uniformity. The teacher is the authority in the classroom and the focus of educational practices such as delivering instruction, choosing topics and evaluating student learning.
Perennialism is one example of a teacher-centered philosophy of education. It is based on the assumption of timeless ideas and universal truths, maintaining that education should focus on great works of art, literature, history and science in order to create stable, shared cultures.
Essentialism is another teacher-centered philosophy of education. Essentialism focuses on the teacher as the authority, delivering a highly structured, standardized curriculum intended to facilitate the mastery of essential academic subjects.
Student-centered Learning Philosophies and Approaches
Student-centered philosophies of education take a different stance. These philosophies maintain that global culture is constantly developing and no one-size-fits-all approach can effectively teach all varieties of students. Student-centered philosophies developed as a reaction to more traditional, teacher-centered education methods. Educators began to consider teaching and learning as cooperative processes, rather than a single authoritarian practice.
Social reconstructionism is an example of student-centered education, emphasizing that learning should drive social responsibility and positive change. In a social reconstructionist educational setting, teachers empower students to take an active role in their education, think critically and create meaningful solutions to challenging societal problems.
Another student-centered philosophy is existentialism, which argues that students must be able to direct their learning if they are to develop as people of free will. Similarly, constructivism is a student-centered approach based on the idea that students construct their own knowledge and comprehension through experience, reflection and exploration. Teachers facilitate student learning through providing opportunities to build on previous knowledge and experience. The inquiry-based learning approach noted above is a prime example of constructivism in practice.
Progressivism is a student-centered educational philosophy that also focuses on actively learning through experience and problem-solving. Progressivism recognizes that relevance is important to learning. This philosophy holds that learning experiences should relate to students’ lives and interests, supporting independent and critical thinking as well as lifelong learning. This philosophy informs numerous modern approaches to education such as personalized learning.
Advancing a Career Through Understanding Educational Philosophy
Exploring the philosophies of education is essential for educators who want to monitor and participate in the further growth of the teaching field. Integrating knowledge of impactful educational philosophies with active self-reflection also helps teachers better understand and improve their own teaching practices.
These and other fundamental principles are important focal points of study in A-State’s MSE in Educational Theory and Practice program. Teachers who wish to lead both in the classroom and in their districts will need a strong foundation in the principles and philosophies that underly contemporary education. Advanced education degrees provide excellent opportunities to build these foundations.
Learn more about the online MSE in Educational Theory and Practice program from Arkansas State University.