Unit 1 Introduction of Education Education as a Discipline

Unit 1 

Introduction of Education

Education as a Discipline

1.1 Meaning of Education as a discipline  

Education is the process of acquisition ofknowledge,attitudes,skills,wisdom,etc.It is the manifestation of divine power already existing in man.

Nowadays, education is considered as a separate and free discipline Education is a relatively new discipline. that combines aspect of psychology, history, philosophy. Sociology and some practical studies. It refers to the acquisition of knowledge, understanding, intelligence, attitude, wisdom, skill, etc. It is a lifelong process that commences from cradle and ends to the graves.

Discipline is as a branch of knowledge. It is an integral body of knowledge, which has a distinct existence different from other branches of knowledge or disciplines. Knowledge, which is a core elem

ent of any discipline, and it is the product of human experience. It is a stock of verified body of experiences. The origin of knowledge is directly dependent on human experiences.

Element of discipline

Specific origin or history: The core element of any discipline is experienced and verified over a long period of time. Every discipline Maths, Science has their long history. 

Specific foundation: The foundations of any discipline are those areas of knowledge, which lay the bases for a discipline. For example foundation of science is related to the knowledge of the physical world, which is divided into living and non living substances. 

Concepts, theories and principles: The stock of knowledge in any discipline should be arranged in the form of concepts, theories and principles.

A theoretical structure: Theoretical structure is the main body of a discipline, which gives it a distinct existence. Every discipline should have a sound theoretical structure in which its underlying body of knowledge is interlinked in a form as an intact area of knowledge

Own research methodology: Every discipline should have its own research methodology. The aim of research is theorizing or theory building. Every discipline can be made rich and the sound disciplinary base of it can develop via research.

 1.2 Characteristics of education as a discipline

Education has been originated due to the endeavor of human beings as the process of human learning. The main question related to the origin of education as a discipline is "What is real knowledge and how an individual acquires the knowledge?"  Following characteristics of education signify education as a distinct discipline.

Theory building: Every disciple has its own theory, theory guides the education. 

                                   Discipline contains content and different theories for using these                                  contents, so building theory is the characteristics of education. 

Process of education: Education is the process of transforming knowledge and                                                 skills, when we implement the objectives, changes                                                    appear in behavior so process is the important characteristic of discipline.

Education System: Like the other things education also need the system. Input, process and output are the system of education. Hence having a systemcharacteristics of discipline.

Code of conduct: In the process of conducting the education the rules, strategies, plans, techniques are called code of conduct. Education has self code of conducts. So education is a discipline.

Formulation of base: Education has reliability, validity, objectivity, measurable, countable etc types of features so education has taken as the different discipline.

Based on social needs: Education system is conducted by the society. It fully depends upon the needs of society. It fulfills the needs of society so social need is the important characteristics of discipline.

Research conduct: Education must be associated with the science and technology. Education must follow the changes of time. Education must be based on research and construct the theory. Researches are needed for conducting the education discipline.Thus,research conduct is the characteristics of education.

 Finding truth: Education must help us to find the truth. For finding the truth, we have to select the appropriate content, construct the learning theories and construct the teaching methods. So finding truth is the characteristics of the discipline.

1.3 Meaning and definition of education 

Generally, education means acquisition of knowledge, understanding, intelligence, conscience, wisdom etc. Common people think it is the process, which takes place in schools and colleges, and the person, who has acquired a certificate from these institutions, can only be termed as educated. However, in real sense, it is not limited only to schooling. There is no limit of time, place and age for acquisition of education. People can acquire education everywhere, in every moment of their life without the bound of age. They can receive education from every source such as schools, parents, society, colleagues, mass media etc. It can be planned or unplanned. It can be intended or unintended. One can acquire the needed ability, knowledge, skills, attitudes and aptitude from different means. Education is the aggregate of all the experiences by which a person develops ability, attitudes and other forms of behavior of practical value in the society in which they live. The meaning of education can be discussed from the following perspectives:

         a. Etymological meaning of education

                 Etymologically, it is believed that the word "education" has been derived from two Latin words "E" and "duco". "E" means "from within" and "duco" means "to bring out". Thus, etymologically education means the process which brings out the internal potentialities and  abilities of learners.

