(Re)Examining and (Re)Constructing a Philosophy of Education

Teaching is a craft, one that requires mindful reflection of the what, why, and how in learning spaces. The answers form the foundation for one's philosophy of education and inform most every aspect of an instructor’s designs and decisions.  This is equally applicable for tenured or full-time faculty whose philosophy statement is required as part of their application materials, to part-time faculty who come to the learning space with an abundance of industry and professional expertise, but limited background in teaching experiences.

This presentation will share the experience of facilitating a workshop in a community college setting for full- and part-time faculty across disciplines.  The focus of the workshop is to fundamentally integrate inclusivity in one’s education philosophy, acknowledging the nexus between student experiences and outcomes and faculty self-awareness.  For some participants, it’s a conscientious review of paradigms that underpin the designs and decisions of their learning environments.  For others, it’s a new and explicit articulation of latent beliefs and their manifestation in the classroom. Attendees of this presentation will have the opportunity to critically examine and discuss elements of the educational philosophy, ways in which they manifest in participants’ own philosophies, and consider impact on student outcomes.