Realism

1. Realism Presented by:

2. Overview • Definition of Realism • Key Philosophers • Effects on Education • Group Activity

3. Realism • Things exist whether or not the human mind perceives them. • Objects are characterized by their properties, such as: • Size • Shape • Weight • Color

4. Each of these acorns is different based upon their: • size • various shapes • different weights • range of colors However, they each retain the universal property that can be called “acornness”.

5. Aristotle Classical Realist • Aristotle believed that everything has a purpose or function. • He believed in a Golden Mean – there should be no lack or excess.

6. Aristotle’s syllogism moves from specifics to generalizations: • Sound comes from things that exist • A falling tree makes sound

7. Therefore, the tree exists.

8. Thomas Aquinas Religious Realist • Believed only God teaches. We, the teachers, motivate. • Primary agencies of education are family, God, and state, respectively.

9. Sir Francis Bacon Modern Realist • Did not have the presupposition of God • Is considered the father of the inductive method

10. The inductive method moves to generalizations from specifics: • A tree creates sound waves as it falls. • Sound waves are moving patterns of air compression. • These compressions are heard as sound when they strike the eardrum. • All falling trees create air compression patterns. • Therefore, all trees create sound as they fall.

11. John Locke Modern Realist • His major contribution was the development of an acute awareness of experience. • We are born tabula rasa (as a blank slate). • Formulated the doctrine of substance.

12. John R. Searle Contemporary Realist • The external world exists independent of human thought. • Consciousness is as much an ordinary biological phenomenon as is digestion.

13. Realism in the Classroom • Focuses on the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic. • Classroom environment is highly structured and organized. • Utilization of standardized testing. • Education should be fun and interesting for the student. • Education should prepare students for life in the real world.

14. Advantages of Realism Teachers: • It gives testing results that can help prove that the students are learning the material Parents: • gives a parent something tangible to look at School Corporation: • State and Federal funding dollars come from how well students perform on mandated testing

15. Disadvantages of Realism: Teachers: • Teachers are held accountable for how their students perform on standardized testing. Parents: • When a child’s score isn’t what the parents expect it to be the parent looks for someone to blame. School Corporation: • Schools can lose valuable funds because of test scores.

16. Activity • Arrange yourselves into your presentation groups. • As a group, work to use the parts provided to create a functioning machine. • When finished, your machine should successfully crack the shell of the provided nuts. • The groups that accomplish this task in the time allowed will receive a snack!