The Mirror of Knowledge

The Mirror of Knowledge

The Essence and Methodology of Educational Evaluation Based on the Foundations of Islamic Philosophy

Document Type : Scientific-research

Author
Department of Islamic Studies, Faculty of Theology and Religions, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
This article attempts to define educational evaluation based on the foundations of Islamic philosophy and to present a specific methodology for this definition. The issue is examined using an analytical-documentary method based on a theory derived from Islamic philosophy in the field of learning. This investigation shows that, according to the essence of evaluation, a process based on philosophical foundations must be designed that leads to the formation of second-order cognition regarding the learning process. Since, according to the principles of Islamic philosophy, the fulcrum of learning is the creation of an existential union (ittiḥād-i wujūdī) between the learner and the learning content, this design must consider criteria based on the manner in which this necessary existential union is formed. Furthermore, according to Islamic philosophical foundations, the most appropriate goal for learning is a relatively stable behavioral change. Therefore, the quality of achieving this goal must also be evaluated based on how a relatively stable change is generated in Islamic philosophy. In this regard, it is necessary to examine how these matters are enumerated and measured, and based on this, a method for conducting educational evaluation is presented.
Keywords

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