Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1. ABSTRACT
The purpose of humanistic education is to provide a foundation for
personal growth and development so that learning will continue
throughout life in a self-directed manner. If we break the Maslow hierarchy
down into its eight stages we can evaluate the impact they have in the
lives of children and their learning. In this study, well learn about Maslow
and hierarchy, characteristics of adult learners, needs and when we want
to observe a class, we find out how teacher transfers the theory into the
learning with adults which in general the teachers dont control or follow
this rules. They randomly behave to learners although this is mistake.
Humanists believe that it is necessary to study the person as a whole,
especially as an individual grows and develops over the life span. The
study of the self, motivation, and goal-setting are areas of special interest.
2. INTRODUCTION
In this essay, my subject is to observe and find out how the teacher
transfers Maslows theory in the learning with adult learners. How the
teacher leads her classroom is a significant element directing students
motivation. So that; it is the task of teachers to know what their students
needs are, to understand the concept of Maslows hierarchy and to
develop their teaching programs in this way, applying Abraham Maslows
theory of a pyramid-shaped hierarchy physiological needs, safety, love
and belonging, self-esteem, knowledge and understanding, aesthetic and
self-actualization to education is an ideal way to assess lesson plans,
courses and educational programs.
All students have basic needs to be met for learning to occur. The more
needs that are met, the more students will learn. Maslow's hierarchy,
developed by Abraham Maslow in 1954, is a way of organizing the basic
needs of students on different levels. The more levels that are met, the
more a student will learn. Maslow's hierarchy of needs applies especially to
students with exceptionalities, because many times students' with
exceptionalities needs are more difficult to meet.
A teacher should use her knowledge of the hierarchy to structure both the
lesson plan and the classroom environment. Moreover; this essay deals
with if the students or the teacher is involved in the teaching procedure
and it also focuses on the teacher and learners. Ferris and Hedgcock
(2005) state that teachers of ESL play a crucial role in bringing their
learners into such discourses, given their responsibility for preparing their
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4. HUMANISM
Humanism is a psychological approach that emphasizes the study of the
whole person. Humanistic psychologists look at human behavior not only
through the eyes of the observer, but through the eyes of the person doing
the behaving.
Hierarchy of
Needs diagram, Transcendence
based on
Maslow's theory
Self-actualization
Aesthetic needs
Cognitive needs
Esteem needs
5.7. Self-actualization
Self- actualization is a very important part of the hierarchy and that is the
highest level of Maslows hierarchy of needs.
5.8. Transcendence
Self-actualizing people have many such peak experiences and eventually
feel inspired to actively seek them, extend them and stabilize them.
Hence, Maslow added the goal of self-transcendence as the final level, the
capstone of the pyramid. The desire is to go beyond our ordinary human
level of consciousness and experience oneness with the greater whole, the
higher truth, whatever that may be.
Adults have established opinions, values and beliefs which have been
built up over time and arrived at following experience of families,
relationships, work, community, politics, etc. These views cannot be
dismissed and must be respected.
Adults are goal oriented / relevancy oriented. Adults need to know why
they are learning something. Adults have needs that are concrete and
immediate. They can be impatient with long discussions on theory and
like to see theory applied to practical problems. They are task or
problem-centred rather than subject-centred. Adults tend to be more
interested in theory when it is linked to practical application.
Adults are sometimes tired when they attend classes. Many students are
juggling classes with work, family, etc. They, therefore, appreciate
varied teaching methods that add interest and a sense of liveliness to
the class (Wynne,2014).
7. THE OBSERVATION
I observed a class including adult learners who are 3th class at the
ukurova University. Their lesson was French that is for new and second
language acquisition. We need to observe teachers in action using their
knowledge in the real setting of the classroom. Classroom observation
gives us the opportunity to see teachers putting this theory into practice:
it shows us what teachers do rather than what they know.
However; humanistic educators believe that grades are irrelevant and that
only self-evaluation is meaningful. Grading encourages students to work
for a grade and not for personal satisfaction. In addition, humanistic
educators are opposed to objective tests because they test a student's
ability to memorize and do not provide sufficient educational feedback to
the teacher and student. According that the teacher mentions about the
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exam, she doesnt watch the students objective evaluation out. This
teacher generally avail the students of their success according to the
exam. This is not suitable the humanistic approach.
