Learning in Focus 16:

ON TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

One thing asked of teacher applicants in the Department of Education is to write their philosophy
of education. This means that they have to write their concept of the nature of the learner, how
that learner learns and how that learner ought to live in order to live life meaningfully. Based on
these philosophical concepts, the teacher applicants describe how they ought to relate to the
learner, what to teach and how to teach so that the learner learns and lives life happily and
meaningfully.

We are beneficiaries of a rich philosophical heritage passed on to us by great thinkers

of the past and of the present. The way teachers relate to learners and the way they
teach are anchored on philosophies of education.
Basic documents such as the vision and mission statements, core values and mandate
of the Department of Education and the features of the K to 12 Curriculum as contained
in Section 3 of RA 10533 and the K to 12 Curriculum Guide are manifestations or
expressions of the philosophies of education of the country. They state the standards
and the outcomes of education towards which all curricular activities and teaching-
learning should be directed.

My Intended Learning Outcome:

At the end of this episode, I must be able to:
a. determine prevailing philosophies of education based on DepEd Vision and Mission
statements, core values and mandate, the K to 12 Curriculum Framework and Guide and
RA 10533.
b. cite teacher’s teaching behaviors and the philosophies of education on which these
behaviors are founded; and
c.articulate my philosophy of teaching.
Task 16.1 Analyzing DepEd’s Philosophy of Education
Resource Teacher/Video Link:__________________________Teacher's Signature: __________
School name: _______________________Grade year level: _________________
Subject Area: ______________________ Date: ________________

 Determine prevailing philosophies of education based on DepEd Vision and Mission

statements, core values and mandate and on the K to 12 Curriculum Framework and
Guide.
 Study the DepEd Vision and Mission statements and Mandate.
 Read the features of the K to 12 Curriculum based on the K to 12 Curriculum
Framework and Guide and Sec 5 of RA 10533.
 Accomplish the Table below by answering this question: Which philosophies are
expressed?
 Cite relevant statements to back up an identified philosophy of education. You are
given an example.
Philosophies of Education Which philosophies are Which philosophies are
expressed in the DepEd expressed in the K to 12
Vision, Mission, Curriculum Framework
Statements, Core and Guide and Sec 5 of
Values, Mandate? Give RA 10533? Give proof.
proof.
1. Essentialism – teach Essentialism – The core Essentialism – List of
mastery of the basics; values of maka-Diyos, standards and
curriculum prescribed; maka-tao, maka-kalikasan competencies that learners
subject matter – centered and maka-bansa show are expected to attain is the
there are universal, that DepEd is essentialist. subject matter that students
objective values; DepEd believes in are expected to learn.
inculcate values in unchanging values that
-Essentialist
subject matter need to be inculcated.
2. Perennialism – teach Any proof of
those that last, the perennialism?
classics; there are
universal values;
inculcate these universal,
objective values.
3. Progressivism – very Any proof of
child-centered; teach progressivism?
those that interest the
child; one learns by
experience; learners
learn by doing so teacher
teacher’s teaching is
experiential; values are
subjective; no inculcation
of values since they are
subjective; instead
teachers help students
clarify their values
4. Reconstructionism – Any proof of
school is agent of reconstructionism?
change; schooling is
preparing students for the
social changes; teaching
is involving the students
in discussions of moral
dilemmas
5. Existentialism – Teachers Any proof of
teach learners to make a existentialism?
choice, to make decisions
and not merely to follow
the crowd; one who does
not make a choice and so
simply follow others do
not leave meaningful life
Task 16.2 Analyzing DepEd’s Philosophy of Education
Resource Teacher/Video Link:__________________________Teacher's Signature: __________
School name: _______________________Grade year level: _________________
Subject Area: ______________________ Date: ________________

 Observe how a teacher relates to every learner and how he/she

proceeds with her teaching.
 Accomplish this Observation Sheet.

