Existential Education Approaches
Existential Education Approaches
Existential education approaches are characterized by the personal meaning they give, their focus on self-discovery, and the individual experience of the learner being of prime importance in the learning process. These approaches prompt learners to interrogate issues on their existence, values, and beliefs, thus, laying the groundwork for critical thinking and personal development.
What are the main principles of existential education?
Creating an environment where learners can discover their own self and beliefs is the primary goal of educators focusing on existential education principles that stress authenticity, freedom of choice, and personal responsibility. This approach demands self-exploration and critical thoughts. A concrete example is in a classroom setting, where the students might even introduce conversations on ethical dilemma to confront different viewpoints and in so doing construct their personal standpoints.
How does existential education differ from traditional education?
Existential education is different from classical education in that it gives more importance to the personal experience of the individual learner as opposed to the standardized curricula. On the other hand, traditional education frequently relies upon facts and marks obtained by standardized tests, but existential education articulates that students think and feel independently, therefore, they discover a more profound way to relate to factual material. For instance, rather than learning historical facts, students may think about historical events as a starting point of their own values and beliefs.
Can you provide an example of an existential education activity?
In existential education, one of the activities is the reflective journal writing process through which the students are able to write about the important events in their life that have been influencing their personal development. Such activity seeks introspection and self-expression of the students, allowing the latter to correlate their life events with the universal existential concepts like purpose and belongingness that go beyond. After the journal writing, students may participate in a moderated discussion in which they can share their insights and thus help each other in developing a deeper understanding.
What role does the teacher play in existential education?
A teacher in existential education does not serve as an authority figure in the traditional way. They build a safe environment for open dialogue and exploration, accompanying the students on their path for the discovery of truth and knowledge. The teacher plays this role by promoting curiosity, being a companion during self-discovery, and creating a setting where students can share their opinions and feelings without any concern. To illustrate, a teacher may organize a Socratic seminar in which the students talk about philosophical issues such as existence and identity.