Module 4- Examining Professional Contexts

I enjoyed this portion of the course since it forced me to do something that I would usually consider implicit and easily achievable but turned out to be difficult and worthy of a lot of time and thought. I decided to centre my piece on change since I find that throughout education and life, the only real constant is change. This also harkens back to the philosophy of Socrates whose maxim was 'I know that I know nothing", with that boisterous claim, he was able to come to examine and lay bear anything he wanted to discuss. In the same way, I think that is the best way to approach a changing world and to adapt to adversity and success. It is not only the best way to live in a community but it is the best way to learn, think and develop.

I'll admit that I was not initially going to use a quotation, but I saw my other peers had used ones for their practice. While I think the content of the quote is great, the authorship is from my favourite science fiction novel series Dune. The novels have a large emphasis on the relationship between ecology, political power, indoctrination and the relationship between context and culture. I think all of these can inform a culturally diverse classroom. I changed my philosophy to reflect a more caring and nurturing classroom, as I have seen my peers really show a great compassion in their philosophies and I find that it is something lacking in most classrooms I have been a student in.

“A person needs new experiences. It jars something deep inside, allowing them to grow. Without change something sleeps inside us, and seldom awakens. The sleeper must awaken.” – Frank Herbert

Change is the only constant in the universe, as I have come to learn. My philosophy is to prepare students to address change and adapt to it. To come to understand the methods in which we can deal with change, passively or actively.

As an individual teacher I am constantly adapting my awareness of my place in the classroom, institution, society and my own perceptions of that role. I want to better myself as an individual, a role model and an extender and enabler of knowledge and experience. By teaching I can share my experiences and methods for addressing change and making the best of it. I want to teach the necessity of questioning and the constant need to contemplate and revisit thinking.

I want a classroom that is inclusive and nurturing, one that acts as a springboard for discussion without fear of judgement or bullying.

I want to learn from my students how best I can teach them individually and as a whole, so that like a clockmaker winding up a clock I can step back and allow it to function on its own.

I want to take the knowledge, connections and creativity I have, and am always gaining and apply it in ways that are not new or novel but the best fit for each context. In the same way that the seasons change gradually, naturally, so too teaching and learning should be.