My Philosophy of Education

My philosophy of education is simply the interaction of a learner and an experience which results in a change in knowledge, skills, and or character of the learner. This change will be reflected in the individual’s interaction with future activities, thoughts or events.

One of my favorite quotes on the subject of education comes from the late tennis pro Arthur Ashe who said, “Start where you are, use what you have and do what you can.”  This opens up a multitude of possibilities for teaching and learning.  With that said, education can happen at any time or in any location.  It is not limited to age, ethnicity or socioeconomic status.  It can be highly structures and planned or it can be haphazard and sporadic while often ebbing and flowing for an individual over time.

So how does the teacher, mentor, director, guide or facilitator fit into this picture?  In formal or structured education the organizer has the role of managing information and materials while acting as an overseer of the process ready and available to inspire, instruct, ask question and keep the process moving towards established goals or objectives.  This overseer frequently has a big picture perspective and is skilled in orchestrating some form of progression, moving forward and backwards along the learning continuum as necessary.

In the case of informal education, the teacher is often difficult to identify because there is not always a clear delineation of roles between the learner and the teacher.  For example when a new product is being developed who is the teacher and who is the learner on a development team?  Sometimes the roles are shares and a tag team of teacher or learner is created.

For education to actually happen a change has to be demonstrated by the learner.  Sometimes the learner is not overtly aware that a personal change has taken place.  Nevertheless, when learning has occurred the new behaviors will be played out as needs and situations arise calling for action from individual.  The cycle of a learner having an experience, acting or reacting to the situation, reflecting or processing the event and then rapidly making assumptions, predictions or generalizations about the scenario happens very quickly and is actively processed countless times during an individual’s life.

Learners carry the responsibility of mentally showing up and participating in the activities and events of daily life.  Individuals through active participation and reflection determine how experiences will influence their future personal growth.  When changes in behaviors, attitudes or skills are demonstrated the learner has experienced education.