THE TEACHER AS A FACILITATOR OF CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING IN A COMMUNITY OF INQUIRY (EDUCATION PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS)
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
There are two major groups of curriculum thinkers who influence the use of these philosophies they are the traditionalist curriculum thinkers and the progressive curriculum thinkers.
The traditionalists’ philosophy of education is based on the notion that education is a product or item that could be transplanted or transmitted from the teacher to the learner/child regardless of the latter’s interest, inspiration or inclinations while the progressives ideology or philosophy
The Andragogical method of teaching is child- centered method, that emphasizes experiences and knowledge. The focal point of activity in the Andragogical method of education is the child. The Andragogist is like a mid- wife who helps the expectant mother and the unborn baby to ensure and achieve safe delivery. The mid-wife will do everything within her limit to assist the pregnant woman but could not assume the position of the woman nor take her place, she will advise, encourage and motivate her into action but cannot do the action by herself. She could protect the privacy of the woman. to make her comfortable and shy free to open up herself for the task before them. She can prevent men from entering into the maternity room where the delivery takes place.
Andragogy is derived from the Greek word ‘Andros’ meaning man, implying composite, or a complex whole. It connotes the same meaning as in anthrops, meaning human being/ man. Anih, S (1997), This is derived from the Greek word “Andro” meaning man, implying composite or a complex whole. When it is used as an object as man, man-oriented, or man-centered, man headed. From this Greek word “andro’ we arrive at the word “andragogy” which means the study of the peculiar branch of wisdom which deals with the functions peculiar to man centered study. It does mean that when education is referred to as totality of man as a composite study and who is to be respected fully as man in all its various stages of growth. Then we have got a man at the center of education.
