EDCI 633 EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

3 Credit Hours
FALL 2014
Dr. Don King, Professor of Education
Rm. 116, Old Admin. Bldg.
(308) 432-6442
(308)432-6383 for Educ. Dept. Secretary

Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
E-Mail:

DKing @csc.edu

Office Hours :

As posted and by appointment

Description: Philosophic beliefs underlying the democratic school system, its

objectives, and the means of obtaining them are reviewed. It provides a basis for a
philosophy of life and education in a democratic society (Chadron State College 20132014 Catalog, pg. 261).
Prerequisite: An earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited
institution of higher education.
Required Text: Gutek , G.L. (2004). Philosophical and ideological voices in education.
Boston: Pearson - Allyn and Bacon.
This course is a required core course in both the Education Administration and
Curriculum and Instruction masters programs. The Program Outcomes are crossreferenced with Chadron State Colleges Conceptual Framework for the Education
Unit. Intended Program Outcomes for both programs follow:
Education Administration Program Outcomes:
1. Lead and organize the collaborative development, articulation, implementation, and
stewardship of a school or district vision of learning supported by the school
community. (Communication, thinking skills, human relations/diversity)
2. Lead and promote a positive school culture, providing an effective standards based
instructional program, applying best practice to student learning, and designing
comprehensive professional growth plans for staff based on identified
needs. (Methodology/technology, professionalism, assessment, thinking skills, human
relations/diversity)
3. Lead and promote the success of all students by managing the organization,
operations, and resources in a way that promotes a safe, efficient, and effective learning
environment. (Communication, thinking skills, methodology/technology, professionalism)

4. Demonstrate the knowledge, ability and dispositions to promote the success of all
students by collaborating with families and other community members, responding to
diverse community interests and needs, and mobilizing community resources.
(Communication, methodology/technology, human relations/diversity)
5. Demonstrate the skill, knowledge, and ability to promote the success of all students by
acting fairly, with integrity, and in an ethical manner. (Human relations/diversity,
communication, professionalism)
6. Demonstrate the skill, knowledge, and ability to respond to, and influence the larger
political, social, economic, legal, and cultural context. (Professionalism, thinking skills,
human relations/diversity)
7. Demonstrate the ability to accept genuine responsibility for leading, facilitating, and
making decisions typical of those made by educational leaders. (Communication,
thinking skills, methodology/technology, professionalism, assessment, and human
relations/diversity)
Curriculum & Instruction Program Outcomes
1. develop and implement curriculum based on central concepts, tools of inquiry,
and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches; diverse learner needs and
abilities; cognitive and developmental levels; and community and curricular
goals. (methodology/technology; human relations/diversity)
2. develop and implement curriculum using a variety of instructional strategies to
encourage students development of critical thinking, problem solving, and
performance skills. (methodology/technology; thinking skills)
3. design and facilitate a learning environment that encourages individual and group
motivation, positive social interaction, and active engagement in learning.
(methodology/technology; professionalism, assessment)
4. demonstrate cultural awareness, gender sensitivity, and racial and ethnic
appreciation in fostering an inclusive learning environment. (human relations/
methodology/technology)
5. communicate clearly using listening, writing, speaking, and media skills in a
manner that is consistent with and responsive to the specific
audience. (communications; professionalism)
6. utilize assessment strategies and data to improve student learning and social
development at the individual and program level. (assessment;
methodology/technology)
7. improve instruction based on reflective practice and research-based best
practices. The candidate will continuously seek to grow as a professional
educator. (professionalism; (methodology/technology)
8. foster relationships with school colleagues, parents, and agencies of the larger
community based on an understanding of the impacts of philosophy, sociology,
political and legal forces on public education. (professionalism; communication/
human relations/diversity)
Education Unit Conceptual Framework:
This course supports the conceptual framework, Developing as Visionary Leaders for
Lifelong Learning, through the following components:

Component
Activity
Leadership
Examination of various belief systems
and how differences in beliefs create conflict between individuals and groups.
Application of knowledge of belief systems to effectively lead individuals and groups
toward common goals.
Active listening, cooperative learning groups and development of written and/or
oral statements of educational philosophy. Facilitation of class activities by individual
students
Identification with the profession of teaching and related ethical behaviors.
Connections are identified between beliefs and how these beliefs influence how
people relate to each other.
Self-assessment of beliefs in regard to their effect on curriculum and methods.
Consideration of the effect of beliefs with regards to assessment decisions, both
substance and methods.
Guided thinking about the human endeavor of mental model building and how
these mental models affect human behavior.
Methodology/Technology
Examination of varied strategies for
establishing and promoting effective learning practices.
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Graduate Student Learning Outcomes: The student will be able to:

Define the term "philosophy."
Describe the functions of philosophy.
Recount the historical development of philosophy.
Identify the philosophical concepts associated with specific educational views.
State the basic questions of philosophy.
Determine relationships between philosophy and practice.
Identify inconsistencies between his/her own philosophy and his/her own current
professional practice.
Continue the life-long task of reviewing and revising his/her own personal and
educational philosophy.
Continue development as visionary leaders.
Methods of Instruction:
A combination of individual reading of text and Internet
sources, discussion board interactions, and written assignments will be used.
Course Schedule/Outline:
Topics:
1.
Philosophy and Education
2.
Idealism
3.
Realism
4.
Theistic Realism
5.
Naturalism
6.
Pragmatism
7.
Existentialism
8.
Philosophical Analysis
9.
Postmodernism
10.
Ideologies and Education

11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
15.
16.
17.
18.

