Benjamin Ayres
EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY COACH
Educational Philosophy
By Benjamin Ayres
Introduction
This is a picture of me in a "You Can't Take It With You" as the wise grandfather.
(Photo credit: Cindy Ayres)
"There is no knowledge that is not valuable."
Edmund Burke
"The beginning of wisdom is to desire it."
Solomon IBN
In teaching, knowledge is possessed only when one is interested in learning and participating. In order to become a successful teacher, one must realize that students learn best when inspired. Students must learn the basics of life in order to succeed in an ever evolving world. Once the basics are achieved, then the student can utilize that basic knowledge and progress to fields of greater interests. “There is no knowledge that is not valuable.” Edmund Burke, Speech on American Taxation. Teachers are there to inspire and motivate students to become more than ordinary, and to make a difference in the world. I want to inspire my students to become greater. I want to give them a passion for learning. My approach to teaching revolves around the philosophies of progressivism, essentialism, technology in education, and social reconstructive thought.
Progressive
The solution to gaining knowledge is by being progressive in inspiring the minds of the learners. I believe that knowledge is an active experience. Inspired students strive for a deeper understanding of the subject that they are learning. Experiencing the content first hand makes the information personal and relevant creating more questions and desiring more answers. I believe that interest in the subject is imperative for teaching and learning to take place. Other factors to creating a suitable learning environment are to create a well managed classroom and to respect the student as a unique individual. In creating an atmosphere of learning, it is vital that teachers not only have the knowledge to share, but also have the passion to learn more. “What makes a great teacher cannot be taught in any book, course or seminar. It comes from the heart, the soul, and the inquisitive mind of a life long learner.” Unknown.
Many seek knowledge and understanding in the grand temple in Kathmandu, Nepal.
(Photo Credit: Phil West)
“What makes a great teacher cannot be taught in any book, course or seminar. It comes from the heart, the soul, and the inquisitive mind of a life long learner.” Unknown.
This is a picture of me experimenting with a slow shutter speed on my camera during July 4th.
(Photo Credit: Jeanadette Ayres)
Technology
I also believe that there is a unique relationship between technology, pedagogy, and knowledge. It is essential that a teacher is able to blend these concepts in order to create lessons that are engaging, relevant, and effective. It is vital that technology is considered when developing a lesson. Technology is constantly developing and with the internet we have the greatest resource ever developed by humanity in teaching and learning. Being able to use these resources in learning should be every effective teachers' repertoire. However, not every lesson needs technology to be effective. Technology is like a pencil it should be considered to be a tool in order to help the teacher learn and should be used appropriately. Technology is only as powerful as the teacher that uses it. In order to succeed students must have the skills of the future and it is up to teachers to develop those skills appropriately.
Essentialism
The key to unlock the mystery of what is worth knowing lies partially in the philosophy of essentialism. Providing the basic building blocks of life must be of principle concern in any education system. To present a student a way to survive in the world must be the primary goal in the classroom. Once the essentials are there to build off of, then the exploration can take place. Once the student has a way to survive in the world, through self reflection and real life experience, the student can delve deeper into his or her self and create a more fulfilling life. Students can be introduced to different subject matter across the curriculum to enhance learning of the basics, but unless the student can be a productive member of society, what has school achieved?
This is one of my 21st century lego robotics programming classes in action.
(Photo Credit: Benjamin Ayres)
Conclusion
The passion to learn new things is fundamental to the learning process. The only way for students to succeed in life is to know the basic building blocks of education: reading, writing, and arithmetic. “You cannot teach a man anything. You can only help him discover it himself.” Galileo Galilei. Only then can a teacher really start the process of helping the student learn and consequently start changing the lives of tomorrow by touching one life today.
This is a picture of my first visit to the Japanese fortress in Tokyo, Japan an essentailist culture.
(Photo credit: Jeanadette Ayres)
Social Reconstruction
This leads to the idea of social reconstruction through education. Students are like a lump of clay at the teachers hands. By providing the questions to inspire and the desire to make a difference, teachers are in fact molding students into pottery that contains the future of tomorrow. There is so much potential in a piece of wet clay, just as there is hidden potential in a student. Teachers are the difference between wasted potential and realized potential. As school becomes the potter’s wheel, the teachers hands help to give shape to the clay. With patience the clay takes on its own form and is then transformed into something beautiful and purposeful. Although the student has a lot to overcome such as racism, poverty, or a stressful home, with diligence and management from teachers, the student will become the work of art for which he or she is destined.