Define pragmatism philosophy and its implications in education?

Define pragmatism philosophy and its implications in education?

Answer:

Pragmatism is an educational philosophy that says that education should be about life and growth. That is, teachers should be teaching students things that are practical for life and encourage them to grow into better people. Many famous educators, including John Dewey, were pragmatists. Pragmatism is a philosophical movement that includes those who claim that an ideology or proposition is true if it works satisfactorily, that the meaning of a proposition is to be found in the practical consequences of accepting it, and that unpractical ideas are to be rejected.

Pragmatism encourages learning information literacy by using experiences to deal with new things in both personal and community life. The teacher directs students' learning experiences without confusing their interests and needs.

Hence, pragmatists do not uphold any predetermined philosophy of life. To them, only those ideals and values are true that result in utility to mankind in certain circumstances, places, and times. It is therefore obvious that pragmatism is very intimately connected with human life and human welfare.                    

        Note: Implications must explain the following points:

Ø  Goal of education,                                                                                                     

The goal of education is to provide knowledge and skill through the personal development of physical, social, intellectual, and emotional abilities. Over the years people struggle with: Deciding what learners should know and do to achieve their desired goals for their life purposes. The real goal of education, and of school, is becoming—becoming a “good” person and becoming a more capable person than when you started. Learning is nothing but a means of accomplishing that goal, and it is dangerous to confuse the ends with the means. 

Ø  Role of teacher,                                                                                                        

The function of teachers is to help students learn by imparting knowledge to them and by setting up a situation in which students can and will learn effectively.

A teacher has to facilitate learning by helping, guiding, and providing a conducive environment to students to make learning easy. The teacher gives knowledge and information, appropriate to the level of students in a very clear and simple way so that they can learn and conceptualize the new information.

Ø  Methods of instruction,                                                                                           

Methods of Instruction means the planned process through which teacher and student interact with selected environment and content so that the response of the student gives evidence that learning has taken place.
The standard methods of instruction are the instructor-lead, lecturer, demonstrator, practical exercise, and self-study, with each of these methods it will have someone doing something to teach whatever it is you are there to learn, the only exception is the self-study independent method.

Ø  Curriculum                                                                                                                

The term curriculum refers to the lessons and academic content taught in a school or in a specific course or program. In dictionaries, the curriculum is often defined as the courses offered by a school, but it is rarely used in such a general sense in schools.

To bring about a holistic development of a student's personality - physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual dimensions. To develop social consciousness and sensitivity. To develop global mindedness and a multiplicity of perspectives and views.

All curriculums share one goal: to help students learn. No matter what country or district your school is in, student outcomes start with a solid plan. But a curriculum does much, much more than guide lessons in math, reading and history. It can benefit schools just as much as students, from teachers to administration.