7.3. Materials
Before analyzing the extent to which given teaching and learning
materials are suitable, there are preliminary questions to address. The
materials selected for classroom use can be defined in number of way. In
this class, the teacher didnt have any materials except the book called
Champion. This is missing. Materials are important to draw the students
attention. As I saw, the students didnt again focus on the lesson.
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7.5. Feelings
Humanistic approaches promote positive feelings toward learning and
respect for the value of every student, students feel cared for, encourages
and supported us they learn from their successes and failures, make
choices, seek new experiences, work independently, self-concept. Gage
and Berliner (1991) states that feelings are as important as facts and
much work from the humanistic view seems to validate this point and is
one area where humanistic-oriented educators are making significant
contributions to our knowledge base (p.56). In this class, students feel
comfortable and relax because the teacher is not offended or hurt by
thoughtful suggestions for improvement or their mistakes. That is,
students are not confusing thanks to the teachers improvements. They
directly learned the subject, this increases their self- confident.
7.6. Experience
The humanistic perspective focuses attention on the need to understand
unconscious experience and ones sense of self, but difficulties exit in
studying private, subjective experiences and in measuring such core
concepts as self-actualization. In this lesson, the teacher doesnt have the
control of class, every student did they want. The teacher continued the
lesson despite of this.
All patients grow with success and do better when achievements are
recognized and reinforced. Respecting the whole person in a supportive
environment can encourage learning. Learning is also fostered through
structuring information appropriately and presenting it in meaningful
segments with appropriate feedback.
In this class, the teacher did a general evaluation for their examination.
Therefore; she explained the lesson by following the book, page 38. In the
page, there are similar to questions to ask at the exam. This drew their
attention a little bit.
7.8. Homework
Homework consolidates what they understand by answering the
question or doing tasks. In the classroom, she didnt any homework.
8. CONCLUSION
As a conclusion, we can see that the French teacher is sometimes
humanistic or not. She wasnt careful about the hierarchy needs. In a
class, the teacher should be willing to take time outside class to hear
about a students personal life, if this is appropriate in the context of the
school. In addition; the teacher should help students adjusts to school and
to lifes ups and downs, because as Diaz-Rico said, The English learners
may need assistance during their adjustment to language and schooling in
a new culture (p. 54). However; because adults learn at various rates and
in different ways according to their intellectual ability, educational level,
personality and cognitive learning styles, the teacher should behave
suitable for everyone which is the most and strongest job. As I said before;
humanistic people believe that an individual's behavior is connected to
their inner feelings and self-concept. In short; in this class; considering
Maslows theory, we see that the teacher cant apply it to educational
context and more specifically to adult learners.
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9. REFERENCES
Lutz, K. (2014). Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs in an Inclusion Classroom.
Retrieved from
http://psed516diversityproject.wikispaces.com/Maslow's+Hierarchy+of+N
eeds+in+an+Inclusion+Classroom-+By+Kaitlin+Lutz
Gautam, S.(2007). Maslows eight basic needs and the eight stage
developmental model. Retrieved from http://the-mouse-
trap.com/2007/12/14/maslows-eight-basic-needs-and-the-eight-stage-
devlopmental-model/.
NDA DEMR
By D. E. Campbell Pearson Allyn Bacon Prentice Hall
Updated on Apr 30, 2014
Belonging needs are often strong in school. Children need to know they are a welcome part of
the class. The teacher cannot allow derogatory name-calling and other forms of bullying and
exclusion to dominate the classroom. These peer group relations substantially influence
school success. It is difficult to learn in hostile, conflict-filled classrooms and schools.
Classroom planning and curriculum decisions, such as the decisions to teach cooperative
learning (see Chapter 10) and peer group mediation (discussed later in this chapter), can help
to convert the classroom environment to one of support and belonging.
Maslow did not consider this hierarchy a rigid one. Students will partially fulfill some needs
and thus become prepared to consider higher-level needs. The highest level, self-actualization,
is a theoretical position Maslow described as a goal, usually for adults. Self-actualization is, at
most, a goal advocated by practitioners of Gestalt therapyanthropologists would not
necessarily recognize it as a cross-cultural, universal human experience (Pastor, McCormick,
& Fine, 1996).
Teachers can help students learn to meet their own safety and friendship needs and to
recognize their own self-worth by building a positive classroom environment. These basic
needs must be met before education can take place in school.
Human relations theory, including the work of Maslow, provides the psychological and
sociological basis for the democratic claim that schools should promote equal opportunity.
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Once accepted, the concept of equal opportunity suggests a need for fundamental changes in
school financing and in curriculum and teaching strategies.