Here are philosophies of education. Find out which philosophies were manifested in class by
observing what and how teacher teaches and relates to learners.
Philosophies of Education Teaching Behavior (State what the teacher
said, taught or did).
1. Essentialism – teach mastery of In what way was teacher essentialist?
the basics; curriculum prescribed;
e.g. He/she saw to it that the students mastered
subject matter – centered there
basic concepts and skills.
are universal, objective values;
inculcate values in subject matter He/she inculcated values.
2. Perennialism – teach those that
last, the classics; there are
universal values; inculcate these
universal, objective values.
3. Progressivism – very child-
centered; teach those that interest
the child; one learns by
experience; learners learn by
doing so teacher teacher’s
teaching is experiential; values
are subjective; no inculcation of
values since they are subjective;
instead teachers help students
clarify their values
4. Reconstructionism – school is
agent of change; schooling is
preparing students for the social
 changes; teaching is involving the
students in discussions of moral
dilemmas
5. Existentialism – Teachers teach
learners to make a choice, to
make decisions and not merely to
follow the crowd; one who does
not make a choice and so simply
follow others do not leave
meaningful life
6. Pragmatism – That which is
useful, that which is practical and
that which works is what is good;
that which is efficient and effective
is that which is good. e.g. showing
a video clip on mitosis is more
efficient and more effective and
therefore more practical than
teacher coming up with a visual
aid by drawing mitosis on a
cartolina or illustration board.
7. Rationalism – emphasizes the
development of the learners’
reasoning powers; knowledge
comes though reason; teacher
must develop the reasoning power
of the learner.
8. Utilitarianism – what is good is
that which is most useful (that
which brings happiness) to the
greatest number of people;
9. Empiricism – source of knowledge
is through the senses; teacher
must involve the senses in
teaching-learning
10. Behaviorism – behavior is shaped
deliberately by forces in the
environment and that the type of
person and actions desired can be
the product of design; behavior is
determined by others, rather than
by person’s own free will; teacher
must carefully shape desirable
 behavior; drills are commonly
used to enhance learning.
Rewards reinforce learning.
11. Constructivism – learners are
capable of constructing
knowledge and meaning;
teaching-learning therefore is
constructing knowledge and
meaning; teacher does not just
“tell” or dictate but asks learners
for knowledge they construct and
meaning of lesson
12. Other Philosophies

1. Based on your findings and observations in Activity 16.1 and

Activity 16.2, which philosophies of education are dominant in
Philippine basic schools? Why do you say so?
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2. If there is one philosophy that schools and teachers should give more attention to, what
should that be and why?
________________________________________________________________________
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What is your philosophy of teaching? This describes what you believed

you should teach, how you should teach and how you should relate to
others in school—with the learners, your colleagues, your superiors and all other stakeholders.
Write them down. This is your title, “My Philosophy of Teaching.”

My Philosophy of Teaching
These may be of help:

I believe that the learner………….. (concept of the learner)

I believe that I should teach the learners……. (what)

By………… (how)

I believe that I ……….(how should you relate to learners, colleagues, superior, parents and other
stakeholders)
My Philosophy of Teaching
Other evidences for accomplishing the learning episode

Evaluation Tool for Episode 16 (On Teacher’s Philosophy of Education)

My Intended Learning Outcome:
At the end of this episode, I must be able to:
 a.determine prevailing philosophies of education based on DepEd Vision and Mission statements, core
values and mandate, the K to 12 Curriculum Framework and Guide and RA 10533.
b.cite teacher’s teaching behaviors and the philosophies of education on which these behaviors are
founded; and
c.articulate my philosophy of teaching.
Name of FS Students _________________________________ Date Submitted: ____________
Tasks Exemplary Superior Satisfactory Unsatisfactory
4 3 2 1
Observation/ All tasks were done One (1) or two (2) Three Four or more
Tasks/ with outstanding tasks not tasks/questions tasks/questions
Worksheets quality; work exceeds answered or were not were not
expectation accomplished accomplished/ accomplished/
answered answered
My Analysis All questions were All questions were Questions were not Four (4) or more
answered completely; answered answered observation
answers are in depth completely; completely; questions were not
and are through answers are answers are not answered; answers
grounded on clearly connected clearly connected were not connected
theories; Fee from to theories; to theories; one (1) to theories; more
grammar and spelling grammar and to three (3) that four(4) errors in
errors spelling are free grammatical errors grammar and
from errors committed spelling.

My Reflection Reflection statements Reflection Reflection Reflection

are profound and statements are statements are statements are
clear, supported by clear, but not shallow; somewhat unclear and shallow
experiences during supported by supported by and are not
observation experiences from experiences from supported by
the episode and the observation experiences from
lacks depth the observation
My Learning Portfolio is reflected Portfolio is Portfolio is not Portfolio is not
Artifacts on in the context of reflected on in the reflected on in the reflected on in the
the learning context of the context of the context of the
outcomes; complete, learning learning outcomes; learning outcomes;
clear, well-organized, outcomes; complete, not not complete, not
highly relevant to the complete, clear, organized, relevant organized and not
learning outcome; all well-organized, to the learning relevant
supporting very relevant to outcome;
documentation are the learning supporting
located in sections outcome; most documentation are
clearly designated. supporting located in sections
documentation clearly designated.
are located in
sections clearly
designated.
Sub totals