Idealism is a philosophical approach that emphasizes the role of ideas and ideation in the world rather than material reality. For idealists, reality is something that is internal and mental rather than physical. In the context of the Australian education system, idealism stresses the importance of intellectual development and critical thinking skills rather than simply acquiring facts and knowledge (Harris & de Bruin, 2017). The idealist approach encourages students to question received wisdom, think creatively, and develop their own individual understanding of concepts. This type of learning has been shown to produce more academically successful students (Al-Shraah, 2021). Plato’s allegory of the cave is an excellent way for students to understand the relationship between knowledge and reality (Peterson, 2017). Though idealism promotes creativity, the Australian government policies and theories and Plato’s allegory of the cave support that students should majorly be aided in learning some difficult concepts.
Education Impacts on Student Learning
Indeed, idealism is important in student learning, but it cannot work solely. A student must be willing to learn and be in an environment that supports education for them to succeed (Jhangiani, 2017). One way that education impacts idealism is by exposing individuals to new perspectives and ideas that they may otherwise be closed off to (Jhangiani, 2017). This leads to a greater understanding and appreciation of different points of view, which can, in turn, foster more tolerant and idealistic thinking. Additionally, education also provides the tools and critical thinking skills necessary for individuals to question existing beliefs and systems, which is an important step in enacting meaningful change (Jhangiani, 2017). Similarly, through a few components, education can affect learning among students. These elements include how much parents value education, how much money they have to spend on their child’s education, what type of schools they can afford to attend, and the quality of teachers employed.
Teachers’ Roles Regarding Student Learning
Similarly, there are a few reasons why idealism must still be reinforced by teachers for a student to learn better. First, teachers play a vital role in a student’s learning since they provide guidance, motivation, and support throughout the learning process (Andriani et al., 2018). Second, idealism does not always reflect reality, while students need to be able to see beyond idealistic notions to apprehend what is really happening in the world around them (Collins, 2014). Finally, effective learning requires more than idealism; it needs practical skills and knowledge. Above all, students need to be able to apply what they have learned in order to make it truly useful, which cannot be achieved in the absence of a guide (teacher).
Moreover, in Plato’s allegory of the cave, he uses the analogy of prisoners chained in a cave who can only see shadows projected on the cave wall. Plato then asks people to imagine what would happen if one of those prisoners was freed and forced to confront the real world outside (D’olimpio, 2019). At first, the freed prisoner would be overwhelmed and confused by what he sees, but eventually, if he was willing to learn, he would come to understand the true nature of reality. This analogy is often used to explain how student learning works (Ostergaard, 2019). The cave represents the students’ current level of understanding, while the outside world represents new knowledge and understanding that is waiting to be discovered, which they have to be assisted by teachers.
Plato’s Allegory of the Cave Contribution to Student Learning
Plato’s allegory of the cave is all about humans’ quest for knowledge. It begins with people who have never seen anything other than the wall-mounted shadows of their cave. They believe that the shadows are a reality, and they know nothing else (Pietropaoli & D’Agostino, 2018). One day, a man escapes from the cave and sees the real world for the first time. He tries to go back to tell his friends what he has seen, but they do not believe him; they think he is crazy (D’olimpio, 2019). The allegory teaches that humans are like prisoners in a cave who see only shadows on the wall because that is all they know.
Furthermore, the most basic impact of Plato’s allegory of the cave on student learning is that it encourages students to think about things in new and different ways. The allegory challenges students to see the world from multiple perspectives and to think about how their own biases might influence their understanding of what they see (Hawkins, 2019). In addition, the allegory provides a helpful framework for thinking about how education can liberate someone from their previous misconceptions (Fassin, 2017). Ultimately, the story suggests that true wisdom comes from seeing the world as it really is, not as one’s preconceptions or limited experience might lead one to believe.
Relationship Between Idealism and Australian Government Policies and Educational Theories
Australia’s ideologies and education theories are constantly evolving and changing. However, in general, Australian education is focused on practical learning outcomes rather than theory or idealism (Rose & Montakantiwong, 2018). This pragmatic approach discourages idealism in students’ learning, instead encouraging them to focus on tangible results. This practical focus is evident in the country’s curriculum, which is predominantly skills-based and geared towards preparing students for the workforce. In contrast, many other countries education systems place more emphasis on theoretical knowledge and academic rigor (Furlong & Whitty, 2017). This difference in approach often leads to different ideologies being promoted in Australian classrooms: pragmatism vs. idealism.
Additionally, the Australian government has a number of policies in place that discourage idealism in students’ learning. This is done in order to create practical, working members of society who are able to contribute to the economy. The government believes that by encouraging a more hands-on, pragmatic style of learning, graduates will be better equipped to enter the workforce and contribute to the country’s growth (Zou et al., 2020). Additionally, the government funds private schools to the tune of billions of dollars each year; these schools are not required to teach idealistic concepts and often do not (Jones, 2020). Finally, standardized testing is used extensively in Australia; again, this system promotes memorization and regurgitation rather than critical thinking or creativity (Mbutho & Hutchings, 2019). Collectively, these factors create an environment in which teaching is highly encouraged.
In conclusion, idealism in student learning refers to the idea that students learn best when they are actively engaged in the material and encouraged to think critically about what they are studying. Additionally, idealism supports the idea that students should be given the opportunity to explore their interests and develop their own unique understanding of the world around them. However, idealism aid students in learning, but education, teachers, and Plato’s allegory of the cave perform bigger roles in promoting student learning. Teachers play an important function in aiding students in understanding abstract concepts and theories. Plato’s allegory of the cave can be useful in helping students to visualize these concepts and to understand the difference between the ideal world and the real world. Most of the Australian theories and government policies promote the teaching of students to learn better since some of the concepts may be complex for students to learn themselves.
References
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