Teaching Philosophy

 I’ve come from a long lasting tradition of teachers in my family, well, not so long but my grandmother set a great example of a great educator where the German tradition and behaviorism were the trendy. My grandmother was the kind of teacher though that were called the “normalistas,” she would teach different subjects and relate them to one to another in the same class. There was an integration of subjects in the class because there were classes for people who would work in farms and also would live in the city. It was different than the most strictly traditional education. My mother was educated under this style, and my aunt became a music teacher, then some cousins are pursuing in pedagogy now utilizing a different education methodology. They use the Montessori system, which lead towards a more constructivist method.

I’m more incline to that system and the different readings can support the reasons why I believe that especially with media literacy behaviorism really doesn’t work. As I learned in my history of education class that the Latin is “to take from.” That was one of the first lessons I had and I still can’t forget that because I understood how important as a future teacher is to treat others in a way that they can feel value by what the bring to the class. A good teacher would help students to value their background and to make them understand that the interaction that happens in class is invaluable, and is a constant contribution.  As Freire expresses “No one is born fully-formed: it is through self-experience in the world that we become what we are.”  This means that the interaction in the class is key as part of the learning process throughout life, whether the experience may be more or less enjoyable. This will be helpful to value, understand, and learn from each others. Another interesting point on Freire’s text and also part of Jenkins thoughts about the appropriation of media or in the case of Freire.

“Education either functions as an instrument which is used to facilitate integration of the younger generation into the logic of the present system and bring about conformity or it becomes the practice of freedom, the means by which men and women deal critically and creatively with reality and discover how to participate in the transformation of their world.”

This means that the environment in the class and the value of each one of the students that the teacher gives them is key to help them to express themselves, to free them from the bonds of an old structure in which the master of all knowledge is the teacher.  In the Jenkins position the only way for students to get some appropriation of media is by experimenting and experiencing with new media, as Lystina pointed, some alternative media may be introduce in the educational process.  Experiencing is fundamental for students to feel motivated and related to the subject that is being taught.

In many ways, my classes in education, the texts we have read in the class, and my experience as an MTC instructor all has build up to understand that following a curriculum is a good guide to have, although a teacher in order to help the students to experience in the class has to be willing to adapt or even change some activities “, If the structure does not permit dialogue the structure must be changed” ― Paulo Freire. 

In conclusion, I believe that these writers, educators and philosophers highlight how important is to inspired students and to treat them not as in the banking process learning. Students are not empty vessels, on the contrary they bring stories, and a family upbringing that is unique and it can contribute to the class. For what the students participate and feel free in a classroom, they need some validation and make them see their personal value. Followed by that participation, the experience they may gain in the classroom is what would help to drive and motivate the students to pursue an education in any subject it may be interested.   The correct use of media especially nowadays would be also an important key to free them from the frequent standard in younger generations, is the new way to explore and do research on things that may be important for students. To get it right and learn these techniques and be literate in media would make a huge contribution in the way the validate themselves as responsible researchers and active participant in the topics to learn. Both the students and the teacher would benefit from each other, and both would have the real educational experience.