There are other etymological sources of the word education. These sources are presented below: 

S. N.	Language	Etymological source	Nepali/ English  Word	Etymological meaning
1.	Sanskrit	शिक्षा	शिक्षा	शिक्षा दिने
2.	Latin	Educatum	Education	to train, act of teaching
3.	Latin	Educere	Education	to lead out, to draw out
4.	Latin	Educare	Education	to bring up, to rise , to educate

Based on these different etymological sources, it can be concluded that education is a process, which brings the internal potentialities of a learner outside. It is the process of training, raising the children and drawing out the fuller internal ability of an individual.

b. Narrower meaning of education

In the narrow sense, education is limited with in the boundary of a school. It is a process by which, a person acquires knowledge needed to fulfill the demand of job market. This type of education follows a definite curriculum and takes place in a formal institution such as schools, colleges etc. Only the people trained in these institutions and who have received certificates as a mark of success can be considered as educated. T. Raymont considers such a type of education as bookish knowledge, which may not be adequate for the all-round development of an individual. This type of education can be considered only as training or teaching.

c. Wider meaning of education

In a wider sense, education is not limited to the boundary of schools. It is related to all the knowledge, skills and attitudes, which people acquire in the course of their life

from various sources. It is not limited to a certain duration of schooling only. It takes place throughout the life from the cradle to the grave. Institutions of formal education are not the only source of providing education. It can be acquired from any source and at any place. Precisely speaking, all the human experiences, which enable people to solve the problems of life and adjust them in society can be considered as education. In broader sense, education is a life long process free from any formalities.

 Definitions of Education

Education has been defined by different scholars in different ways. Some significant definitions of education are being discussed as below:

"Education means the bringing out of the ideas of universal validity which are latent in the mind of every man."

                                               - Socrates

"Education is the process by which the child makes internal

external."

                                                - Froebel

"Education is natural, harmonious and progressive development of man's innate powers."

                                                            - Pestalozzi

"By education, I mean the all round drawing out of the best in child and man - body, mind and soul."

                                     - M.K. Gandhi

Education is the development in the individual of all the perfections of which he is capable."

                           - Immanuel Kant

"Education is the development of whole man."

                                - Comenius

Education is the superior adjustment of physically conscious human being to his intellectual, emotional and volitional environment."

                                                                   - Horne

"Education is organization acquired habits of such actions as it will fit the individual to his physical and social environment."

                                                                   - William James

"Education is the development of all those capabilities in an individual which will enable him to control his environment and fulfill his possibilities."

                                                          - John Dewey

"Education is nothing but formation of habits."

                                                                        - Rousseau

"Education is a process in which and by which knowledge

character and behavior of young are shaped and molded."

                      - Drevery

"The influence of the environment of the individual with a

view to producing a permanent change in his habits on

behavior of thoughts and attitude is education."

                       - G.H. Thompson

All the above definitions of education can be classified

into following four categories:

. Education is the development of innate power

                                      - Socrates, Froebel, Pestalozzi, Gandhi

. Education is the complete development of a person.

                                      - Nunn, Kant, Comenius

. Education is adjustment to environment

                                    - Horne, James, John Dewey

. Education is shaping of behavior.

                                     - Rousseau, Drevery, Thompson

1.4    Major forms/types of education

Education is a process of drawing out the internal capabilities of persons to make them capable to solve the problems of their life and enable them to be adjusted in their social environment. This process is carried out in many forms. The process of education can be classified in the following three forms.

    a)Formal education

Formal education is the product of civilization and division of labor. It is the most planned form of education. Formal education is of hierarchical nature, which is divided into different grades. It has a predetermined curriculum. It takes place within the boundary of schools. Examination is conducted at the end of each grade to validate the acquisition of knowledge by the learner.

               Formal education is an organized and well planned system of education which is mainly responsible for the development of knowledge which is mainly responsible for the development of knowledge.  In formal education, more emphasis is given to the acquisition of theoretical structure of knowledge rather than to the education, which enables to solve the problems of daily life. Such education is more examination oriented rather than skill oriented. The students acquire knowledge passively only with the aim of passing the examination and getting a certificate.

