Week 1 Content/Pioneers and Philosophies of Education

Learning Resources

Required Resources

• Online Reading: Week 1 Online Reading (PDF)
  
  To open this document, you will need the free Adobe® Reader® software.
  
  
  
  
• Web Site: The Socratic Method: What It Is and How to Use It in the Classroom. (Fall 2003, Vol. 13, No. 1).
  
  Speaking of Teaching, Stanford University Center for Teaching and Learning Newsletter.
  
  http://www.stanford.edu/dept/CTL/Newsletter/socratic_method.pdf
  
  

Optional Resources

• Web Site: Maps of the Mediterranean World
  
  http://www.uncg.edu/cla/maps/mediterranean.htm
  
  
  
  
• Web Site: Plato
  
  For an extensive list of Plato's works available online, click on the link below, then scroll down the list and click on "Plato."
  
  http://classics.mit.edu/Browse/index.html
  
  
  
  
• • Book VII of The Republic: "Allegory of the Cave"
    
    
    
    
• Web Site: Aristotle
  
  For an extensive list of Aristotle's works available online, click the link below, then scroll down the list and click on "Aristotle."
  
  http://classics.mit.edu/Browse/index.html
  
  
  
  
• • Book Eight of Politics, Parts I, II, and III

Content Review

1. The Socratic method, named after Socrates but originated by Plato thousands of years ago, is still being used by teachers in classrooms around the world. In your own words, summarize the Socratic method and provide at least one example of how it can be used to further learning and encourage critical thinking.
   
   
   
   
2. Both Socrates and Plato took a stand in the debate regarding the benefits of a general education versus the benefits of a technical education. Summarize this debate and explain whether you agree or disagree with these two philosophers and why.
   
   
   
   
3. This week, you have been studying classical thinking with regard to education, particularly the thoughts and viewpoints of Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato. Choose three views held by either Aristotle or Plato, and explain whether you agree or disagree with each one and why.