Lesson 06: PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION - 3:Questions Short
What should a Realist teacher’s responsibility be regarding subject matter? To teach skills and disciplined knowledge and to be competent in a specific subject matter.
Name one competency-based assessment method a Realist teacher might rely on. Standardized test scores.
List two common methods of instruction under Realism. Lecture, and question and answer (formal ways of teaching).
What type of reasoning do Realists emphasize? Inductive and scientific reasoning.
What kind of novels might a Realist teacher emphasize and why? Realistic novels (e.g., Oliver Twist) to give life’s laws and principles and provide keys to reach the ideal world through the material world.
What is the main criticism of Realism mentioned? Empirical facts are always subject to change.
What is the focus of the related philosophy Essentialism? To teach the common core “basics” of information and skills (cultural heritage) needed for citizenship.
Name two key proponents of Essentialism. William Bagley and E.D. Hirsch.
Explain why a Realist teacher should present ideas in a ‘clear and consistent manner’. Because Realism believes there are definite, objective ways to judge works and understand reality; clear presentation ensures accurate transmission of this objective knowledge.
How do Realists view the use of technology in education? They readily adopt new technology as a tool for more effectively teaching about and interacting with the objective world.
Summarize the Realist approach to curriculum. It consists of the basics (math, science, reading), uses didactic methods and object studies (pictures, videos, Montessori objects), and is highly organized and systematic.
Why is the criticism “empirical facts always subject to change” a challenge for Realism? It undermines the Realist claim that we can know ultimate, objective reality through observation, as what we observe and consider factual can be revised with new evidence.
Contrast the curriculum focus of Realism and Essentialism. Realism focuses on subject matter that reflects objective reality (e.g., sciences). Essentialism focuses on a core set of basic knowledge and skills deemed essential for effective citizenship and cultural literacy.
Explain how Essentialism’s curriculum “can change slowly”. While focused on a stable cultural heritage core, it can gradually incorporate new essential knowledge that society agrees is fundamental for citizens, but resists rapid, trendy changes.
How does the Realist emphasis on ‘observation and experimentation’ connect to its philosophical roots? It stems from Aristotle’s empirical approach to understanding the natural world, believing knowledge comes from sensory experience of physical reality.
What is the purpose of using ‘objects in education’ like in the Montessori method, from a Realist view? Objects provide direct sensory experience with physical reality, allowing children to discover the properties and laws of the material world through hands-on interaction.
How does Essentialism’s goal differ from Perennialism’s? Essentialism aims to prepare competent citizens with practical, essential knowledge and skills for society. Perennialism aims to develop the rational intellect through engagement with timeless truths and great ideas.
A Realist teacher is planning a science unit on plants. Describe two instructional methods they would likely use.
A formal lecture presenting the factual structure and classification of plants. 2) A hands-on laboratory experiment where students observe and dissect real plants, applying inductive reasoning.
Apply the criticism of Realism (changing facts) to a history lesson. How should a teacher present historical knowledge? The teacher should present established historical narratives but also teach students that our understanding is based on interpretation of evidence, and new discoveries can revise our knowledge, modeling a critical, rather than absolutist, approach.
An Essentialist is designing a middle school curriculum. List four subjects that would likely be included. Mathematics, National Language/Literature, Science, and National History/Civics.
Using Realist principles, how would you assess students’ understanding of a physics concept like gravity? Use a competency-based assessment: a written test with problems applying formulas, combined with a practical lab where they design an experiment to measure gravitational acceleration and analyze the data.
A school board wants to cut classic literature for more computer programming. Write an Essentialist argument against this. “While computer skills are useful, they are not part of the essential core that transmits our cultural heritage and develops disciplined minds. Classic literature provides the shared knowledge and moral framework necessary for informed citizenship, which should remain our priority.”
Design a Realist-inspired activity for a social studies class learning about government structures. Create a detailed, objective comparison chart where students research and fill in the factual structures, roles, and processes of different government systems (e.g., parliamentary vs. presidential), using official documents as sources.
How would an Essentialist teacher respond to a student who wants to spend class time on a current viral social media trend? The teacher would redirect focus to the planned lesson on essential knowledge, explaining that while trends are fleeting, mastering core skills in reading, writing, and critical thinking is permanently valuable for their future.
Evaluate a Montessori classroom’s use of sensory objects from a Realist philosophical perspective. A Realist would approve, as the objects provide direct, concrete experiences with physical properties (size, texture, weight), allowing children to build accurate knowledge of material reality through empirical discovery.
