Philosophical Approaches and Teaching Methods in Education

Framing Academic Concepts in Real-World Terms

One effective way to pose questions that reflect academic concepts in real-world terminology is to frame them in relation to the long-term purposes and goals of education rather than the short-term strategies used to achieve those goals. For example, in educational terms, one might argue that the key to effective modern education is to promote inquiry-based learning rather than an exclusive focus on transferring substantive information, and to transition away from passive learning toward active learning methodologies.

In real-world terminology, the same concerns can be expressed much more simply by starting with the intended end product. For example, real-world questions on the same issues might ask:

(1) "Do you think that formal education should teach only information, or do you think that formal education should also teach students how to think?"

(2) "Do you believe that the lecture and textbook method is the most effective way to teach, or do you think that many students might benefit more from less passive teaching methods that involve two-way communication between learners and educators?"

Translating Real-World Responses Back into Academic Language

To translate real-world discussions back into the academic environment, one might introduce information that connects the interviewee's responses directly to the realm of educational methodology. For example, the interviewer might ask whether the interviewee is familiar with hands-on, active learning and inquiry-based teaching methodologies. If the interviewee is not familiar with them, the interviewer has an opportunity to educate the interviewee in the course of the interview itself, thereby grounding the conversation in recognized academic frameworks.