Foundations of Learning Education Research Paper Essay

Foundations of Learning
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Foundations of Learning
The philosophy of learning and teaching focuses on analyzing the methods, forms, and goals of education. Based on early human history, learning was considered to be didactic. However, a lot has changed regarding learning over the years. Such changes are believed to make the learning and teaching process than it used to be before. Various teaching and learning theories have been put across, explaining the importance of learning and its methods (Yazdanmehr, Ramezani & Aghdassi 2020). This paper will focus on analyzing the philosophy and history of learning and the events and individuals who had an influence on today’s philosophies of learning and teaching. It will also include an outline of the historical and current leadership theories that influence learning and teaching. The paper will then analyze the relationship between accountability and assessment in learning and teaching.
The history and philosophy of learning and teaching traces back to many decades ago. The teaching and learning process has undergone plenty of changes, making it more effective than it used to be in the past. Teaching in the past used to be didactic. However, this has changed a lot, and learners focus more on written content than spoken words. The various scholars had a lot of influence in today's learning and teaching environment. For instance, Chomsky Noah, a linguistic and philosophy, put across various concepts that are currently used to facilitate learning. It is through such concepts that educators can identify best-fit teaching methods. It also helps them understand the students learning capabilities (Yazdanmehr, Ramezani & Aghdassi 2020). Plato, the founder of the first school of thought, also made a huge contribution to teaching and learning. His concepts are widely applied in the learning environment. Whenever necessary, changes are made to the philosopher's ideologies to make them more relevant in the modern world. The developers of leadership theories have also had a huge impact on the teaching and learning processes. Their theories are currently being used in the creation of a conducive learning environment.
The learning and teaching process has been a subject of discussion over the decades. Scholars have put forward various leadership theories over the years, which brings more insight into the process of learning and teaching. It is through such theories that learners and teachers understand the learning environment. Leadership plays an important role in shaping learners and determining the extent to which they will understand the content being taught. The leadership theories work differently on learners of different ages. Therefore, it is the educator's role to identify a theory that will facilitate the teaching process. Some of the historical leadership theories are being used in the modern world to facilitate the teaching process. Additionally, current theories have been developed to cater to the dynamic teaching and learning environment. The effectiveness of these theories depends on the educator's willingness and the learner to participate in the process. If the learners are not dedicated to the learning process, it might be challenging for them to understand concepts regardless of the leadership theory used. As well, if the educator is not interested in teaching at a given time, leadership theories would not help them deliver quality education to their students.
One of the historical leadership theories that greatly influence teaching and learning is the “Great Man,” put forward by Thomas Carlyle in 1840. According to the theory, a leader is considered to be a hero. The theory also assumes that great leaders can arise in situations where they are needed the most (Harrison, C. (2018). This theory relates to the teaching and learning process in that educators have different teaching methods that can be used to pass across information to learners. Every learner has different learning abilities, which means that the educator should use the learner’s most desired learning method to understand the concept. An educator who expresses the great man theory should be in a position to rise to the occasion of teaching learners with different capabilities. A hero is also considered to be influential and has the ability to inspire other people. Such is a common trait expressed by educators. They play a huge role in inspiring and influencing students to achieve their academic goals.
The contingency theory, developed in the 1960s by Fred. E. Fiedler points out that there is no exact leadership theory that is universally considered right. Some cases might favor a task-oriented leader, while other cases might make it challenging for such a leader to thrive. As a result, most leaders tend to assess a situation before deciding on the leadership styles that they should use. The developmental level of an individual plays a huge role in determining their leadership styles. The theory is applicable in the teaching and learning environment since it influences the type of learning method to be used. The learner’s behavior determines the leadership style to be used by the educator. In some cases, the educator might be required to apply dictatorship for the learners to show seriousness in classwork. In other cases, learners might be cooperative and interested in learning. In such a case, the educator can apply a leadership style such as democracy. Such an environment would facilitate the learning process since the learners and educators can engage in a conversation regarding the concepts they did not understand. Learners would feel free to ask for clarification, and this would enhance their abilities to understand the concepts being taught.
Another modern theory of leadership applicable in teaching and learning is the transformational leadership theory. The theory was developed in 1970 by James V. Downton and has been developed by various leadership experts over the years. According to the theory, a leader has to work with a team to identify a means of solving problems (Berkovich, 2016). It is an ideal theory in sorting goals and building new ideas within an organization. The theory is applicable in the teaching and learning environment because it enco...