Index IntroductionMy Philosophy of EducationInfluence of ScholarsConclusionReferencesVideo VersionIntroductionBeing a student of Mercy College and a future teacher, my personal philosophy of education is discussed in this essay. What is important to me is to fully gain the knowledge from my education that will prepare me to be the best teacher I can be. Being a student can be very difficult in many ways. Managing the workload we are assigned, the number of essays we have to write, and the homework we have to do can lead to a lot of tension stress and painful headaches. One thing I learned from my college experience that will stay with me throughout my life is that the workload can be very difficult to manage, but once I finish and gain knowledge, I will feel very lucky and very happy with the amount of work that what I did. Honestly speaking, this is the best thing I learned as a student. Doing all the work, gaining knowledge and using it in my daily life is a privilege. Not all people go to school or college and learn subjects or gain knowledge from teachers or some of the best professors school has to offer. Furthermore, it is very important for us as students to build a bond with our professors and show them that every student in the class wants to learn from them and wants to be as successful as possible. In my opinion, professors are some of the best people around; if we really think about it, professors are the reason why every year young people like me and other university students from all over the world graduate and continue to do the work they love. Professors are the reason that people in the world are so successful and so competent, and it honestly pains me to say that they don't get enough recognition or not enough respect or all the love that they deserve. It is very important that teachers feel a connection with their students and treat them like daughters and sons who they want to see succeed. It is also very important for professors to ensure that their students receive the education they need to move forward in life, but while teaching students, professors should ensure that they make learning for their students fun and interesting at the point at which they arrive at class each day and develop a passion for learning. I truly believe that professors and students can have a great bond if they can understand each other and build a relationship of trust. I believe that every professor and every student can change the world for the better. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay My Philosophy of Education My philosophy of education is that every child should have the right to learn and receive a high-quality education. In my educational experiences, I have seen a wide range of teachers and teaching styles. I have taken courses that have had a major impact on my life and others that have left a mere dent of influence. I have come to distinguish between the characteristics that make up a good teacher and those that do the opposite. I know that a powerful teacher is one who can teach lessons both inside and outside the classroom, one who can make a personal connection with his or her students, and one who former students remember well into their adult lives. By examining the characteristics of former teachers in my life, my personal strengths, and my views on teaching, I have learned elements of what defines an exceptional educator. I always tell myself that things are not easy for us; we have to work hard to achieve them.Teachers take on a lot of responsibility in teaching students. For example, teachers have a responsibility to encourage their students to have a positive attitude towards learning, not only for today, but also for tomorrow as part of a lifelong experience. From the time I started school, until now that I am in college, I have had many teachers who have influenced me to get to where I am now in positive and negative ways. As I explained in my reflection paper, when I was in my country, Jordan, I struggled a lot in school due to the use of physical punishment. But when I came to the United States, everything changed. My dislike for school became similar because the school system is very different from the Jordanian one. I am more motivated and now continue to push myself to learn more. Every time I think about it, I realize that not all teachers deserve to be called teachers because that title is reserved for the greats. I believe that every person has a different way of learning and this should be taken into consideration. I want to be that teacher who makes students love school and makes them learn in a better way. Influence of Scholars My philosophy on learning has been influenced by a number of scholars, including John Dewey, who was a strong advocate of progressive educational reform. As Talebi (2015) explains, he believed that education should be based on the principle of learning by doing. In 1894 Dewey and his wife Harriet founded their experimental elementary school, University Elementary School, at the University of Chicago. Another educational philosopher was Jean Piaget, a Swiss psychologist, known for his work on child development. I am currently enrolled in a course called Child Psychology and the two educational philosophers I am learning about are Jean Piaget and John Dewey. These philosophers impressed me the most because I have a similar way of teaching and I have also experienced their teaching techniques as a great way of learning for me. I used my child psychology book which has a lot of great information on both scholars. As Berk (2012) explains, Piaget's theory of cognitive development and Piaget's epistemological vision are together called “genetic epistemology”. Piaget placed great importance on the education of children. Piaget's theory of cognitive development of the individual has influenced the contemporary field of child development more than any other theory. Both philosophers' beliefs about education are a great way for students to learn. For example, Dewey repeatedly states that “education and learning are social reforms that can and must take place. She believes that students thrive in an environment where they can experience and interact with the curriculum, and all students should have the opportunity to participate in their own learning.” He strongly argued for the importance of education not only as a place to gain knowledge, but also as a place to learn to live. He further stated that the primary purpose of education should not revolve around the acquisition of a predetermined set of skills, but rather the realization of one's full potential and the ability to use those skills for the common good. He further emphasizes that “Preparing a student for his future life means giving him mastery over himself; it means training him so that he has full and ready use of all his abilities” (Talebi, 2015, p. 3-4). Therefore, motivating students is clearly an important task when it comes to bringing out the best in them. Part of a teacher's job is to help students realize their abilities. If possible, it is imperative that a teacher