PDU3701/102/0/2023

Tutorial Letter 102/0/2023

Philosophy of Education

PDU3701

Year Module

ASSIGNMENTS FOR 2023

Department of Educational Foundations

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

This tutorial letter contains important information

about your module.
 CONTENTS
Page

1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 3
2. ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT CRITERIA ........................................................................ 3
2.1 Assessment criteria....................................................................................................................... 3
2.2 Assessment plan .......................................................................................................................... 3
2.2.1 Formative assessment .................................................................................................................. 4
2.2.2 Summative assessment ................................................................................................................ 4
3. ASSIGNMENTS ........................................................................................................................... 4
3.1 ASSIGNEMNET 01: QUIZ (MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS) ................................................... 4
3.2 ASSIGNMENT 02: Assignment ( PARAGRAPHS AND ESSAY) ................................................... 5
3.3 ASSIGNMENT 03: Assignment (PARAGRAPH TYPE QUESTIONS) ........................................... 7
4 SELF-STUDY QUESTIONS ......................................................................................................... 8

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1 INTRODUCTION

Dear Student

This Tutorial Letter contains your assignments for 2023 academic year. The due dates will be posted on
MyUnisa.

2. ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

2.1 Assessment criteria

It is important to acquire knowledge to be able to reflect critically on, contemporary issues and
problems in education, and on your own teaching practice in the classroom.

In the light of the above statement, the assessment in this module will focus on your ability to:

• acquire a reasonable knowledge based on the main ideas of various philosophies, and the
implication of these main ideas for philosophy of education and the theoretical
framework(s) they employ.
• commit information to memory.
• identify the different ideas that various philosophies of education have on the nature of
education, schooling, teaching and learning, human development and the role of education
policy in society.

These learning objectives will be assessed by the following Assessment Plan.

2.2 Assessment plan

To complete the assignments successfully, you will have to read your prescribed book and Wrap
Around carefully, reflectively, and systematically. Also, when you are preparing to write up your
assignments, do not neglect to carefully go through the Portfolio Activities in your prescribed book,
as well as the questions and feedback that appear in the Wrap Around, and the Self-Study
questions in this Tutorial letter.

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2.2.1 Formative assessment

• multiple-choice questions (Assignment 01, compulsory assignment)

• written form for assessment (paragraphs and essay-type question) (Assignment 02,
compulsory assignment)
• written form for assessment ((paragraph-type questions), Assignment 03, compulsory
assignment)
• self-assessment (short questions)

Assignment 01 must be submitted for admission to write the examination. Assignments 01 ,02
and 03 will contribute 20% to your final examination mark.

2.2.2 Summative assessment

• Examination

The examination will contribute 80% to your final mark.

Feedback on assignments will be sent in a Tutorial Letter 201 after the submission dates of your
assignments.

3. ASSIGNMENTS

Please note no google answers or internet answers will be accepted. You may consult the
E-reserves on My Modules under the heading additional resources.

3.1 ASSIGNEMNET 01: QUIZ (MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS)

DUE DATE: TBA

UNIQUE NR: TBA

To prepare for this assignment please read through:

• Higgs P & Letseka, M. 2022. Philosophy of Education Today: An Introduction: Third edition.
Cape Town: Juta.
• your wrap around.

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3.2 ASSIGNMENT 02: Assignment ( PARAGRAPHS AND ESSAY)

DUE DATE: TBA

UNIQUE NUMBER: TBA
ASSIGNMENT 2 (PARAGRAPH TYPE AND ESSAY QUESTIONS)

Question 1 (5X5=25)

Briefly discuss the following:

1.1 Communality
1.2 A fact
1.3 Pragmatism
1.4 Fundamental Pedagogics
1.5 Constructivism

Question 2

2.1 African philosophy finds expression in four distinctive discourses. Briefly describe each
of these discourses. (4x3=12)

2.2 Based on Richard Peters argument, what can Empiricism help you as a teacher to
achieve in your classroom activities? (13)
(25)

Question 3 (ESSAY)

Write an essay and discuss how Critical Theory can help you as a teacher to change the
classroom dynamic from emphasis of route learning to critical thinking. (50)

• Consult chapter 7 in the prescribed textbook.

• Substantiate your discussion with examples from your classroom

Please note the following:

• Your essay must not exceed six typed pages.
• Please refer to your sources of information.
• Do not copy directly from the prescribed textbook. (Paraphrase)

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 • Provide your essay with a bibliography.
• Example of a bibliography in alphabetical order

1. Higgs P & Letseka, M. 2022. Philosophy of Education Today: An Introduction: Third

edition. Cape Town: Juta.
2. Mkabela, Q & Luthuli, PC. 1997. Towards an African Philosophy of Education. Pretoria:
Kagiso Press

RUBRIC:

Your essay will be assessed according to the following rubric:

Aspect Excellent Good Average Below

average

Introduction of essay: (10)

Explain the concept of Critical Theory

Body: (30)
Discuss how you as a teacher can use
Critical Theory to change the classroom
dynamic from emphasis of route learning
to critical thinking
Provide examples.

Conclusion: Your own opinion (8)

References (2)

TOTAL: [50]
Total Marks: [100]

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3.3 ASSIGNMENT 03: Assignment (PARAGRAPH TYPE QUESTIONS)

DUE DATE:2023
UNIQUE NUMBER:

Question 1

Write short notes on each of the following philosophies’ views on education:

(5X5=25)
• Empiricism
• Phenomenology
• Scientific rationalism
• Hermeneutics
• Critical Theory

Question 2

2.1 How can the notion of ubuntu be incorporated in your classroom practice (15)

2.2. What do you think African Philosophy can help us to achieve in education? (10)
(25)

Question 3

3.1 How does Phenomenology respond to formal education systems? (10)

3.2 What can Scientific Rationalism help us to achieve in education (10)

3.3 What is Critical theory’s criticism of modern schooling? (5)

(25)

Question 4

Compare the work of Hans-Georg Gadamer and Rudolf Steiner. In your discussion you should
indicate how their views could influence your classroom practice. Consult chapter 5 of your
prescribed textbook (25)
TOTAL: [100]

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4 SELF-STUDY QUESTIONS

There are a number of Portfolio Activities in each of the chapters in your prescribed book and, a
number of questions in the Wrap Around. Work through these Portfolio Activities and questions
systematically by recording your answers in a workbook of your own for future reference and for
study purposes. Your assignments and the examination will inter alia be based on these Portfolio
Activities and questions, and it is, therefore, advisable to give these Portfolio Activities and
questions your serious attention. You need not submit the answers to, the questions in these
Portfolio Activities or, to the questions in the Wrap Around.

However, we have selected several questions related to the content and Portfolio Activities in the
Chapters of the prescribed text. Attempt to answer these questions as listed below. We shall
provide feedback on these questions in a future tutorial letter.

CHAPTER 1: African Philosophy and education

1 What does it mean when someone says, “I am an African”? Does this claim merely refer
to the fact that the person lives in Africa, or does it say something more?
2 How can the notion of uBuntu be incorporated in?
• classroom practice and,
• the life of the school in general
3 African philosophy finds expression in four distinct discourses. Name these discourses.
4 Does a sense of communality exist in your educational context, be at school, college or
university? Provide examples.
5 What educational values does African traditional thought emphasise?

CHAPTER 2: Empiricism and Education

1 How, according to Empiricism, do we attain knowledge?
2 What can Empiricism help us to achieve in education?
3 What is the danger of Empiricism when applied to education?
4 What do you think is the biggest problem in South African classrooms today? Explain
the problem as clearly as you can and stick to the facts. When you have done this, then
identify the philosophy you have based your explanation on and say why you claim this
to be the philosophy you have based your explanation on.
5 A philosophy that is similar to Empiricism is Pragmatism. What does Pragmatism teach
us about philosophy?
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CHAPTER 3: Scientific Rationalism and Education

1 What does Scientific Rationalism (sometimes called Critical Rationalism) teach us?
2 What is the aim of Scientific Rationalism?
3 How does Scientific Rationalism influence formal education?
4 What can Scientific Rationalism help us achieve in education?
5 Can Scientific Rationalism be used by teachers in their classroom practice? Motivate
your answer.

CHAPTER 4: Phenomenology and Education

1 What is Phenomenology?
2 What does Phenomenology claim to be our biggest problem today, and how should we
go about dealing with this problem?
3 Contemporary Phenomenology started with the work of which philosopher?
4 What does a phenomenological approach to education focus on?
5 How does Phenomenology respond to formal education systems?

CHAPTER 5: Hermeneutics and Education

1 What is Hermeneutics?
2 If we use Hermeneutics as a philosophy of education, then how will we view a problem?
3 If we follow the philosophy of Hermeneutics, what will our educational aims be?
4 Name a philosopher who worked with Hermeneutics.
5 Constructivism is based on the philosophy of Hermeneutics. What is Constructivism’s
claim concerning knowledge and education?

CHAPTER 6 Systems Theory and Education

1 What is Systems Theory?

2 According to Systems Theory, how should we approach a problem?
3 Systems Theory started with whose work?
4 Has Systems Theory influenced teaching?
5 Complexity Theory is a form of Systems Theory. How does Complexity Theory view
problems in education?

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Chapter 7 Critical Theory and Education

1 What is Critical theory?

2 Where did Critical Theory start, and which philosophers created Critical Theory?
3 What is Critical theory’s criticism of modern schooling?
4 Paulo Freire’s major work published in 1968 was entitled, Pedagogy of the Oppressed.
Which two educational concerns in education disturbed him most?
5 How does Critical Theory view examination systems in education?

Chapter 8 Feminism and Education

1 Feminism can be divided into various schools of thought. What are these schools of
thought?
2 What does Feminism focus on?
3 What do feminist approaches to education focus on?
4 Name two phenomenological feminists who contributed significantly to philosophy of
education.
5 What does Queer Theory focus on, and what implications does this have for education?

Chapter 9 Postmodernism and Education

1 What is Postmodernism?
2 Name three of its leading advocates.
3 It is claimed by some educators that Postmodernism makes education more realistic.
Why is this so?
4 Where does Postmodernism succeed in education?
5. Deconstruction is Postmodernism’s partner in that it helps postmodernists to view things
differently. What would a deconstructionist working in education then focus on?

We wish you all the best with your studies!

Prof L Higgs

Dr BM Moloto

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The under-mentioned declaration must accompany written assignments. Your assignment will be
cancelled and returned unmarked if you do not include a fully completed and signed declaration
form.

I (full names):
Student number: ___________________________

Declare that…
1. I understand what plagiarism entails and am aware of the University’s policy in this regard.
2. I declare that this assignment is my own, original work. Where I used someone else’s work, whether
a printed source, the internet or any other source, I give the proper acknowledgement and include
a complete reference list.
3. I did not use another current or previous student’s work, submitting it as my own.
4. I did not allow and will not allow anyone to copy my work with the intention of submitting it
as his or her own work.

Signature _________________________ Date: ____________________________

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