- November 9, 2021
- Education, Educational Philosophy, Higher Education, HigherEd Theory & Praxis, University Policy
The backdrop to many university crises has been precisely these dichotomies: the crisis of the relationship between the individual who teaches and the individual who learns, between the member of the ‘academic ethos’ and the member of the ‘social ethos’ and also between the individual who teaches and the one who administers. The academic ethos […]
Lifelong Learners
- July 19, 2021
- Education, Educational Philosophy, Higher Education, Learning, Lifelong Learning, Social Philosophy, University
«In a time of drastic change, it is the learners who inherit the future. The learned usually find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists.» Recently, in the context of an education conference, I referenced a passage from the beautiful and profound story of Alice in Wonderland. One of the characters of […]
A Reflection on Aesthetic Thinking
- May 11, 2021
- Aesthetics, Art, Education, Educational Philosophy, Essay, Ethics, Humanities, Psychology, Social Philosophy
We do not want for art to remain a forbidden garden for a fortunate few, because we know that the absence of art in our lives dims our creative and cognitive abilities, and silences the voice of our souls. Both, sciences and arts, are creative dimensions for human development, change and innovation. As professionals of […]
What Is The Purpose of Higher Education: Knowledge or Utility?
What is the purpose of higher education – knowledge or utility? Such a question encourages a false dichotomy since both are needed for people’s genuine education; never one at the expense of the other. Higher education institutions, primarily universities, must have a two-pronged approach in the search for knowledge, to develop the highest degree of […]
A Need to Educate for Uncertainty
- August 7, 2020
- Education, Educational Philosophy, Higher Education, Interviews, Psychology, University
Miguel A. Escotet: «Today there is a need to educate for uncertainty» An Interview with Gena Borrajo, Eduga Journal, Spain. Presently, he is the president of Afundación and IESIDE in Spain. Also, he is an emeritus professor and former Dean of the UTRGV College of Education at the University of Texas. Miguel Angel Escotet has conducted in-depth […]
Teaching Beyond the Transmission of Knowledge
- September 1, 2018
- Education, Educational Philosophy, Higher Education, Learning, Psychology, Social Philosophy
«Teaching to the test at the expense of teaching to the heart is wrong and reduces education to a very superficial acquisition of knowledge and values. Standardized testing for measuring knowledge, skills and attitudes goes against learning styles and individual differences.» «One of the most important rules of teaching is to preach by example. Are […]
Affective Competencies That Students Do Not Systematically Learn
- October 10, 2017
- Education, Educational Philosophy, Educational Theory, Learning, Philosophy, Psychology, Social Philosophy
All affective variables or domains must be stimulated from the earliest pre-school age. Otherwise it is a very difficult, almost impossible, task for high school and the university. However, at any age, the world of feeling is always open to exploration and individual growth. If this has not been achieved at the previous levels of […]
Dogmatism Does Not Belong To University Culture
- December 21, 2016
- Education, Educational Philosophy, Educational Theory, Ethics, HigherEd Theory & Praxis, University Policy
Dogmatism and rigidity in the university are sources of intolerance, authoritarianism and conflict. Moreover, flexibility is not a synonym of weakness; on the contrary, it is a symbol of spiritual fortitude that grows when it rectifies mistakes and discovers its own ignorance.
Balance Between Aesthetics, Science and Ethics in Education
- September 11, 2012
- Educational Philosophy, Higher Education
The most relevant and controversial issue facing the university is one of its raisons d’être: formation, the teaching-learning process. The English word ‘formation’ – among other meanings – indicates ‘the act or process of forming’ or ‘the shaping or developing of something’. The word ‘formative’ means ‘having influence in forming or developing’. Similarly, I use the […]