Personal Teaching Philosophy

PHY 310 -- Readings for Teaching High School Physics
Illinois State University Physics Teacher Education
Carl J. Wenning, Education Specialist
Spring Semester 2012

(Last updated 7/13/2011)

Required background reading: Read the Executive Summary of A Splintered Vision before beginning to write.

Criteria:

In light of what you now know as a result or your experiences in high school and in university education courses, state your personal teaching philosophy keeping in mind the above course objectives. Your philosophical position statement should answer additional questions such as the following:

1. What aspects of physics (knowledge, skills, dispositions) do my students really need to know? Why?
2. What is the status of physics teaching in American high schools, and how will my teaching help bring about needed changes? (Be certain to reference the key points in "A Splintered Vision".
3. Explain how students should acquire knowledge.
4. Explain how students should acquire intellectual skills.
5. Explain how students should acquire dispositions.
6. Identify and briefly explain any personally appealing learning theory (theories) and philosophies of learning and human development and how they will relate to the range of students in your future classroom.
7. Explain how diverse student characteristics and abilities will likely affect processes of inquiry and influence patterns of learning in your future classroom.
8. Will I teach for depth of understanding or breadth of coverage? How will I manage this evidently conflicting set of goals?
9. What role will inquiry practice play in my teaching (e.g. teaching versus informing, exposition versus inquiry, constructivism and pre-conceptions, etc.)?
10. How and to what degree will the moral and intellectual virtues of ISU Teacher Education's Conceptual Framework impact my teaching? Do I agree with them? Why or why not?

Things you might want include: how you will use national, state, and professional standards, lesson design to reflect your epistemology (e.g. your philosophy of how students learn), questioning and wait time, equity, STS approaches (e.g. relevancy), problem solving, the role of the textbook, lecture, etc. You also need to include how you will comply with ISU Teacher Education's Conceptual Framework. You must explain how your classroom will operate, and what guides and informs your curricular and pedagogical choices.

Write this paper with the conviction that it will be an important part of the evidence of the kind of teacher you will become. Consider using this essay as an important component of your professional teaching portfolio that will be required of you at the end of student teaching. Think of this essay as something you would be proud to leave at a school after you have interviewed with them for a job you really want.

In addition, your essay must satisfy the following general criteria:

• Paper is typed single spaced, using a 12-point Times font or similar
• Each section starts with a statement of the question above which the student is addressing
• 2-3 pages in length
• Makes appropriate use of grammar
• Logically presented
• Shows evidence of reflection
• Accurate
• Contains not less than three references
• Turned in on time (25%/day penalty for each school day late)
• Satisfies stated objectives
• Click here to obtain detailed grading rubric which should serve as a guide as you write your paper.

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