Students from all walks of the education major, ranging from the psychology of education to secondary education and even students from the gateway education program, attended Eastern’s first Undergraduate Research Fair. Several department deans and chairs attended, as well.

The College of Education and Professional Studies, as well as the Department of Secondary Education and Foundations presented the research fair where students presented highlights of their research papers about their philosophies of education.

Nine undergraduate education majors, representing a variety of education majors ranging from art education to physical education to elementary education, applied theories to how a classroom should run.

“Without teaching how to teach, you only know your content, not how to get it across (to students),” said Patricia Fewell, chair of the Department of Secondary Education and Foundations.

Gustavo Albear, assistant professor of the Department of Secondary Education and Foundations, said the nine students presenting their research papers were chosen from 150 students, and four have a chance to compete against both public and private colleges in Illinois.

Albear said “philosophitis” should be eliminated, meaning the philosophies discussed in the research papers should actually be implemented, rather than just talked about.

“(Education majors need to know) ‘Why I want to teach’ beyond ‘I like kids,'” Albear said.

“They know (why they’re teaching) before they leave the classroom,” he said.

Among the topics explored were existentialism and metaphysics to self-control and self-discipline.

Michelle Brown, an art major, gave a speech called “Defining Their Own World: Nietzche in the Philosophy of Education.” In her presentation, she explored how “people need to define their own lives” and said students should have complete and utter control of the world around them.

“Students need to be led to a mindset that they want to learn for themselves. It’s important for students to want to learn,” Brown said.

“Success relies heavily on being able to stand out.be different and remembered,” she said.

Brown also stressed that students should be put into an environment free from fear of rejection and prosecution.

Brown wrapped up her 15-minute speech by implementing her own theory about how she would like to “create an environment that a student is more apt to thrive in,” for students who lack basic skills and for students who wish to excel.

Charlotte Habing, an elementary education major, talked about instilling moral values, such as honesty and integrity, into students in their learning environment.

Habing suggested in her philosophy that teachers “prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives.”

She said that a quality education is taking the traditional curriculum and going “back to the basics.”

Habing’s philosophy is to instill basic moral values in students by punishing cheating. Responsibility is learned through homework and self-control and self-discipline are learned when students raise their hands or wait in line, she said.

“My responsibility is to the student. Their success and failure depends on my responsibility,” Habing said.

Nicholas Wright, a physical education major, stressed self-responsibility and determination in his speech, based on an existentialist approach to American public schools in the 21st century.

Wright pinpointed the problem with public schools as being “too functional” and “lecture-based,” leaving little room for creativity.

“Students should understand that experience is their best teacher,” Wright said.

As a physical education major, Wright implemented his experience theory to learning through sports. By “creat(ing) a free learning environment,” Wright said he would be able to accentuate individual effort in competitive team settings and accept student input in the classroom.

The most important point Wright made, however, was that a teacher should be able to “relate to students openly and honestly.”

Judges are choosing four of the nine students to compete at a higher level. The four students chosen will move on to the Midwest Philosophy of Education Society Annual Meeting at National Lewis University.

There, the students will compete against schools across the Midwest, including schools ranging from University of Illinois and Northwestern University to private colleges like DePaul and University of Chicago.

Albear said 119 people attended the fair, but he expected about 175.

The fair will be held again in the spring for students and faculty, alike.