Corporal Punishment Realism Idealism Notes and Quotes

Restrictive Course, Self-Control & Idealism

Describe the Most Restrictive Course/Classroom

The most restrictive course I have taken would have to be Critical Thinking. As noted, in the text, as a pupil, my responsibility is to learn. Not only am I to discover knowledge that I think I should know, but also what it is important for me to know. For this reason, the position of the teacher is critical.

In this course, the teacher had a very hands-off approach to teaching. Students were left to control much of the classroom, directing interactions and discussions. It was not a teacher-centered course, but a student centered one. For this reason, it is probable that we did not learn the most important information on the subject matter. Although pupil experience and interest was utilized in the classroom, it was hard to determine if the teacher truly knew the subject fully, as he simply acted as a moderator for much of the time.

With this lack of guidance, what some would see as unrestrictive, was more restrictive than if the teacher had been an active part of the education process. However, I was able to garner valuable knowledge because of this classroom setup. Not only did I learn material from the course content, but I also was able to learn how important it is for an instructor to be an active and objective part of the process.

Self-Control

To instill self-control, there are several factors that are critical, in the classroom. One such factor is leadership and authority. An example of this is the teacher's ability to not only make classroom rules, but receive input from the students regarding what the classroom rules should be. In this way, the teacher has established leadership and the students have ownership in the rules they've created.

Motivation is another critical factor in promoting self-control. Generating interest in the learning process can often be accomplished by motivation, such as giving small rewards for completion of assignment or participation in discussions. Creating an appropriate physical environment is crucial as well.

Students need to have adequate space to work. Their physical environment must be conducive to learning with minimal distractions. In addition, students must be given the appropriate time to complete their coursework, as well as guidance in assuring that it is completed in an efficient manner.

Lesson management is another critical factor to instilling self-control in students. Lessons must be interesting and stimulating. This can include incorporating games into the lesson. And, group dynamics must be maintained. As an example, if a game were employed in lesson management, the teacher should ensure that everyone has an opportunity to play and that teams are chosen fairly, not simply by established cliques of friends, which will help maintain a positive environment.

Idealism

The quote from Schopenhauer, "The world is my idea" is thought provoking. In its simplest form, it means that life is what we make of it. The environment that surrounds us is highly dependent upon our thoughts.