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Andrew Jenkins Teaching Philosophy

This document outlines a teaching philosophy focused on creative, student-centered learning. It discusses utilizing drama and the arts to educate students through a social, collaborative process as inspired by theorists like Vygotsky and Boal. Key aspects of the philosophy include using drama to promote social change and personal development, designing culturally inclusive and differentiated lessons, and engaging in reflective practice to continually improve.

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189 views2 pages

Andrew Jenkins Teaching Philosophy

This document outlines a teaching philosophy focused on creative, student-centered learning. It discusses utilizing drama and the arts to educate students through a social, collaborative process as inspired by theorists like Vygotsky and Boal. Key aspects of the philosophy include using drama to promote social change and personal development, designing culturally inclusive and differentiated lessons, and engaging in reflective practice to continually improve.

Uploaded by

api-463193103
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Teaching is a fluid & flexible art in this principles by working in an ensemble to

contemporary, 21st century world. Even make meaning & interpret the world
outlining a philosophy for my practice as around them. I think that Vygotsky’s
a teacher is a process that highlights the subscription to the idea that students
fluidity of the education environment. should learn in & from a social setting
Teachers can be so different - with varying (Mooney, 2015) is the exact foundation
philosophies - yet so effective in their for acute teaching in the arts. With this in
profession. I believe teaching is a mind, my knowledge of curriculum &
personal career – a career that utilises pedagogy is shaped through Vygotsky’s
who you are as a person to help others lens & refined through Boal’s love of
discover who they are as people. educational drama.

I think that your individuality nuances English serves as the same springboard
your teaching ability. I plan on utilising for social change and personal
my inclination to a creative, inflective, development. Students should unpack
dramatic & world-orienting pedagogy to texts that engage them with their inner &
make education practical & relevant to outer worlds. Students should be led to
the contemporary student. ask questions about these texts & in turn,
consider their worldview. I think any
Professional teacher of English, Drama or The Arts
should really shape their philosophy

Knowledge: around educating students about their


micro & macro environments on a holistic
and personalised level – to ask the big
questions.
Augusto Boal, a 20th century Dramaturg,
devised a mode of theatre in Brazil that
highlighted the importance art & theatre Professional

Practice:
has on social change. He posited that
theatre had the ability to awaken
audiences to social, political & moral
oppression & sought to educate viewers
on their own world (Boal, 1993). As a With the Australian Curriculum & SACE
Drama teacher, I think this is a perfect both moving towards an awareness of the
way to situate my teaching philosophy. Art global community – I think it is important
- & the drama classroom specifically – is to teach from multiple cultures & ways of
a space like no other to educate students thinking. I love developing Drama &
on their world. Education is a liberating English units that combine elements of
concept that can free students to expand history, varying international cultures &
their mindset in any way they choose. Add the traditional Aboriginal story-telling
the creative release of a drama- practices from our very own country.
orientated pedagogy however, & students
can become confident, introspective & I also think inclusion & inclusion support
collaborative learners. is the stepping-stone to any practical
teacher practice. I select resources &
On top of my love of Boal’s model of tasks that can be fully scaffolded or
teaching drama for social change, I mapped from a differentiation
adhere to Vygotsky’s model of thinking perspective. Drama, for example, is
when it comes to pedagogy. The drama unique in the sense that it can support
classroom is a social experience. inclusion in ways that a traditional
Students develop moral & social classroom may not allow as easily. Not

Andrew James Jenkins / Teaching Philosophy Statement 2019


everyone can formulate the perfect essay Teaching is an esoteric world without a
on a whim, but everyone can tell a story. solid reflective focus sometimes. Self-
When that story is combined with a efficacy is crucial to my career & I choose
supported ensemble – a student can to be a teacher that does not just teach -
grow & learn practically in ways far less- but reflects, refines & refocuses so that
restrictive to a theoretical curriculum. my students are as supported as
possible.
For me, a good unit should be scaffolded,
relevant to each child, culture-inclusive &
practical. I believe that once a student
understands the practical side of a theory
- & have had fun putting work into a
dramatic piece – they are more likely to
engage in written theoretical work around
the subject. My professional practice
places relevance & practical experience
above all else in this heavily hands-on
21st century world.

Professional

Engagement:
Reflective practice is the most important
part of professional engagement. When I
look back on a lesson, unit or idea I have
taught – I select the positives, the
negatives & always look to improve on my
mistakes & refine my successes.
Sometimes, this cannot be done without
feedback from others. Just as Vygotsky
encourages us to build on what we know
through a social lens; I think we should
always be seeking feedback from
colleagues & professional mentors.

In this light, I also think it is important to


be updating your teaching resources Works Cited & Further Reading:
through links to professional
associations. I believe it is crucial to stay Garhart, M. C. (2013). Theories of childhood,
up to date & present in a world that aligns second edition : An introduction to dewey,
montessori, erikson, piaget & vygotsky.
with your teaching areas. The Drama Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-
Teacher Association of South Australia proquest-com.ezproxy.flinders.edu.au
provides a platform for myself &
colleagues to discuss the world of drama- Boal, A. (1993). Theatre of the oppressed.
focused & high quality pedagogy. I am Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-
also connected with the Australian proquest-com.ezproxy.flinders.edu.au
Association for the Teaching of English.

Andrew James Jenkins / Teaching Philosophy Statement 2019

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