Realism

1. Realism
Presented by:

2. Overview
 Definition of Realism
 Key Philosophers
 Effects on Education
 Group Activity

3. Realism
 Things exist whether or not the human
mind perceives them.
 Objects are characterized by their
properties, such as:
 Size
 Shape
 Weight
 Color

4. Each of these acorns is different based
upon their:
 size
 various shapes
 different weights
 range of colors
However, they
each retain
the universal
property that
can be called
“acornness”.

5. Aristotle
Classical Realist
 Aristotle believed
that everything has
a purpose or
function.
 He believed in a
Golden Mean –
there should be no
lack or excess.

6. Aristotle’s syllogism moves from
specifics to generalizations:
 Sound comes from things that exist
 A falling tree
makes sound

7. Therefore, the tree exists.

8. Thomas Aquinas
Religious Realist
 Believed only God
teaches. We, the
teachers, motivate.
 Primary agencies of
education are
family, God, and
state, respectively.

9. Sir Francis Bacon
Modern Realist
 Did not have the
presupposition of
God
 Is considered the
father of the
inductive method

10. The inductive method moves to
generalizations from specifics:
 A tree creates sound waves as it falls.
 Sound waves are moving patterns of air
compression.
 These compressions are heard as sound
when they strike the eardrum.
 All falling trees create air compression
patterns.
 Therefore, all trees create sound as they
fall.

11. John Locke
Modern Realist
 His major contribution
was the development of
an acute awareness of
experience.
 We are born tabula rasa
(as a blank slate).
 Formulated the doctrine
of substance.

12. John R. Searle
Contemporary Realist
 The external world exists
independent of human
thought.
 Consciousness is as
much an ordinary
biological phenomenon
as is digestion.

13. Realism in the Classroom
 Focuses on the basics of
reading, writing and
arithmetic.
 Classroom environment is
highly structured and
organized.
 Utilization of standardized
testing.
 Education should be fun and
interesting for the student.
 Education should prepare
students for life in the real
world.

14. Advantages of Realism
Teachers:
 It gives testing results that can help prove
that the students are learning the material
Parents:
 gives a parent something tangible to look at
School Corporation:
 State and Federal funding dollars come from
how well students perform on mandated
testing

15. Disadvantages of Realism:
Teachers:
 Teachers are held accountable for how their
students perform on standardized testing.
Parents:
 When a child’s score isn’t what the parents
expect it to be the parent looks for someone to
blame.
School Corporation:
 Schools can lose valuable funds because of test
scores.

16. Activity
 Arrange yourselves into your presentation
groups.
 As a group, work to use the parts provided to
create a functioning machine.
 When finished, your machine should
successfully crack the shell of the provided
nuts.
 The groups that accomplish this task in the
time allowed will receive a snack!