This I Believe

1. This I Believe, a Personal Philosophy of Education

Please note when submitting your TIB essay, you will need to attach an MS Word file to an email. No exceptions.

This I Believe Assessment

Conference with me (Dr. Shutkin) to discuss your proposal is mandatory: Conference Sign-up sheet

ED100 Introduction to Education

Through reflection, analysis and synthesis of your research, blog entries, course readings, discussions and other activities, write an essay expressing your beliefs about education.  Through this essay, I challenge you to find your voice and to focus your essay on a significant issue in the field of education.

Research, question, challenge, defend your belief using appropriate, peer reviewed sources from articles and books. (Not to exceed 1500 words / 6 pages)

Introduction 

What is/are the core belief(s) of your essay? Briefly describe those beliefs within the context of the field of education and your experiences as a student and preservice teacher. Indicate the significance of this belief in the field of education.

Problem Statement 

• What are the issues and/or problems that your core belief(s) responds to? Discuss the history of and current circumstances related to those issues and/or problems.
• Your beliefs do not emerge from nothing. They arise from your experiences and/or a situation in which you recognize a need, and/or a problem that must be solved, etc. Discuss your experiences, needs, interests and/or prior knowledge which inform or are related to your core belief(s)?
• What connections do you make with other beliefs or issues you know or study? Conversely, what “big” question or questions do you have about your belief(s)? What do you want to know; what important content and concepts will you learn? What knowledge, skills, strategies and attitudes do you expect to gain?

Literature Review  

Situate your core belief(s) within the field of education. Survey the literature to establish reasonable boundaries of the theme of your essay.  Discuss the varying issues, perspectives and debates in this literature.  In your literature review, please define your core belief(s), comparing and contrasting how it is /they are variously defined across the literature surveyed. Further, discuss how the core belief(s) is/are treated in the literature, i.e. what are the articles about, what are the historical, political, cultural and/or economic perspectives of the articles, and so forth?

Discussion, Analysis, Synthesis   

Discuss your voice and the significance of your essay within the field of education. What is/are the problem(s) / question(s) that your essay responds to?  How have you addressed / solved this/these problem(s) and/or how have you answered the question or questions about your belief(s)?  What do you know now; what important content and concepts have you learned?  What knowledge, skills, strategies and attitudes have you gained?  What are the results and/or conclusions of your reflections and research? Discuss these fully.

Bibliography:

Complete bibliography in a standard form such as MLA, Chicago or APA.

---

NPR’s This I Believe Essay-Approach

Path to the JCU library research databases: Library main page –> Library research page –> Articles, Data and Databases –> Research databases

---

ED100 TIB Assessment Rubric

____ Appreciation: (1x) The domain of appreciation relates to a sense of openness to and appreciation for diverse evidence, conclusions, points of view, attitudes, motivations, experiences, values, and cultures. (Includes Literature Review).

Literature Review: Situate your core belief(s) within the field of education. Survey the literature to establish reasonable boundaries of the theme of your essay.  Discuss the varying issues, perspectives and debates in this literature.  In your literature review, please define your core belief(s), comparing and contrasting how it is /they are variously defined across the literature surveyed. Further, discuss how the core belief(s) is/are treated in the literature, i.e. what are the articles about, what are the historical, political, cultural and/or economic perspectives of the articles, and so forth?

• 1. Budding evidence for this domain may, for example, be a superficial presentation of other views that seems poorly integrated with the author’s views.  No references are given.
• 2. Emerging skills in this domain may include a resourceful inclusion of other views as the author relates issues raised to general knowledge, lived experiences and texts. References may be partial and/or inaccurate.
• 3. Maturing skills in this domain may include a resourceful inclusion of other views and the drawing of some interesting connections between these views and the author’s views as the author relates texts to issues raised. References are complete and accurate.
• 4. Readiness in this domain includes evidence that difference and other views are valued and appreciated beyond being merely included: that these other views have enriched the author’s own views.  The author relates texts and issues raised to other texts as the work evokes a sense of satisfaction and expansiveness. References are complete and accurate.

____ Method: (1x) The domain of method relates to the ‘nuts and bolts’ of how a piece of work is carried forward and completed, as well as the skillful application of various modes of expression.

• 1. Budding evidence for this domain includes a sense of incoherence as well as works that seem an incomplete jumble. While some of the components of the work may be interesting and engaging, the reader or audience is left feeling imposed upon. Work contains an excessive number of distracting spelling, grammatical, mechanical and/or technical errors.
• 2. Emerging evidence for this domain includes a sense of coherence throughout the work. It is selectively interesting and engaging, yet the reader/audience is left feeling unsatisfied. Work contains distracting spelling, grammatical, mechanical and/or technical errors.
• 3. Evidence for maturing skill in this domain includes an appropriate and efficient use of method. Overall, the work seems accomplished and conventional in form. Work contains few, if any, spelling, grammatical, mechanical and/or technical errors.
• 4. In uses of method demonstrating readiness in this domain,  it is evident to the reader that the author is an accomplished writer. Overall, the work is stylistically interesting and inspiring in form.

____ View: (3x) The domain of view relates to the ability to see (perceive) clearly, or clarity of expression.

1. Student work that is budding for this domain can leave the reader or audience confused about the purpose of the work or the logical arguments the author is trying to make. An authoritative stance is taken without convincing support for the author’s views.
2. Student work that is emerging for this domain can leave the reader or audience uncertain about the purpose of the work or the logical arguments the author is trying to make. The author makes unsubstantiated assertions.
3. Maturing evidence for this domain includes, for example, a well-structured and organized piece of work where the reader can readily ascertain the author’s perspective and can follow the development of the author’s ideas.
4. Evidence for readiness in this domain is principled works that may also include moments of insight (understanding and illumination).

____ Introduction: What is/are the core belief(s) of your essay? Briefly describe those beliefs within the context of the field of education and your experiences as a student and preservice teacher. Indicate the significance of this belief in the field of education.

____ Problem Statement: What are the issues and/or problems that your core belief(s) responds to? Discuss the history of and current circumstances related to those issues and/or problems. Your beliefs do not emerge from nothing. They arise from your experiences and/or a situation in which you recognize a need, and/or a problem that must be solved, etc. Discuss your experiences, needs, interests and/or prior knowledge that inform or are related to your core belief(s)? What connections do you make with other beliefs or issues you know or study? Conversely, what “big” question or questions do you have about your belief(s)? What do you want to know; what important content and concepts will you learn? What knowledge, skills, strategies and attitudes do you expect to gain?

____ Conclusions: Discussion, Analysis, Synthesis: Discuss your voice and the significance of your essay within the field of education. What is/are the problem(s) / question(s) that your essay responds to?  How have you addressed / solved this/these problem(s) and/or how have you answered the question or questions about your belief(s)?  What do you know now; what important content and concepts have you learned?  What knowledge, skills, strategies and attitudes have you gained?  What are the results and/or conclusions of your reflections and research? Discuss these fully.