Mr.+Ketcham's+Learning+Philosophy



The process of learning in the Social Studies is ever-changing. I know that may sound strange to some detractors that believe history has already happened. History is being made on a daily basis and I want to help further educate future generations to learn this valuable lesson.

While my official title would be a teacher, I want to be a facilitator for my students. I would like to be one that helps to bring about an outcome (as learning, productivity, or communication) by providing assistance, guidance, or supervision to all of my students. I would also like to implement this learning strategy through the use of universal design with an emphasis on using technology in my classes. I want to direct my students toward objectives that they will need to meet, not only in the classroom, but in real-world application. I believe students should act as the master of their own learning experience; they need to explore topics of interest to them in the context of the social studies.

The social studies, as well as history in general, should never be taught as if each event is on its own. Historical topics are not isolated from one another and students must understand that regions, countries, and historical periods all influence world events throughout the ages. For example, any study of American history, particularly the foundation of the American republic, must include lessons exploring the democratic experiments of the Ancient Greek city-states and their impact upon the American Founding Fathers. Any topic in history must include such connections to other relevant eras. It is my responsibility as a historian and a teacher/facilitator to help students open their eyes to these distinctions in the social studies.

It is also my responsibility as a historian and a teacher/facilitator to help students learn how to personally remove themselves from the topics and eras that they study. Many eras in the past, and the actions of their players, contradict today's moral and ethical standards. However, historians must look past these distinctions in order to fully understand the period they study.

Teaching what I believe in is not an easy task. I fully realize the work that goes into planning effective lessons that will make the entire class of students proficient in content matter. I know that I will need to be an eternal learner in order to meet the demands of ever-changing content and technology. I am willing to put in the effort needed to captivate the minds of the students and make them understand the world and how we got to where we are today.

The Spanish-born American author, poet and philosopher of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century’s George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Through thorough analysis of history, geography, governments, culture and current events my students will grasp the concepts of social studies and their importance to the modern world that they will be entering. This pursuit of learning, teaching and facilitating is my career goal and passion. **Changes saved **