Using the concept of a ?world view', identify some of the beliefs and attitudes, particularly to education and learning, that you bring to your learning now. Reflect critically on how your world view has been shaped by factors such as your gender, age or community.
Individuals see the world in unique and varied ways. Factors such as educational experiences, ways of knowing, personal responsibility and family structure have influenced my beliefs and attitudes. A world view results from the process through which knowledge and understanding is obtained.
Furthermore, my experiences of being a young woman in rural society has helped to shape my world view.
A world view can be defined as "an inside view of the way things are colored, shaped, and arranged according to personal cultural preconceptions" (Samovar & Porter, 2004:103). This argument demonstrates that a world view is internal, yet influenced by external factors. This especially relates to formal education, whereby the school system, and the teacher in particular, are the significant external factors which directly influence a persons way of knowing, and therefore, their world view.
My educational experiences have shaped my world view, as well as my beliefs and attitudes. I have experienced both the public and private school systems.
It has been my experience in the private schooling system that knowledge is a badge of honour, attached to the person. This attachment taught me that I own my own knowledge. It also taught me that independence, self-reliance, self-discipline and success are important factors in moulding a person, and therefore, their world view. The beliefs that were instilled in me then are still important to me now, and influence my learning.
However, my experien ...