Human relations theory assists teachers in promoting a safe and supportive environment at
school. However, the Childrens Defense Fund (2001) points out that our society also must
change in order to promote a safe and supportive environment for children, considering both
psychological and physical needs. In many schools, roofs and windows need repair, buildings
need reconstruction, failure needs to be reduced, violence needs to be controlled, and the
children need sufficient food and safe homes.
Current conditions in our streets in many communities make the learning of positive self-
worth difficult. In human relations lessons, all students are treated as individuals, often
ignoring that the student is also a member of a group (gender, cultural, ethnic). Because each
person is regarded only as an individual, human relations theory suggests there are few
reasons to change or to adapt lessons to account for cultural, gender, or class variables. The
same human relations teaching strategies are suggested for diverse racial, ethnic, cultural,
language, class, and gender groups, denying the important contributions of culture to student
learning and the importance of culturally proficient teaching strategies.
Human relations theory also assumes Maslows universal human hierarchy of needs and
values that emphasizes individual differences and individual independence. Other cultures
emphasize more group solidarity and interdependence with others in the community. In the
dominant U.S. culture, children are encouraged to learn self-esteem and self-worth for
themselves. This works for members of the European American community and for most
teachers. But human relations lessons may fail to recognize that self-esteem and self-worth
are significantly influenced by culture (Ladson-Billings, 1994b; Valenzuela, 1999).
The central insight of the human relations approach is that creating positive and nurturing
human relationships between teachers and students and among students is one of the most
important issues of school improvement. Young people do not learn math, reading, or English
well if they are intimidated, defensive, and fearful.
For all Pittsburghers, keep in mind that this is CARL ROGERS not FRED ROGERS,
although, frankly, both of these gentlemen would certainly agree on most of what the other
had to say. Carl Rogers was an advocate of humanizing learning and teaching, thus making it
more personal and meaningful. Some of his most important works can be used to better
understand the principles central to his educational psychology.
The Desire to Learn. Rogers believed that humans have a NATURAL DESIRE TO
LEARN. He backs this statement by observing the natural curiosity of children as
they explore their environment. They are eager to learn, they discover for themselves,
they make meaning (even if it is sometimes wrong) of the things about them. So, what
happens to these children after years of formal schooling? What causes the loss of this
innate desire to learn by the time some student reach secondary school? These are
good questions, says Rogers, and one that teachers must resolve in their own minds.
Significant Learning. His second major principle takes Rogers in a slightly different
direction than other humanists. Rogers identified that SIGNIFICANT OR
MEANINGFUL learning occurs when it is perceived by students as being relevant to
their own needs and purposes. Examples of this are not hard to find -- especially in
adults. Unlike children who spend the initial years of their development in the
classroom, adults will participate in educational endeavors only if there is an
immediate purpose to the effort. We all learn best when the information we are
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receiving can be put to practical use. That should say something to teachers in the
classroom and the manner in which they present and assess their learning objectives.
Self-Initiated Learning. For the humanist, learning is most significant (and efficient)
when it is SELF-INITIATED and when it involves both the feelings and the mind of
the learner. Choosing one's own direction for learning is highly motivating. Whole-
person learning seeks to induce feelings of responsibility when it comes to selecting
learning objectives and alternatives. If learning is personal, it will induce feelings of
belonging in the student which will be evidenced as motivation for still more learning.
The cycle continues as the student grows.
Learning and Change. The last principle that Rogers identified concerns the utility of
learning about the process of learning. If that sounds somewhat convoluted, it is also a
concept shared by the cognitive school of thought. Given the name,
METACOGNITION, learning about learning is a task that many teachers recognize
but few address. Many, if not most, students, make it through an entire school career
without being confronted by the question of how they learn. For Rogers, this
capability in students to learn in a constantly changing environment was the
embodiment of the parable that went: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.
Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." The same concepts hold true for
humanistic teaching.
Implications of Rogers' Views. The Humanistic Teacher, for Carl Rogers, is primarily a
FACILITATOR of learning. In contrast to the traditional teacher who assumes full
responsibility for the learning process, the humanistic teacher share that responsibility with
the student. The teacher acts as guide and model, providing them with the resources they will
need to decide how they will learn. Realness, or genuineness, defines the relationship between
teacher and student and empathetic understanding -- the ability to view the world through
students' eyes -- is a necessary characteristic of the humanistic teacher. If you are interested in
reading more about this pioneer of Humanism in the classroom, the following sites are
recommended: