EDUC 5021 - Philosophy and History of Education

Course Description

What education is, what purposes it serves, and how it is structured is closely entwined with ideas of what a society is and how it functions. Students engage in an introduction to key educational philosophers and considers their impacts on the history of education.

Learning outcomes

• Identify the social and philosophical theories of society and consider the implication of these theories in education.
• Discuss the evolving structures and priorities within education as part of a much larger picture.
• Identify and analyze historic contexts including Indigenous and global views, and shifting values in society, from which various social and philosophical theories originate.
• Describe the relevance of philosophy and history of education in the practice of education.
• Articulate a relevant understanding of a variety of philosophical and social theorists and contexts including Indigenous and global views, that have played a role in the evolving nature of society.
• Situate your own instructional experience in the context of educational philosophies.

Course topics

• Week 1: Personal Lenses Define Philosophy—Creating an Ethical Space
• Week 2: Indigenous Philosophies of Education and Epistemologies
• Week 3: Idealism in Education
• Week 4: Realism in Education
• Week 5: Existentialism in Education
• Week 6: Naturalism in Education
• Week 7: Pragmatism and Progressivism in Education
• Week 8: Perennialism in Education
• Week 9: Liberalism in Education
• Week 10: Humanism in Education
• Week 11: Constructivism in Education
• Week 12: Social Reconstructionism and Critical, Feminist Pedagogy in Education

Required text and materials

Online MEd students are responsible for sourcing and/or ordering their own books. Please see the list of required textbooks here: https://www.tru.ca/distance/courses/MEd_Textbook_List.pdf 

If students have any questions about obtaining the correct textbook, please contact OLMaterials@tru.ca.

Assessments

To successfully complete this course, students must achieve a passing grade of 70% or higher on the overall course, and 50% or higher on the final mandatory project.

Prerequisites

Meets the TRU MEd admission requirements.

Exclusions

EDUC 5020