The purpose of the Philosophy of Education is to provide you with a framework for exploring your education specialization, either as a General Education or Special Education. Educator. You will engage in a continuous and collaborative learning process with professors and colleagues as you construct a base of knowledge in which to ground your own professional philosophy. You will use reflection and critical perspectives to refine and develop this philosophy over the course of your program, informed by your understanding of professional ethics and your growing identification and involvement with your specialization field.

The following questions may help to guide the development of your philosophy:

What is the purpose of education?

What are the essential elements defining special education?

What does it mean to be a professional educator in your specialization?

What are your beliefs about learning and teaching and how they interrelate in regards to the impact of disabilities?

What are the roles and responsibilities of the teacher?

What are the roles and responsibilities of the learner?

What is important for you to consider about the learners with whom you will interact as a teacher?

What is important for you to consider about the community within which you will operate as a teacher? With whom will you need to cooperate and collaborate in order to be effective?

Keeping in mind Houston Baptist University’s mission of positive social change, how do you plan to effect positive social change in your work as a professional educator?

Assignment length is 2 – 3 pages and follow all guidelines for APA style writing; which includes but is not limited to double spacing, font size 12, in-text citations, Times New Roman style writing, and a cover and reference page.