Where I Stand on the Philosophy Spectrum

After taking the brief poll "Where Do You Stand on the Philosophy Spectrum," I found that my beliefs aligned most with progressivism. This places me about right in the center in terms of being influenced by the arguments supporting teacher-centered approaches and those advocating student-centered approaches. On the one hand, I believe that a teacher-centered approach helps to maintain order in the classroom. Students know how they are expected to behave and are quiet during instructional time, and the teacher is able to maintain control over the classroom and activities. Under this view, students are more likely to learn on their own. This means that they are provided with opportunities to learn to be independent and make their own choices and decisions. Additionally, because the teacher is in charge of all classroom activities, they are able to ensure that the students do not miss any important topics and that there is time to make sure that all the information is gone through.

However, there are also several disadvantages to a teacher-centered approach. Because students are primarily working by themselves, they rarely have opportunities to work and collaborate with other students. This might result in the students not fully developing their communication skills, skills that are vital in today's society. Additionally, because the lessons are almost always teacher-centered, the students may get bored and begin to be distracted by little things. This may result in the students missing key information that the teacher is providing. Also, because there is so much focus on the teacher, there is little opportunity for the students to express themselves through active reflection or by asking questions, so students might begin to lose interest or be unable to make meaningful connections that will enable them to remember the new information being taught.

On the other hand, I believe that a student-centered approach also has its advantages. For example, there is much more group work involved in this approach. These means that students are able to learn and practice communication skills throughout the school day. Even though they are often working in groups, the teacher also sets time aside to allow students to ask questions and complete assignments on their own. This gives students an opportunity to reflect on what they have learned and connect the new information to their own experiences. Additionally, the interests and needs of the students are taken into account much more in this approach. This means that they will be more interested in what they are learning and therefore more eager and willing to participate in activities.

However, there are also several disadvantages to a student-centered approach as well. Students are much more active and interact more with fellow students in this approach. This may result in the classroom being too noisy or unorganized if the teacher is not on top of the class acting as a facilitator at all times. Also, because students can work according to their current level of ability, different students will be at different stages of their work, which can be hard for the teacher to keep track of and help them with, as each student requires individual attention. Additionally, if students prefer to work independently, they may not enjoy all of the group projects and collaborations that are typically associated with this approach.

When I become a teacher, I will try my best to make sure that my classroom practices will reflect my philosophy. For me, this means finding a balance between a teacher-centered approach and a student-centered approach. For example, I think that it is a good idea to go into the school year with somewhat of a structured plan or guidelines for myself and the students to follow. However, I also want to be flexible and able to change things to fit the individual needs and interest of the students in order to maintain their interests throughout the school year. Additionally, I can also create a balance between group work and independent learning to ensure that all students are not only understanding the material, but able to remember the new information in a way that works best for each of them as individuals. What will really help me in finding a balance between the two approaches will be student feedback, as the students are the ones who are learning, and it is very important that they are able to express themselves and have their voices heard so that they are able to learn to the best of their abilities.