What is the Meaning, Philosophy and Concept of Teaching and Learning? 

Back to: UGC NET Paper 1: Teaching Aptitude Notes (Unit 1)

Meaning and Definition of Education

As G.K. Chesterton simply stated,

“Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another.”

Education of a person comes from various sources including family, surrounding, schooling and peers. Education is the basic need of any well civilised and maintained society. New Education Policy, 2020 refers the education as the essential concept in order to attain the highest human competence as well as of the society for its own betterment.

Major Educationists:

There are many philosophers who defined education in various forms and gave different meanings and definitions. There are major educationalists which are as follows:

1. Rabindranath Tagore
2. Mahatma Gandhi
3. Swami Vivekanand
4. Aristotle
5. Rousseau

Major Approaches in Education:

1. Idealism: Emphasis on ideal meaning ‘mind and self’.
2. Naturalism: Nature is the sole source of all knowledge.
3. Pragmatism: Focuses on practice, action, utility and by doing.
4. Constructivism: It focuses on the construction of knowledge by the learner by continuous addition to the existing knowledge.
5. Humanism:
6. Rationalism:
7. Empiricism:
8. Existentialism:
9. Behaviourism:

Aims and Objectives of Education:

1. To Reflect upon the Society
2. Foster Social Change
3. A bridge for cultural Diversity
4. Formation of New Social Norms
5. The organisation and Management of Social Ways