As I began researching learning philosophies, I remembered writing my philosophy of education. While some would say a teaching philosophy is different from a learning philosophy, I think they go hand in hand.
I want to teach so that I can share my knowledge and love for music with students, influence and motivate them to achieve their goals, and enable them to become successful leaders. As a music educator, my philosophies of education focus on nurturing the entire persona of my students and stimulating their desire to learn. I believe that all students should have the opportunity to a quality education. I believe that the classroom should be a positive environment that promotes creativity, critical thinking and self-expression. Students need to recognize the world around them and their place in society. The classroom environment needs to be a guiding force that instills values such as motivation, respect, honor, and self-discipline. I believe that students should have the opportunity to express their beliefs and ideas, as well as, learn to respect those of others. As an educator, I strive to bring out the best in my students and enable them to identify the characteristics that make them unique. I believe that achieving this is the first step in becoming a leader.
As a music educator, I believe it is my responsibility to give all students experiences that will enhance their musical abilities, creativity, confidence and appreciation for the arts. I believe that it is necessary to address all of the National Standards for Music Education in each lesson. I believe that technology is a vital teaching tool in today’s classroom. The array of programs available is enticing to students and motivates them to stay on task. Ultimately, I want to be a role model for my students by continuing my education, challenging myself to achieve new goals, performing regularly, and increasing my awareness and understanding in technology.
Music combines many subjects. Music is a language, science and history, just to name a few. Many people think a general music classroom is all about singing. It is much more than that though. Do we sing? Absolutely! Music is about making connections and bringing people together.
Image retrieved from: https://www.quavermusic.com/info/proven-pedagogy/music-based-learning/
When looking into different learning theories, I found my learning philosophy and my innovation plan identifies with Constructivism. I believe in creating learning where conversation and participation can occur by building understanding and knowledge through meaningful experiences. Dewey believes students are able to do more than rote memorization of information. Learning comes from creating. Piaget’s theory shows that students build on concepts over time allowing experiences to help with understanding. Another Constructivist, Vygotsky, also believes in an active learning process with the teacher acting as a facilitator while the students take responsibility for their learning. The music classroom works well in this type of environment. It allows students the creativity to explore and show their understanding and growth as they take control of their learning experiences. When facilitated properly, I believe students are able to create projects that are meaningful to them, reflect upon their work, and choose and explore what inspires them. This learning style allows students a voice in their learning experiences.
While my Constructivist music classroom can look a bit chaotic and get a bit noisy at times, my students are creating music by using their own choice and voice. They are able to take pride in their creations, increasing participation and creativity when they are in control of their learning. I strive to make music a meaningful experience for my students and following the Constructivist theory will allow me to do so through my innovation plan.
Resources
Bates, T. (2019, March 17). Learning theories and online learning. Retrieved from https://www.tonybates.ca/2014/07/29/learning-theories-and-online-learning/.
This site gives the importance of understanding learning theories. It also gives descriptions of the many learning theories for easy comparison.
Shively, J. (2015). Constructivism in Music Education. Arts Education Policy Review, 116(3), 128–136. doi: 10.1080/10632913.2015.1011815
This article discusses the efforts to shift to constructivism in music education and how to find a balance between traditional and progressive music education.
Theories_Constructivism. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://kb.edu.hku.hk/theory_constructivism/.
This site connects constructivism to the classroom. It explains the roles of the teacher and learner.
What is learning? Exploring theory, product and process. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://infed.org/mobi/learning-theory-models-product-and-process/.
This site charts the different learning theories using main points and theorists.