How to Develop a Personal Teaching Philosophy in Higher Education

Instil a sense of wonder in your learners

When delivering complex concepts and theories in higher education, it is vital to develop a sense of wonder around the subject, creating and maintaining interest in your learners.

On this three-week course, you’ll investigate the notion of ‘wonder’ in teaching contexts, using world philosophies and educational philosophy and psychology to underpin your new approach to teaching and learning.

Explore the four main world philosophies, from idealism to pragmatism

Beginning with an introduction to philosophy, you’ll delve into the concepts of idealism, realism, pragmatism, and existentialism, assessing their impact on educational practice.

You’ll then discuss the application or relevance of each theory in educational settings.

Examine the fundamentals of educational philosophy and educational psychology

Building on your knowledge of world philosophies, you’ll move on to educational philosophical theories including perennialism, essentialism, progressivism, and reconstructionism.

You’ll then explore the link between educational philosophy and psychology and discuss how you can use the theories to inform your teaching practices to develop engaging, awe-inspiring content for your learners.

Develop your personal teaching philosophy

Bringing together your learning from previous weeks, you’ll finish this course by exploring how to use the tools of philosophy to help inform your own personal teaching philosophy and embed a sense of wonder throughout your learning design.

By the end of this course, you’ll have an understanding of the main philosophies and psychological concepts that inform teaching practice today. With this knowledge, you’ll be able to view and deliver knowledge through a new lens and instil wonder in your learners whatever your taught subject.