Professional Education
"Future LPTs! Professional Education ang CORE ng LET - ito ang pinakamaraming items at pinakamalaking coverage! Theories, principles, laws, at methodologies - lahat ito dapat i-master mo. Hindi lang test-taking strategy, pero actual na gagamitin mo bilang guro. Let's go, future licensed teacher!"
1. Philosophical Foundations of Education 🏛️
Know the major philosophies and their implications for education!
Major Educational Philosophies
| Philosophy | Proponent | Key Belief | Educational Implication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idealism | Plato | Reality is in the mind; ideas are real | Values education, discussion, lecture method |
| Realism | Aristotle | Reality exists independent of mind | Sensory experience, scientific method, demonstration |
| Pragmatism | John Dewey | Truth is what works; experience-based | "Learning by doing", project method, problem-solving |
| Existentialism | Sartre, Kierkegaard | Individual freedom and choice | Student-centered, personal meaning, values clarification |
| Essentialism | William Bagley | Essential knowledge must be taught | Teacher-centered, basic skills, discipline |
| Perennialism | Robert Hutchins | Eternal truths; classics are important | Great Books, Socratic method, liberal arts |
| Progressivism | John Dewey | Education for social change | Child-centered, democratic, experiential learning |
| Reconstructionism | Theodore Brameld | Schools should lead social change | Social reform, critical thinking, activism |
🎯 LET TIP:
Remember: Pragmatism = Dewey = Learning by Doing. Perennialism = Great Books. Essentialism = Back to Basics. These are board exam favorites!
2. Child & Adolescent Development 🧒
Know the major developmental theories - most commonly asked in LET!
Piaget's Cognitive Development (MUST KNOW!)
| Stage | Age | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Sensorimotor | 0-2 yrs | Object permanence, learns through senses |
| Preoperational | 2-7 yrs | Egocentric, symbolic thinking, animism, centration |
| Concrete Operational | 7-11 yrs | Conservation, logical thinking (concrete), reversibility |
| Formal Operational | 11+ yrs | Abstract thinking, hypothetical reasoning, metacognition |
Key Terms: Schema, Assimilation (fit into existing), Accommodation (modify schema), Equilibration
Erikson's Psychosocial Development (8 Stages)
Kohlberg's Moral Development (3 Levels, 6 Stages)
Level 1: Pre-conventional (Self-Interest)
- Stage 1: Punishment/Obedience - "I'll get punished"
- Stage 2: Reward - "What's in it for me?"
Level 2: Conventional (Social Approval)
- Stage 3: Good Boy/Good Girl - "People will like me"
- Stage 4: Law and Order - "It's the rule"
Level 3: Post-conventional (Universal Principles)
- Stage 5: Social Contract - "For the greater good"
- Stage 6: Universal Ethical - "Based on my conscience"
Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory
- Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD): Gap between what learner can do alone vs with help
- Scaffolding: Temporary support that's gradually removed (by MKO)
- More Knowledgeable Other (MKO): Teacher, peer, or expert who guides learning
- Social Interaction: Learning is social; language is tool for thinking
3. Principles & Theories of Learning 📚
Understanding HOW students learn is essential for effective teaching!
Behaviorist Theories (Stimulus-Response)
Thorndike's Connectionism
- Law of Readiness: Learner must be ready
- Law of Exercise: Practice strengthens connection
- Law of Effect: Satisfaction strengthens; annoyance weakens
Pavlov's Classical Conditioning
Involuntary response learned through association (bell + food = salivation)
Terms: UCS, UCR, CS, CR, Extinction, Generalization
Skinner's Operant Conditioning
- Positive Reinforcement: Add pleasant = increase behavior
- Negative Reinforcement: Remove unpleasant = increase behavior
- Punishment: Decrease behavior
Bandura's Social Learning
Learning through observation and modeling (ARRM)
- Attention → Retention → Reproduction → Motivation
Cognitive Theories
Gestalt Theory (Insight Learning)
Learning through perception; "Aha!" moment
Whole > Sum of Parts
Bruner's Discovery Learning
- Enactive: Learning through action
- Iconic: Learning through images
- Symbolic: Learning through symbols/language
Ausubel's Meaningful Reception
Connect new info to prior knowledge
Advance Organizer: Preview of content to link ideas
Information Processing
Mind as computer: Input → Process → Output
Sensory → Short-term → Long-term Memory
Humanist Theories (Learner-Centered)
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
- Physiological (food, water)
- Safety (security)
- Love/Belonging (relationships)
- Esteem (respect, achievement)
- Self-Actualization (potential)
Rogers' Person-Centered
- Teacher as Facilitator
- Unconditional positive regard
- Empathy and genuineness
- Self-directed learning
4. Teaching Methods & Strategies 👩🏫
Know when to use which method - board exam loves application questions!
Teaching Methods Overview
| Method | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Lecture | Teacher talks, students listen | Large groups, factual info, limited time |
| Discussion | Exchange of ideas between teacher-students | Critical thinking, opinions, small groups |
| Demonstration | Teacher shows how to do something | Skills, procedures, science experiments |
| Laboratory | Students perform hands-on activities | Science, discovery learning, verification |
| Project Method | Extended task with real-world application | Integration, creativity, research skills |
| Problem-Based | Learning through solving real problems | Critical thinking, application, collaboration |
| Cooperative Learning | Small groups work together | Social skills, diverse learners, peer teaching |
| Inquiry Method | Students ask questions and investigate | Science, curiosity, independent thinking |
Types of Questions (Bloom's Taxonomy)
5. Assessment of Learning 📝
Know the types of assessment and how to construct valid tests!
