This document discusses methods of teaching idealism and naturalism. Idealism believes that ideas are the true reality, while naturalism believes the material world is real. Methods of teaching idealism include learning through reading, lecturing, discussion, and questioning. Lecturing allows for covering more content but less learning, while discussion teaches communication skills. Questioning promotes thinking and directs learning. Naturalism rejects traditional education and advocates learning through direct experience with nature. The heuristic method encourages independent problem solving through scientific inquiry.

1. METHODS OF
TEACHING IDEALISM
AND NATURALISM
SUBMITTED BY,
ABINIYA.K.VIJAYAN
ROLL NO : 22
PHYSICAL SCIENCE

2. IDEALISM
• It is the oldest philosophy.
• Idealism believe that ideas are the only true reality.
• Thought or idea has greater validity than the physical object.
• “Idealism” idolizes ‘ mind and self ‘.
Chief exponents of idealism:
Western : Socrates, Plato, Descartes, Froebel.
Indian : Vedic Rhishis, Swami Dayananda Saraswathi, Rabindranath
Tagore.

3. METHODS OF TEACHING IDEALISM
• Idealism has not prescribed specific method of teaching.
• According to idealism, classroom is a temple of spiritual learning, a meeting place
of human minds or a place for self education.
• However, the following methods have been advocated by different idealists.
1. Learning through reading : reading holybooks, astronomy etc
2. Learning through lecturing.
3. Learning through discussion.
4. Learning through questioning.
5. Socrates method.

4. LEARNING THROUGH LECTURING
• Lecture method can be considered as the oldest teaching method.
• It is based on the philosophy of idealism.
• Lecture is generally described as a teacher centered teaching method involving
one way communication.
• It is a flexible method as teachers can adopt themselves to the subject matter,
time limit etc.
• Advantages :
1. It is easy for the teacher to prepare and execute.
2. Large no of students can be handled at the same time.
3. Lecture method develops a good audience habits.

5. • Disadvantages :
1. Lengthy lectures can easily lead to boredom.
2. The students are generally passive listeners.
3. In this method, more content can be covered by a teacher, but less
learning may take place.
4. Speed of the lecture may be too fast for the learner to grasp the line of
thought.

6. LEARNING THROUGH DISCUSSION
• Discussion is a strategy in which students learn by sharing experiences and
opinion with each other.
• The group interacts in response to questions.
• Advantages :
1. It teaches interpersonal skills such as understanding and communication.
2. It is a child centered teaching method.
3. It helps to develop leadership, speaking and listening skills.
• Disadvantages :
It is time consuming and is easily dominated by outspoken pupils and may
be getting out of hands and lose direction.

7. LEARNING THROUGH QUESTIONING
• Questioning tend to be a universal teaching strategy.
• Through systematic questioning, teacher may determine student’s entry skill and
knowledge levels for specific content areas.
• Questioning techniques encourage the widest spectrum of student participation.
• Questioning should encourage higher levels of critical thinking in students.
• The minds of the learner and the teacher can be brought into close touch and the
learners can be led to creative effort through questioning.

8. • Purpose of questioning :
1. For promoting thinking, searching out new ideas.
2. For developing appreciation.
3. For directing learning to deeper and broader understanding.
4. For preparing pupil’s mind to receive new materials.
5. For preventing misbehaviour and inattention.
6. For revising work covered earlier.

9. NATURALISM
• Naturalists believe that the material world is the real world.
• For them nature is the whole reality.
• All things have originated from matter and are ultimately reduced to it.
• They have no faith in spiritual values.
• They hold that the value of life are created by the needs of life. Man creates them
when he interacts with the environment.
• They say that, the mind is nothing but ‘ brain evolution’.

11. METHODS OF TEACHING NATURALISM
• Naturalism is a revolt against the old, traditional, bookish system of education.
• Formal schools, textbooks and timetable hinder the natural development of children.
• Direct experience with nature, things and men, is the keynote of instruction
according to naturalists.
• Rousseau says, “ Give your scholar no verbal lessons ; he should be taught by
experience alone “.
• Rousseau suggests Negative education to children upto the age of twelve. By negative
education he means a type of education by which systematic efforts are not made to
impart knowledge and skills in children.
• In negative education the child is left free to develop his body and senses.

12. HEURISTIC METHOD
• The name ‘Heuristic’ is derived from the Greek word ‘Heuriskin’ which means ‘I
discover’ Or ‘I find‘.
• Prof.H.E.Armstrong is the profounder of this method.
• In this method, the pupils work and think for themselves and makes them more
exact, truthful observant and thoughful.
• There is no spoon feeding and the students get a training in scientific method of
attacking and solving a problem.

13. • Advantages :
1. Develops scientific and critical attitude among the students.
2. Pupils become self dependent, self reliant and self confident.
3. Hard work and learning by doing is encouraged.
4. More retention of knowledge and training in scientific method is encouraged.
5. Techer – pupil relationship is strengthened.

14. • Disadvantages :
1. It is long and time consuming.
2. Expensive method since it requires well equipped laboratory.
3. Evaluation of learning is tedious.
4. No expert teachers to implement this method.