1. My Learning Philosophy

2. General Beliefs About Learning
All students have the ability to learn, but many times the desire to learn must be kindled by an outside force.
Learning looks completely different depending upon the individual. That being said, there is not one specific way to measure learning.
Students learn best when they can bring their own experiences to the table.
Working in groups where each person is accountable is the best way for students to learn. This is also the most authentic style of learning when it comes to situations they will be put in in the real world.

3. Teaching Philosophy vs. Learning Philosophy: What’s the Difference?
Teaching Philosophy- focuses on the methods that are used to deliver information to students. Discusses teaching strategies, differentiation techniques, and methods for getting students from Point A to Point B. Can theoretically be taught in educator programs.
Learning Philosophy- focuses on the actual acquisition of knowledge by students. Discusses beliefs concerning how students learn best, and what learning actually looks like. Requires constant reflection amongst educators. Overall, not a concept that can easily be “taught” in educator programs.

4. Constructivism
My views on education are aligned with the Constructivist theory as presented by Jean Piaget and John Dewey. I believe that students learn best by experiential learning and collaboration. I also think that students must bring in their own personal experiences in order to derive any real meaning from the lessons being presented in the classroom. In order to promote learning, teachers must find a way to incorporate a student’s individual experiences into the lesson in order to make it relevant to them. In my own classroom, I believe that everyone must remain interactive, myself included. I am there to facilitate my students’ learning, not necessarily direct it.

5. Myself as a Learner
An educator’s idea about themselves as a learner greatly impacts the way they educate their students. When I think about the most impactful learning experiences that I have ever had, they were always hands on and collaborative. I still learn best that way to this way, which is something that I always try to keep in mind when introducing the learning to my students. Learning must be relevant to me, or it goes right over my head. If it’s something that I don’t believe I will ever use again in the real world, then it has no real value to me. This hasn’t changed from the time that I myself was a high school student, and I recognize it within my own students every day.

6. Connection Between Teaching and Learning
Educators should teach the way that they learn. Sometimes, we forget this and sacrifice it in order to meet certain district deadlines or mandates. As previously mentioned, I have always learned better when I am permitted to collaborate with others. I love professional development opportunities and team meetings where I have the chance to bounce my ideas off of others. In order to be an effective teacher, I have to sit down and look at my lessons through the lense of a leaner. I must ask myself: if I were in the students’ shoes, would I find this relevant? Would I understand the point, or would this just seem like another task to complete? Sometimes this can be difficult, as it results in me being forced to see that my lessons are not always student-centered.

7. Connection Between Teaching and Learning Part 2
However, this deep reflection from the perspective of a “learner” is completely necessary if I want to make sure that my students are getting anything out of my class. I think the further we get away from the learner role, the more apathetic we become as educators. Of course there are many reasons that this disconnect happens, but if we want to truly “stay in touch”, we must remain life long learners that are willing to reflect upon our practices from multiple points of view.

8. Authentic Learning
Most importantly, I want my students to have an authentic learning experience when they are in my class. I need them to see how the skills I am teaching them will benefit them for the rest of their lives. I am consistently trying to make real world connections amongst all content areas within my classroom. One of my favorite parts about being a teacher is when the students come back and tell me something they learned in their English class helped them later on in another class. I also love it when they can make real connections in my classroom with very little prompting from me. In order to engage students in authentic learning, they must explore the world around them and be guided by well thought-out questions that I am offering them.

9. Annotated Bibliography
Donachy, J. &. (2014, November 09). Learning Theories, Teaching Background and the PYP Classroom. Retrieved December 04, 2017, from teaching-background-and-the-pyp-classroom/ Explains the key concepts behind Constructivism, Cognitivism, Behaviorism and Connectivism. It explains how these theories are a progression through learning.

10. Annotated Bibliography
Mims, C. (n.d.). Authentic Learning: A Practical Introduction & Guide for Implementation. Retrieved December 04, 2017, from Takes a deeper look into what authentic learning looks like in a classroom.

11. Annotated Bibliography
Constructivism. (2016, September 08). Retrieved December 04, 2017, from Highlights the key contributors and key concepts of Constructivism.

12. Annotated Bibliography
Constructivism as a Paradigm for Teaching and Learning. (n.d.). Retrieved December 04, 2017, from 1.html
Highlights the differences between the Constructivist approach to learning and the Traditional approach.