April McCarty & Ann Hardin Realism In Education April McCarty & Ann Hardin EDU 513 Wilmington College July 6, 2010

Influences of Realism Aristotle (383-323BC)- Greek philosopher, set fourth realism -Balance is Essential -body and mind work together Thomas Aquinas-(1225-1274) – “God made matter, therefore it must be ok to study it”. John Locke(1690-1781 AD)- believed that at birth, the mind is a blank piece of paper, all ideas come from personal experiences

What is Realism? Realists believe that reality exists independent of the human mind; objects exists whether you see them or not. The world is as it is and it is the job of the teacher/school to teach about the world. Refinement of our common acceptance of the world as being just what it appears to be; they are just the same as they were before entering our consciousness.

What does this mean? Real is the world we live in Knowledge is a result of experience Everything in existence is matter, energy, or matter in motion Universe is operated by the laws of nature Truth can be exposed with the help of scientific methods

Aesthetic Realism Teaching Method Introduced in 1941 by Eli Siegel “Purpose of education is to like the world through knowing it.” “A child’s ability to learn is very much affected by whether he or she sees the outside world as a possible friend or as a cruel and fearsome place.” Reading is a great way to love the world we live in! http://www.aestheticrealism.net

Curriculum as Experience Emphasizes the subject matter of the physical world Scientifically approached, standardized, and discipline based. Students should be able to demonstrate critically and scientifically, using observations and experiences.

Schools/Administration… Provides basic knowledge with a no nonsense approach Study of science and scientific method Offers knowledge of the world in order to ensure survival Supply not only facts, but also the methods to get those facts Highly organized and scheduled

In the Classroom, the teacher… is neither a pessimist, nor a optimist defines simple rules must be able to provide children the problems of life and the world around us is to teach one subject at a time, in proper order focuses on mastery of facts and basic skills through demonstration and memorization things should be introduced first, vocabulary second More emphasis on questions and understanding, less cramming Students… Should be taught based on their strengths and abilities

Philosophy & ODE Standard: Scientific Ways of Knowing Students realize that the current body of scientific knowledge must be based on evidence, be predictive, logical, subject to modification and limited to the natural world. This includes demonstrating an understanding that scientific knowledge grows and advances as new evidence is discovered to support or modify existing theories, as well as to encourage the development of new theories. Students are able to reflect on ethical scientific practices and demonstrate an understanding of how the current body of scientific knowledge reflects the historical and cultural contributions of women and men who provide us with a more reliable and comprehensive understanding of the natural world.

Questions Super Realism How does this look in the general classroom? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M28w6I621_s Questions How does this look in the general classroom? How does this look in the inclusion/special education classroom? “If a tree falls on a deserted island and there is no one there to hear it, is there a sound?”