Nationalism, American Exceptionalism and Ethnonationalism

Liberalism
Conservatism
Marxism and Liberation Pedagogy
Theory and Education
Perennialism
Essentialism
Progressivism and Social Reconstructionism
Critical Theory

Topic assignments and course schedule will be determined by the teacher and student
interests. Class schedule will be posted in on-line folder.

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2.
3.
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Course Requirements and Grading:

The course is planned to provide not only a content or knowledge base in Western
philosophies but to gain practice in thinking of all forms. Thinking will include Socratic as
well as metacognitive approaches. The person should leave the class with a sense of
the evolution of the Western philosophies and how these influence ones own life and
work. Connections between a philosophy of life and a philosophy of education are
identified as the basis for a conscious effort at reviewing and revising the individual's
personal philosophy.
Students will be expected to:
Read and study assigned portions of text.
Prepare and thoughtfully respond to discussion board questions and class member
postings.
Develop an educational philosophy that can be presented on the discussion board and
in written form to the instructor for grading.
Select and read articles/resources related to philosophical questions affecting the public
schools. Use your body of current knowledge to enrich discussion board discussions.
Participate in class activities as assigned. Regular active participation in class
discussions will be expected and required of all individuals enrolled in this course.
Assignments and discussion board postings are due on or before the specified date. If
you anticipate being absent, arrange to have the discussion board posted or a written
assignment submitted in the drop before the due date.
Analyze the effects of philosophy on educational practice using the case
study method.
Grade scale: 92 - 100 = A; 80 - 91 = B; 74 - 79 = C; 65 -73 = D; 0 - 64 = F.
30% -- Practitioner case study & personal philosophy
25% -- Exam
25% -- Discussion board responses/ article discussions
20% -- Positive interaction and participation
Cheating will be immediate cause for Course Failure.
Selected Bibliography:
Brumbaugh , R.S., & Lawrence, N.M. (1963). Philosophers of education: Six essays on
the foundations of western though t. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Fenstermacher , G.D., & Soltis, J.F. (1992). Approaches to teaching. New
York: Teachers College Press.
Freire , P. (1983). Pedagogy of the oppressed. New York: Harper & Row.

Gutek , G.L. (1997). Philosophical and ideological perspectives on education, 2nd

edition . Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Hirsch, E.D. (1987). Cultural literacy: What every American needs to
know. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Hutchins, R.M. (1968). The learning society. New York: Praeger.
Jacobsen, D.A. (1999). Philosophy in classroom teaching: Bridging the gap. Upper
Saddle River, NJ: Merrill/Prentice Hall.
Kane, J. (1999). Education, information, and transformation. Upper Saddle River,
NJ: Merrill/Prentice Hall.
Ozmon , J., & Craver, S. (1995). Philosophical foundations of education , (6th
ed.) Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Singham , M. (1995). Race and intelligence: What are the issues? Phi Delta Kappan,
77(4), 271-278.
Student Behavior:
Academic Honesty - Students are expected to conduct themselves in conformity with
the highest standards with regard to academic honesty. Violation of college, state, or
federal standards with regard to plagiarism, cheating, or falsification of official records
will not be tolerated. Students violating such standards will be subject to discipline, as
per campus policies articulated in the Student Handbook. The full copy of the student
handbook can be found at http://www.csc.edu/publications/csc_student_handbook.pdf.
Academic Policies, including academic dishonesty, can be found between pages 32-34.
Attendance Policy The College assumes that students will seek to profit from the
instructional program and will recognize the importance of attending every class
meeting of courses for which credit is expected. Responsibility for notifying faculty of
absences, and for arranging potential make-up, rests with the students.
Civility Civil behavior enhances the academic setting, and is expected at all times.
Courtesy and respect for others are essential elements of the academic culture. The
academic environment welcomes a difference of opinion, discourse, and debate within a
civil environment.
Nondiscrimination Policy/Equal Educational Opportunity Policy: Chadron State
College is committed to an affirmative action program to encourage admission of
minority and female students and to provide procedures which will assure equal
treatment of all students. The College is committed to creating an environment for all
students that is consistent with nondiscriminatory policy. To that end, it is the policy of
Chadron State College to administer its academic employment programs and related
supporting services in a manner which does not discriminate on the basis of gender,
race, color, national origin, age, religion, disability, or marital status. Student requests
for reasonable accommodation based upon documented disabilities should be
presented within the first two weeks of the semester, or within two weeks of the
diagnosis, to the disabilities contact person (432-6268; Crites 011).
In accordance with the Nebraska State College System Policy 4141 the following
represents the expected contact hours needed to ensure that the time involved in
student learning is equivalent to that needed to attain the learning outcomes in

comparable courses; learning outcome equivalency is achieved through multiple course

modalities.
A three credit class requires 45 in-class hours. In addition, you should expect to spend 3
hour each week on new learning out of class, including responding to forums, applying
what you have learned in class, group work, etc. You should also expect to spend at
least 6 hours each week on out of class work such as studying and preparing for
assignments, tests, quizzes, etc.
**Disclaimer: The completion of the minimum time commitment does not ensure a
passing grade. Achievement of the course competencies must be demonstrated.
Disclaimer: This syllabus and schedule is articulated as an expectation of class topics,
learning activities, and expected student learning. However, the instructor reserves the
right to make changes in this schedule that, within my professional judgment, would
result in enhanced or more effective learning on the part of the students. These
modifications will not substantially change the intent or objectives of this course and will
be done within the policies and procedures of Chadron State College.