Basic Concepts in Education

This course deals with an introduction to Philosophical and Sociological perspectives on basic assumptions about human nature, knowledge and learning.The course also explains briefly about the distinction between body of knowledge and child’s construction of knowledge. It also highlights on the concept of the child as a learner, the teacher, the role of teacher with respect to parents, curriculum, and society.

COURSE LAYOUT

Week – I

1. Philosophical and sociological perspectives: Basic assumptions about human nature, knowledge and learning2. Knowledge: Distinction between body of knowledge and the child’s construction of knowledge3. Knowledge in the Context of curriculum, Syllabus & Teaching
Week – II
4. School knowledge and children’s experiential knowledge5. Universal & Local facets of Knowledge
Week – III
6. The Child as a Learner7. The Teacher - Teaching as a professional activityWeek – IV
8. Teacher and parents9. Teacher and the curriculum10. Teacher and Society
Week – V
11. General Introduction to Progressive thought in education12. The Tradition of Rousseau, Pestalozzi, Montessori, Dewey and Susan Isaacs13. Progressive educational thought in Indian context: Tagore, Gandhi, Gigubhai and Krishnamurthy
Week – VI
14. A Detailed Study On Tagore’s Essay ‘My School’ and Dewey’s Essay ‘My Pedagogic Creed’15. Societal Context of Education Equality, Authority, Conflict and Change