Realism

Realism:

Like idealism, it is one of the oldest philosophies in Western culture. Aristotle rejects the idealists’ notion that only ideas are real, and believe that matter is also important but they are independent (ideas and matter). It emphasizes the issue of experience, and that learning cannot take place through thinking and revelation.

Methods:

According to realists, getting the right answer is more important than the answer itself. And this is based on the scientific method, which is done through observation and experimentation. And for small kids, learning takes place through classification, organization, and by play.

Realists use the inductive method, and think that education will not develop if it is not used. Since by following some idols, our knowledge will be limited and no improving and we will continue to be lethargic.

However, whatever the method used, it should come from systematic, organized, and dependable knowledge.

Role of a teacher:

According to realists, the teacher is not necessary a person, it might be a computer, or TV. And in all cases, his role is to teach the students everything that helps them live and survive in the society. The teacher must present materials in a systematic and organized way, and teach students to understand the information and apply it in real life. Moreover, teach them why they are learning these issues and their uses.

Role of a student:

 The student must understand the information either from the teacher or can have a tutor helping in the process of learning. And after understanding very well, a student must apply everything learned in their real lives.

Aim of education:

The main aim is also to gain knowledge and reach the truth using matter. Realists depend on self-preservation; they teach students to survive in the world and get adapted to their culture and fit in it, and teach morals in addition to that. Also helps them to understand matter and control it and not get controlled by it. Moreover, realists emphasize the practical side of education, linking every idea to real life and relate it to examples.

Idealism

Idealism:

It is considered as the oldest philosophy in the Western culture. The first teacher was Socrates. After his death, his student Plato published his ideas. It is based on ideas that are the only true reality. Most of the idealists tried to apply their principles to the practice of education. They think that the truth is absolute and is born inside human. They trust the mind and not the senses; “man cannot create knowledge, but discover it only”.

Methods:

Idealism is a traditional philosophy where the teacher is the center of the class, and must be the role model for the students. Idealists use the dialectic method in teaching; they depend on asking questions to the learners. They trigger thinking and force the learners to think and approach the truth, through intuition and revelation. Any new idea should be understood deeply through presenting the anti-thesis, or by the lecture method. The curriculum should be designed comprehensive not very specialized, and must include good values.

Role of the teacher:

Man cannot teach other, but just deliver the information from the inside of a student, since every human is born with innate information and ideas. So the teacher works as a facilitator helping students to bring out the ideas. The teacher is the central part of the class, so he must be a good role model for students, let them be happy by their products, and encourage them to ask questions and discover the new material.

Role of the student:

Students should adopt the good model presented by the teacher to be a good citizen. They must answer the questions asked by the teacher and react in the class to discover the new material. They should receive and memorize the lecture given by the teacher and then determine the rules for their lives.

Aims if education:

The major aim is to search for the truth. And the process of searching is more important than the truth itself.

This philosophy deals with human from the highest level of thinking, and thus their minds should be respected and treated from this high level. They should be asked questions that respect their mind and thinking abilities.

Another very important aim is the self- realization, which involves the full knowledge of the self. Also, it develops the child mentally, morally and most important spiritually.

Essentialism

Essentialism

It is a philosophy in education that focuses on teaching the “essentials” of life. It was a protest against the downfall of standards in so many schools so it created a movement in education at the 1930s. Especially those essentialists think that the progressive way is not helpful for the students’ achievement and development.

Methods:

Since it is based on the teacher, who is the designer of the curriculum and the center of the class, he must acts as an intellectual and ethical role model for the students. The teacher focuses on asking questions for the students and encourages their creativity and discovery of information.

Role of the teacher:

The teacher is the center of the classroom, he design the curriculum for the students. Also a teacher is a well qualified and appreciates the learning and development of the students.  And in order to be effective, a teacher establishes order in the class and avoids loudness and miss-organization. Moreover, he interprets the essentials of the learning process and character building. He should teach students how to be productive and how to live a proper life and be an important member in the society.

Role of the student:

Students should learn everything that is essential for their lives and future even they don’t like the topic. They take a passive role somehow because they must get the information and meet the standards the teacher put.

Aim of education:

The aim in this philosophy is to learn the essentials of academic understanding and the character building of an active member in the society, and tends to them to be happy in their lives. It teaches students to survive, including studies about the nature and environment. And the culture traditions and everything related to the past and provides knowledge and skills needed to be successful in a technological society.

Progressivism

Progressivism

This is a child-centered philosophy of education, based on the child himself not on the content or the teacher. It was established in America from the 1920s to 1950s. It is concerned on learning by doing and by experience done by students.

Methods:

This philosophy is based on experiments. It is active not passive, based on group work and thus it develops social skills for the students. The books are the main useful tools rather than authorities, and the curriculum is derived from what students are interested in and from questions and deductions from the students. Students should be encouraged to learn at an early age.

Role of the teacher:

The teacher is a facilitator, helping students to discover the new information. He focuses on questioning and getting the information from the students through real experiences. He uses the scientific method in teaching; that is to perform experiments and ask students to learn through experience: First by observing the experiment results, and then concluding the topic.

Role of a student:

The student is the center of the class here, he is a problem solver; his learning is based on thinking critically and getting solutions for problems throughout active experimentation. The center of the classroom is the student so any deduction must be drawn by him but after a real experience.  

Aims of education:

Education is not the preparation of life, it is life itself. Progressivism emphasizes a curriculum that focuses on the real world problem solving and individual development. Also focuses mostly on the child’s personal interests. Its aim is to bring up an intelligent generation that is prepared to live comfortably in the world.