Educational theory

1. Presented by
Umme Habiba

2. 
They are:
Perennialism
Essentialism
Progressivism
Reconstructionism
These are focus heavily on WHAT we
should teach the curriculum aspect.
Educational theories

3. 
But, I discuss here only
Reconstructionism

4. 
The Two Major Premises of
Reconstructionism
Society is in need of constant
reconstruction or change
Such social change involves a
reconstruction of education and the use
of education in reconstructing the
societyBackground
Premises of
Reconstructionism

5. 
Emphasizes the addressing of social
questions
A quest to create a better society and
worldwide democracy
Reconstructionist educators focus on a
curriculum that highlights social
reform as the aim of education.
Back ground of
Reconstructionism

6. 
 Theodore Brameld (1904-1987) was the founder of
Social Reconstructionism
 In reaction against the realities of World War II
 He recognized the potential for either human
annihilation through technology and human cruelty
or the capacity to create a beneficent society using
technology and human compassion.
 George Counts (1889-1974) recognized that
education was the means of preparing people for
creating this new social order.
Cont..

7. 
According to them systems must be changed
to improve human conditions.
Paulo Freire (1921-1997) whose experiences
living in poverty led him to champion
education and literacy as the vehicle for
social change
In his view, humans must learn to resist
oppression and not become its victims, nor
oppress others
Reconstructionism as
Critical Theory

8. 
To do so requires dialog and critical
consciousness, the development of awareness
to overcome domination and oppression
Rather than "teaching as banking," in which
the educator deposits information into
students' heads, Freire saw teaching and
learning as a process of inquiry in which the
child must invent and reinvent the world.
Cont..

9. 
Curriculum focuses on student experience
and taking social action on real problems:
Violence
Hunger
International terrorism
Inflation
Inequality.
Cont..

10. 
Strategies for dealing with controversial
issues, inquiry, dialogue, and multiple
perspectives are the focus
Community-based learning and bringing the
world into the classroom are also strategies.
Cont..

11. 
Sees things the same way as the progressive
through experience, students learn more,
remember it longer, and apply it to new
situations, rather than through being told
something.
Doesn’t believe in a predetermined
curriculum.
Educational Theory

12. 
Use the subject matter from any or all
disciplines when needed to solve a problem
Deal more with the subject matter of social
experience in solving problems
Do not favor any type of ability grouping but
students should be grouped only upon the
basis of common interests.
Cont..

13. 
They share the progressive’s view of student
discipline according to them if students are
actively involved in bringing about change in
areas that concern them, they will not become
frustrated, and therefore, will not be likely to
become discipline problems.
Cont..

14. 
They prefer to evaluate students subjectively
on the basis of their ability as a social activist
rather than give written examinations.
Student self-evaluation has a proper place.
Cont..

15. 
Reconstructionist differs significantly from
progressives in the matter of social policy.
Progressives acknowledge the rapidly
changing conditions around us.
Progressives content, teach students how to
cope with change.
Teach students how to reach “intellectual
solution” to problems.
Reconstructionist’
Platform

16. 
Often culminates in writing a paper, doing a
report or a project of some kind.
This kind of education would tend to
“mirror the contemporary society.”
Cont..

17. 
Reconstructionist believes that students must
learn through practical experience how to
direct change and control it.
Cont..

18. 
They believe:
 They believe strongly that our culture is in crisis
 things will get uncontrollably bad unless we intervene
to direct change and thereby reconstruct the social
order
 They believe that a “Utopian Future” is a genuine
possibility for mankind if we learn how to intervene
and to direct change.
 They believe that the school should train students to
be social activists in the tradition of Gandhi, Martin
Luther King, Jr., Ralph Nader and Jesse Jackson.
Cont..

19. 
We should apply the reflective inquiry
method to life’s problems
We should be prepared to act upon our
conclusions
This requires a sense of commitment and
responsibility on the part of students
This goal of initiating change is of course
very controversial
Cont..

20. 
For this reason, Reconstructionism has never
caught on fully in our schools. Questions
have been raised concerning whether or not
schools should become a tool for re-making
society
Questions have also been raised as to
whether students at any age have the
intellectual and social maturity to participate
in social action
Cont..

21. 
Education serves the following purposes:
Bring out positive change in society.
Reduction in poverty level
Advancement in Technology
Better methods of farming, improved
attitudes to access medical care, practice of
better ways of environmental management
Educational Purposes

22. 
What does this mean to a Curriculum
developer?
Curriculum made should consider the
current and future needs of a society
Curriculum expert design course structure
that gives learners freedom to try out own
ideas and also improve on the existing
knowledge
Cont..

23. 
 Design a course structure that enables learners to
discover knowledge on their own, such that teachers
will not “spoon feed” the learners
 The teaching of innovations in terms of thinking and
practical skills becomes crucial at every stage in the
education process.
 Creativity must be credited in order to encourage
innovations and inventions.
Cont..

24. 
What is the role of the teacher in this
philosophy?
Facilitate learning activities
Stimulate learning
Facilitating learning means that the teacher avails
opportunities to learners to experience and work
with subject matter in question.
How do we stimulate and facilitate learning?
Cont..

25. 
By asking questions
Probing learners
Compelling people to think
Motivating learners to suggest what they
think about topical issues
Cont..

26. 
Teaching Methods
The teaching methods favored by
Reconstructionist are:
The pupil-teacher dialogue and
Problem-solving method (scientific method)
to real-life problems
Cont..

27. 
“Encourages schools, teachers, and students
to focus their studies and energies on
alleviating pervasive inequities, and as the
name implies, reconstruct into a new and
more just social order” (Sadker and
Zittleman, 2007)
Social Reconstructivism in
the Classroom

28. 
Social reform is the key to this type of
philosophy and social challenges and
problems help guide teachers with their
message
A social reconstructionist teacher wants to
not only inform their students, but rouse
emotions and point out the inequalities that
surround them and the world (Sadker and
Zittleman, 2007).
Cont..

29. 
Teacher engages the students to discuss and address
problems such as:
 Poverty
 Homelessness
 Violence
 and many more issues that create disparity
 Teacher’s role is to explore social problems, suggest
alternate perspectives, and assist students’
examinations of these problems
Cont..

30. 
 The main focus of this philosophy is to help students
find ways to improve society
 Teacher wants the student to value society and
realize that there is unfairness in the world and it is
important to be aware and act as advocates for those
who are being judged
Cont..

31. 
 Role of the student is to be an active participant.
 Students are encouraged to think critically about the
world in which they live in and how it can be
changed for the better.
 Students learn how to be problem solvers and
decision makers
 It is common for students to be challenged on their
thoughts and feelings regarding topics
Role of student

32. 
 . Acquisition of strong moral values is also
encouraged through teaching
 Reconstructionism encourages social activism among
its students
 It is not uncommon for students to learn while
doing, such as organizing a food drive for the local
homeless shelter.
Cont..

33. 
Thanks for Listening
Carefully!!