Clifton Kervin

Fall 2014
ETECH 524
Philosophy of Education
Philosophical SelfAwareness
I believe every student can learn and be successful.
This belief derives from personal experience. When I was younger, I excelled at sports.
Although I was also a great student, I was often labeled as the athlete. Even though certain
adversaries made it difficult to succeed, I excelled academically and proved others wrong. I
believe students, no matter what their background consists of, can be successful. I grew up in a
family of blue collar workers with no formal education post high school. Despite those
situations, they still valued my education and pushed me to succeed.
I believe that physical education is a need that has to be met in order to excel academically.
All types of education are important; academic, social, physical, and health. Physical
education can possibly be considered just as important as a core subject. Learning appropriate
practices in health and wellness prolongs lifespan, and expands potential of brain development
and growth. This belief stems from academic experiences in which I was introduced to the idea
of brain development in relation to movement. Eric Jensen has brought light to the relationship
between movement and learning. The cerebellum (the part of the brain that controls movement)
also houses 40 million nerve fibers, and connects pathways to memory, attention, and spatial
perception. In his article, Jensen notes:
Currently, the MEDLINE database shows more than 33,000 scientific articles on the topic of
exercise, and the vast majority of them confirm its value. One study showed that people who
exercise have far more cortical mass than those who don't (Anderson, Eckburg, & Relucio,
2002). Simple biology supports an obvious link between movement and learning. Oxygen is
Clifton Kervin
Fall 2014
ETECH 524
essential for brain function, and enhanced blood flow increases the amount of oxygen
transported to the brain. Physical activity is a reliable way to increase blood flow, and hence
oxygen, to the brain.
http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/104013/chapters/Movement-and-Learning.aspx
Physical education is not judged by winning or losing. In most contests, the winner is
prevailed by scoring more points than the opponent. This means, half of the participants lost. In
P.E., learning the concept of sport and the ability to lose gracefully within good sportsmanship is
a skill that will apply to thousands of situations in life. Students need physical education daily,
not just for physical health, but also for social and emotional health.
Understanding Different Pedagogical Perspectives/Concepts

I have a present knowledge of several theorists that have helped mold my core beliefs
about education and how we grow with learning. Maslow and Piaget are two that I can connect
to my personal beliefs.
Maslows Hierarchy of Needs provides a pyramid diagram that lists specific things which
people need to function. Physiological needs, Safety, Love/Belonging, Esteem, and Self
Actualization are the topics in which Maslow categorizes as a need that should be met in order to
be fulfilled as human beings.
Piagets Cognitive theory of development helps us to see the progressive stages of
development in children and adolescents. His theory is particularly important because in order to
teach children, we need to understand how they think and learn. The specific stages include
sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, formal operational.
Clifton Kervin
Fall 2014
ETECH 524

Recognition of Instructional Issues

There are a multitude of complex issues that occur in education. Every class has an
increasingly diverse group of students. There are many subcategories that make lesson planning,
classroom management, and health/well-being tough to obtain perfectly. Teachers are faced with
a laundry list of what ifs that provide them with at-risk students.
The diversity of our students always provides us with students at differing academic
levels. Where I live, an issue that is becoming more prevalent is how to properly educate and
provide support to English Language Learners. Not only are there major state requirements, but
language barriers can be challenging in the classroom. These issues can range from academic
categories such as dealing with the actual students vocabulary base, to communicating with the
students parents. Even with adequate training, these situations can be challenging.
At many Title 1 schools, we see students that are at risk for a myriad of reasons. Their
issues may range from coming from a low-income family, single parent households, parent in
prison, being raised by a relative other than their parent, minorities, as well as psychological and
emotional mental health problems. These issues, many times, occur simultaneously. Many of
these students do not have the help or support at home that they really need to be successful. This
makes our job even more challenging. These reasons are the underlying causes that inspire my
passion for physical education. Physical education is a way for students to feel good about
themselves and their body. It provides them with an avenue for enjoyment and success when
other paths seem overwhelming. It helps them learn to like school and can give them an outlet to
relieve stress.
Clifton Kervin
Fall 2014
ETECH 524
Application of Pedogogical Perspectives/Concepts

Maslow and Piagets ideas connect directly to the instructional problems teachers face
today. Students from low income families often have multiple layers of the pyramid that are not
fulfilled. When students do not have adequate housing, food, or water, it is very difficult to learn.
When moving up the pyramid to feelings like love and belonging, students may also experience a
lack of substance. Different family dynamics are all background issues effecting the students
performance in the classroom.
Piagets ideas focused more on the development of the child. However, we know that not
all students develop the same and at the same rate. When we understand the phase of
development are students are in, we can identify problems and find solutions. If we do not take
these ideas into perspective, a child who is crying out for help may look like a disrespectful
student. However, if we choose not to look at their developmental stages, we can hinder the
student that could otherwise have been helped. Piaget also brings to light the most important
aspect of education, in that children need to be educated! Education is the only way to solve the
issues our society and future generations will face. Piaget said this best when he notes-"only
education is capable of saving our societies from possible collapse, whether violent, or gradual."
Approach to and Evaluation of Teaching with Technology

Although we need to study the theorists of the past, we also need to look at our students
today and our future. We live in an ever-changing technological world. We have to use our
resources in order to provide students with the best education possible. Teaching without
technology is not an option anymore. In order for students to be successful citizens in todays
Clifton Kervin
Fall 2014
ETECH 524
society, we have to integrate technology into all subject areas. Students will use technology for a
large part of their adult life. We have to teach them a sense of accountability for the choices they
will make. Technology is a great asset. However, with this comes a great responsibility. Students
need to learn appropriate practices for using technology. They need to understand how to
communicate socially and academically using technology. The days of filling out a paper
application and going door to door for a job are gone. We manage finances, work, socialize, and
learn using technology. I believe technology is a great resource that can and will help shape the
way we teach in the future.
Learning is a lifelong process. My philosophy now will change, grow, and evolve as my
teaching experience progresses. My first year teaching philosophy should not be the same after
a prolonged career. Although aspects of my core beliefs may be the same, I hope to expand my
education and confidence with each class I encounter. I will and should learn just as much from
the students, as they do from me. I believe if we limit our own education, we cap off a lifetime of
knowledge and capability to our students. Only when we are open to encountering the same
experiences that we ask of our students will we be able to truly understand education. In theory
of sport, did you learn more from losing or winning? Learning how to lose in a healthy manner is
a lesson that can be used in all facets of life.