Teaching and Learning Philosophy

One of the major reasons a child goes to school is to become educated. Being
educated has become a necessity in this day-and-age. Many students struggle to
become educated in the sense of achieving a diploma and either getting a job from
high school or going on to college to select a career path. Some students feel that
being educated is just about learning to survive wherever they might live. But being
educated is so much more than that. The role of the student is incredibly important,
but they need a mentor to help them to achieve their diploma; to help them
become educated beyond what they need for basic survival.
The role of the teacher is to do two things in my mind. One, it is meant to
help bridge the gap for information students do not quite understand and the role of
the teacher is meant to serve as a role model for active learners. This directly
relates to both the theories of Vygotsky and Bandura. Vygotsky believes that
students learn best through the Zone of Proximal Development or ZPD. It is in the
ZPD that Vygotsky states there are certain gaps for students when it comes to
learning. Essentially, there are certain things a student can do on their own, and
there are certain things they cannot do by themselves. This zone is where the
teacher helps build a bridge with that student so they may cross the gap. By
working through the information with the student, whether it be modeling the
information, or simply showing them how it is done, a teacher will be able to
encourage a student to work towards building a bridge on their own.
I fully believe that this is the best way for a teacher to think about how a
student learns content. Content is a large part of teaching; the content they receive
in high school will serve as a base of knowledge for the rest of their lives. As a
teacher, we should focus on how best to make students understand the content
from our area. I believe this is done by helping guide students through their
learning. Modeling the activity is the key to students understanding the content.
First, a teacher would inform them or provide them with the content information,
then students would be given some type of example or an activity where they
explored this information, and then the teacher would allow the students to attempt
the work on their own in some kind of simulation, or an independent activity.
I also believe that in order to reach this goal, students need to have a role
model; someone that will advocate for them or will guide them in the right direction.
Banduras work covers this in more depth. In his theory of Social Learning, Bandura
states that students learn from observing another person. He also believed that a
strong, positive role model in a persons life would show them the proper path to
learn. This role model, or advocate, will ultimately show students the proper way to
respond to all situations. I believe that students need to know that at school, there
is one person on that staff that cares for them. There are many students who dont
have advocates or positive role models in their life and need to know that there is
someone who cares about how they do or what they do. Students always can use
role models in their life and its easy for a teacher to be that role model. Teachers
have the ability to advocate for each student that walks through the door. In order
to advocate for students, a teacher must remember to insure students a safe place
to learn, as well as taking a professional interest in their lives. Obviously there are
risks when it comes to becoming close with students, which is why I say having a
professional interest.
In doing this, you create a positive overall learning environment. Part of being
an advocate for students is respecting that student. When you give a student

respect and treat them like adults, they often return that respect to you. This helps
when it comes to admitting their problems in life, but it also helps build a
connection between both the teacher and the students. This connection can be
used when it comes to helping students remember they have a role model to care
for them, but it also helps when it comes to helping students learn the content;
when they need help bridging that gap for the information they cannot perform or
need help understanding. Being that advocate and working to care for every
students leads to the creation of the best possible learning environment.
Overall, the work of Vygotsky and Bandura really stems down into further
more complicated areas of how we as teachers can better the lives of our students.
There are many different ways to improve the learning of our students. In my mind,
being sure to be the role model or advocate for students leads to a respectful
atmosphere in the classroom. That turns into a positive environment to teach in,
and a positive environment to learn in.