Features of formal education:-

1. Based on classroom activities

2. Bookish knowledge

3. Certificate distribution, centralized.

4. Fixed objectives, curriculum, subject matter, teaching method, evaluation,

5. Fixed points of entry and exit

6. Formal institute, school and university,

7. Given by specially qualified teachers

8.Structure complexity

9.Well defined curriculum and systematic curriculum

   b. Non-formal education

Non-formal education is an alternative and supplementary education system to the formal education. It is a need based education system, which does not require the fulfillment of formalities as the formal education requires. Any person desiring certain knowledge and skill can get this type of education without fulfilling any formality. Although non-formal education has predetermined objectives and curriculum, these are more need based than disciplinary based examination may or may not take place at the end of education. This education provides an alternative chance to those people, who are benefited from formal education, Adult education, continuing education, open education, functional literacy education, education for income generation and skill training are the examples of non-formal education.

               Non-formal education can be considered as the byproduct of formal education system. When people perceive that there may be an education system, which can provide need-based education, free from the formalities of the graded school education system, it gave birth to non-formal education system.

Features of non-formal education:-

1. Adult education, women education programmes

 2. Does not require certified teachers

3. Free education system

 4. It is consciously and purposively organized and systematically purposed

5. It is not a integral part of the formal educational system

 6. It is planned with a view to facilitating the learning process

7. Lies outside the realm of formal education

8. Particular kind of learning for a particular learning client

 9. Planned with particular objectives but bounded of as formal education

10. Serving the need of an identified group

11. Simple structure

      c.Informal education.

Informal education is lifelong process. It does not have a predetermined objective or curricula. It does not have a fixed time or limit. In this education system, the agency that provides education, may or may not have a well-defined objective and well-targeted group of learners. It provides education in such a way that everyone who is interested to get that particular knowledge can get knowledge according to his or her will, interest utility etc. Education is provided in an unplanned manner and the learner acquires it in an unplanned manner. This type of education has no limit in terms of time, students, amount of knowledge to be learned. The learners learn those entire things, which they directly experience.

Features of Informal Education:-

 1. Does not require a teacher

2. Full freedom

 3. It is accidental and costs nothing.

4. No any fixed institute and programme

5. No any structure

6. No pre-planned subject matter

7. Not pre-planned nor deliberate

8. Unconscious and incidental education

1.5 Nature of Education

Nature is the essential quality by which something is recognized. There is no single nature of education. The nature of education is dependent on how the people perceive it, how this system functions and what the outcomes of this system are. Some people take education as the learning and certificate limited to and education institution and some perceive the entire positive experiences of life as education. In conclusion Education is the process of bringing out potentialities of an individual, but the difference perspectives to analyze this process have designated the following natures of education.

1.6.1     Direct and Indirect education

Direct nature of education designates it as a steady process, where the educator (teacher) and educand (student) both are evolve in a conscious manner for the purpose of education. The deliberate dialogue towards the dissemination of knowledge between them is termed as direct education.

Education cannot be limited on direct delivery between educator and educands. People can teach and learn in indirect manner also. Teacher can play the role of a guide or even a facilitator or inspirer for the leaning of their students. Indirect education can take place without the deliberate effort or teachers to educate students.         

1.6.2     Individual and Collective education

Individual education is related to that education which produces learning in individual. A teacher and student interact individually which results learning within the student. Learning is purely and individual process and education is judged in the form of learning of an individual student.

A group of students and teachers can collectively involve in a teaching learning process. Education can take place in which students may learn according to their pace. In the other hand education process not always take place between students and teachers. It can take place between students and stu1dents and many more ways. Humans want to express their individuality to others this motivation pushes them towards collective education.

1.6.3     General and Specific education

General education is related to the common needs of the life of an individual. People should be capable to communicate their ideas in written form and they should understand numeral properties, function as responsible member of society, they should be capable to solve the problem of their life, all these needs gives birth to general education.

In specific education the education which develops special capacity to an individual. Beyond their many common qualities, people become teacher, engineer, scientist, doctor because of specific education.

Important questions of this unit

11. Clarify the concept of education as a discipline.

   2. Describre the characteristics of education as a discipline

   3.Explain the analytical meaning of education with examples.

  4.Explain the types/forms of education with examples.

  5.Describe the nature of education with examples.