RECONSTRUCTIONIS

M
 RECONSTRUCTIONISM
What is Reconstructionism?
Discuss the role of this philosophy of education with reference to the following
aspects of education:-
Aims of education
Principles of education
Curriculum
Methods of teaching
Role of teacher
Student evaluation
AIMS OF EDUCATION
Taking education to be the instrument for achieving social and cultural improvement.
Enabling the learners to envision a good future and spend their learning as a
preparation for their role in the future.
Curriculum
Curriculum to reflect democratic ideals.
Emphasis on civic education.
Focus on real social problems and controversial issues.
Based on ethics in improving quality of life,
More focus on community building
CONT..
Curriculum focuses on student experience and taking social action
on real problems:
Violence
Hunger
International terrorism
Inflation
Inequality.
CONT..
Strategies for dealing with controversial issues, inquiry, dialogue,
and multiple perspectives are the focus
Community-based learning and bringing the world into the
classroom are also strategies.
CONT..
What does this mean to a Curriculum developer?
Curriculum made should consider the current and future needs of a
society
Curriculum expert design course structure that gives learners
freedom to try out own ideas and also improve on the existing
knowledge
CONT..
Design a course structure that enables learners to discover knowledge on their own,
such that teachers will not “spoon feed” the learners
The teaching of innovations in terms of thinking and practical skills becomes crucial
at every stage in the education process.
Creativity must be credited in order to encourage innovations and inventions.
CONT..
What is the role of the teacher in this philosophy?
Facilitate learning activities
Stimulate learning
Facilitating learning means that the teacher avails
opportunities to learners to experience and work with
subject matter in question.
How do we stimulate and facilitate learning?
CONT..
By asking questions
Probing learners
Compelling people to think
Motivating learners to suggest what they think about topical
issues
CONT..
Teaching Methods
The teaching methods favored by Reconstructionist are:
The pupil-teacher dialogue and
Problem-solving method (scientific method) to real-life problems
ROLE OF STUDENT
Role of the student is to be an active participant.
Students are encouraged to think critically about the world in which they live in and
how it can be changed for the better.
Students learn how to be problem solvers and decision makers
It is common for students to be challenged on their thoughts and feelings regarding
topics
CONT..
Acquisition of strong moral values is also encouraged through teaching
Reconstructionism encourages social activism among its students
It is not uncommon for students to learn while doing, such as organizing a food drive
for the local homeless shelter.