Idealism is a philosophical orientation that emphasizes the mind or spirit as the preeminent feature of reality. There are different types of idealism including subjective idealism which sees consciousness as primary and objective idealism which sees an objective consciousness existing independently of human minds. Major figures in the development of idealism include Plato, Augustine, Berkeley, Kant, and Hegel. As a philosophy of education, idealism aims for the search of truth, self-realization, and character development. It utilizes methods like dialectic, intuitive approaches, and great books. The role of the teacher is to encourage thinking, exemplify noble rationality, and help students explore ideas to improve their thinking.