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EDUC5010 Week 4 Portfolio Activity Unit 4

This document discusses the eclectic approach to education philosophy. The eclectic approach believes that no single philosophy can adequately address all aspects of education, and that the best approach is to combine elements from multiple philosophies. The author subscribes to eclecticism in their own teaching, using different philosophies like pragmatism and naturalism depending on the subject matter. Studies have found eclecticism leads to improved student outcomes compared to traditional teaching methods. Eclecticism allows teachers flexibility to choose the most effective approaches for their students.

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Leisa Gordon
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330 views3 pages

EDUC5010 Week 4 Portfolio Activity Unit 4

This document discusses the eclectic approach to education philosophy. The eclectic approach believes that no single philosophy can adequately address all aspects of education, and that the best approach is to combine elements from multiple philosophies. The author subscribes to eclecticism in their own teaching, using different philosophies like pragmatism and naturalism depending on the subject matter. Studies have found eclecticism leads to improved student outcomes compared to traditional teaching methods. Eclecticism allows teachers flexibility to choose the most effective approaches for their students.

Uploaded by

Leisa Gordon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Did any of the varied philosophies surprise you?

Did you find that any components ‘spoke’ to


you although you didn’t initially think you would agree with that philosophy? Do you think
any philosophies spark changes in educational practice or instructional models over time?

It is very important that every teacher has a philosophy of education that they can

subscribe to. According to Browne (2017) “A teaching philosophy is a narrative essay which

reflects an individual’s beliefs and values about teaching and learning, often including concrete

examples of the ways in which that individual enacts those beliefs. It specifically discusses the

educator’s identity of how he or she educates others.” This is important as it provides a direction

for teachers as well as to equip them with the skills and strategies they require in order to teach

the different learners. Teachers have a permanent impact on the lives of the students that come

into their classes. They determine how the students will learn, what they will learn and how the

learning will be beneficial to them. Teachers are also able to reflect on their teaching styles and

strategies so that they can make improvements whenever necessary. I believe that one

philosophy is not always ideal in teaching a concept or subject therefore, I subscribe to

Eclecticism.

This was a philosophy that caught my attention as it is of the belief that no philosophy is

complete on its own. There is always a philosophy that is more suited than another based on the

circumstances. It is an approach that adheres to more than one philosophies but utilizes other

theories, ideas and styles. According to Sooraj (2013) “We live in such an era when dogmatic

adherence to a particular philosophy is foolish and is quite harmful. The world is changing very

fast. Values are changing rapidly. We require a dynamic outlook and mental flexibility to have

an all-round adjustment and optimal development.” Sooraj believes that none of the philosophies

contribute to all aspects of education. Idealism is based on spirituality and is famous for its high
and superficial aims of education. Naturalism is based on materialism and its method of

education and Pragmatism which is between both of them, is famous for its brilliant principles

and curriculum. No philosophy is able to provide all things but an integral education is required

for complete living. If we combine the best ideas and principles with materials from all the

philosophies, then an eclectic approach has to be adopted by coordinating the conflicting

ideologies and combining them together. Unity in diversities is found using an eclectic approach.

In my experience of teaching Mathematics, I have used a variety of approaches to help

my students understand the concepts. I used Pragmatism to help my students understand the

relevance of what they were learning and how they can apply it to other areas. If I am teaching

a Science lesson I provide real life situations and opportunities to teach the concept therefore, I

use Naturalism and let my students explore nature. I also use Social Reconstructionism so that

students will be aware of the social problems that are in society as well as to develop a sense of

community. According to a study conducted by Suleman (2016) studies revealed that the

academic level in the learning of English language showed considerable improvements using the

eclectic approach in comparison to the traditional learning approach. It was proved to be more

rewarding, productive, and effective as teachers were able to modify their teaching styles to suit

the situation and needs of the children.

Teachers can provide students with more personal learning experiences using the Eclectic

approach. However, they need to have the skills and knowledge of the different approaches in

order to determine the ideal philosophy that is needed for a particular lesson. The main focus is

to equip students with the competencies they need to get a full grasp of a subject using the most

effective approaches. This philosophy provides teachers the freedom to explore possibilities so

that students can learn. It is a very flexible approach that provides opportunities to try out other
strategies that are appropriate for the students. If teachers are aware of students’ needs, then they

will be able to provide them with a holistic development using the best philosophy and thus

achieving optimal results. According to GraduateWay (2021) “This approach has interest

involves, since teachers need to use different techniques to hold the learners’ attention. It is

diverse because learning/teaching contexts require different methodologies. It is flexible since

teachers can adapt their activities in each lesson depending on the learners´ needs. It maximizes

child’s passions for learning and accommodates child’s learning style It accommodates

disabilities and it adapts to needs and abilities of learners.” I think overtime all teachers will be

adopting the Eclectic Approach as they will realize that some content require more than one

approaches in order for students to gain full mastery.

References

Browne, M. (2017). Developing a Teaching Philosophy. Fostering Multimedia Instruction

GraduateWay, (2021). The Eclectic Approach. The_Eclectic_Approach.pdf

Sooraj, (2013). Importance of Eclectic Approach in Education. https://educational-


system.blogspot.com/2013/01/importance-of-electic-approach-in.html

Suleman, Q. (2016). Effects of Eclectic Learning Approach on Students’ Academic Achievement


and Retention in English at Elementary Level. Microsoft Word - JEP-Vol.7 No.16 2016 (ed.gov)

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