Types of Assessment
Diagnostic (BEFORE)
Pre-test to identify prior knowledge and misconceptions
Purpose: Placement, identify gaps
Formative (DURING)
Ongoing assessment during instruction (quizzes, observations)
Purpose: Monitor progress, adjust teaching
Summative (AFTER)
Final assessment at end of unit (final exam, project)
Purpose: Assign grades, evaluate achievement
Test Validity & Reliability
Validity (Measures what it should)
- Content: Covers the objectives
- Criterion: Predicts performance
- Construct: Measures theoretical concept
- Face: Looks appropriate
Reliability (Consistent results)
- Test-Retest: Same results over time
- Parallel Forms: Equivalent test versions
- Split-Half: Two halves correlate
- Inter-rater: Scorers agree
Alternative Assessment
6. Classroom Management 🏫
Creating a positive learning environment is crucial for effective teaching!
Classroom Management Approaches
Kounin's Classroom Management
- Withitness: Eyes in back of head (aware)
- Overlapping: Handle multiple events
- Smoothness: No interruptions in lessons
- Momentum: Keep pace moving
Dreikurs' Democratic
- Misbehavior has a goal
- Goals: Attention, Power, Revenge, Inadequacy
- Logical consequences, not punishment
- Encouragement over praise
Canter's Assertive Discipline
- Clear rules and consequences
- Assertive, not hostile or passive
- Positive recognition
Glasser's Choice Theory
- Students choose their behavior
- Focus on present, not past
- Quality School concept
Types of Reinforcement
7. Curriculum & Instruction 📋
Understanding curriculum development and the K-12 program!
Curriculum Models
Tyler's Rational Model
- Objectives (What to achieve?)
- Content (What to teach?)
- Methods (How to teach?)
- Evaluation (Did it work?)
Taba's Grassroots Model
Teachers develop curriculum from classroom up (inductive)
Bottom-up approach
K-12 Enhanced Basic Education
- RA 10533: Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013
- Kindergarten: 1 year mandatory
- Elementary: Grades 1-6
- Junior High: Grades 7-10
- Senior High: Grades 11-12 (Academic, Tech-Voc, Sports, Arts & Design)
- MTB-MLE: Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (K-3)
- Spiral Curriculum: Concepts revisited at higher levels
8. The Teaching Profession & Code of Ethics 👨🏫
Know the legal bases and ethical responsibilities of teachers!
Legal Bases for Philippine Education
- 1987 Constitution Art. XIV: Education is a right; State provides free education
- RA 7836: Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act (LET)
- RA 4670: Magna Carta for Public School Teachers
- RA 9155: Governance of Basic Education Act (School-Based Management)
- RA 10533: Enhanced Basic Education Act (K-12)
- RA 10157: Kindergarten Education Act
Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers
Duties to the State
- Support policies and programs
- Refrain from political activities in school
Duties to Community
- Study and understand community
- Refrain from controversial issues
Duties to Profession
- Maintain dignity of profession
- Professional development
Duties to Learners
- Primary concern is learner welfare
- No discrimination, corporal punishment
📋 Practice Questions
1. A teacher who believes that students learn best through hands-on activities and real-life experiences follows which philosophy?
View Answer
Answer: Pragmatism (John Dewey)
Pragmatism emphasizes "learning by doing" and believes that education should be based on experience and practical application.
2. At what stage of Piaget's cognitive development can children understand abstract concepts and hypothetical situations?
View Answer
Answer: Formal Operational Stage (11+ years)
In this stage, adolescents develop the ability to think abstractly, reason hypothetically, and engage in metacognition (thinking about thinking).
3. A student is in Erikson's "Industry vs Inferiority" stage. What age group is this student likely in?
View Answer
Answer: 6-12 years old (Elementary)
This stage focuses on developing a sense of competence through success in school tasks. If unsuccessful, children may feel inferior.
4. What type of assessment is a pre-test given before instruction to determine students' prior knowledge?
View Answer
Answer: Diagnostic Assessment
Diagnostic assessment is conducted BEFORE instruction to identify students' strengths, weaknesses, and prior knowledge for appropriate placement and instruction.
5. According to Vygotsky, what is the zone between what a learner can do independently and what they can do with guidance?
View Answer
Answer: Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)
ZPD represents the gap between current ability and potential development. Learning occurs best within this zone with proper scaffolding from a More Knowledgeable Other (MKO).
🎯 Exam Strategy Tips
🏛️ Philosophies
Dewey = Pragmatism = Learning by Doing. Plato = Idealism. Aristotle = Realism. Perennialism = Great Books.
🧒 Development
Piaget = Cognitive (4 stages). Erikson = Psychosocial (8 stages). Kohlberg = Moral (3 levels). Vygotsky = ZPD/Scaffolding.
📚 Learning Theories
Thorndike = Laws (Readiness, Exercise, Effect). Skinner = Operant Conditioning. Bandura = Social Learning (ARRM). Bruner = Discovery.
📝 Assessment
Diagnostic = BEFORE. Formative = DURING. Summative = AFTER. Validity = measures correctly. Reliability = consistent.
🏫 Management
Kounin = Withitness. Dreikurs = Democratic. Canter = Assertive Discipline. Glasser = Choice Theory.
📜 Laws
RA 7836 = LET. RA 4670 = Magna Carta for Teachers. RA 10533 = K-12. RA 9155 = Governance.
Kaya mo 'yan, future LPT! Your calling is to shape the future - one student at a time! 📚✨
Test Your Knowledge! 🧠
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