Here's a breakdown of key aspects:
* Focus on ideals: Normative approaches prioritize defining what constitutes a good education and a well-educated individual. This often involves debates about the purpose of education – is it to prepare students for the workforce, to foster critical thinking, to transmit cultural values, to promote personal growth, or a combination of these?
* Value-laden: These approaches are inherently value-laden, reflecting the beliefs and priorities of the individuals or groups proposing them. For example, a normative approach might advocate for a curriculum that emphasizes religious instruction, while another might prioritize scientific literacy.
* Prescriptive rather than descriptive: Unlike empirical approaches (which focus on observation and data analysis), normative approaches prescribe how education should be structured and delivered. They offer recommendations for curriculum design, teaching methods, assessment strategies, and school organization.
* Philosophical underpinnings: Normative theories of education often draw on philosophical perspectives like idealism, realism, pragmatism, existentialism, and progressivism. These philosophies influence the values and goals that inform educational practices.
* Ethical considerations: Normative approaches also consider ethical questions related to equity, access, and social justice in education. They grapple with issues of fairness, inclusion, and the responsibility of schools to serve diverse populations.
Examples of normative questions in education:
* What are the essential skills and knowledge that all students should acquire?
* What is the best way to promote critical thinking and problem-solving abilities?
* Should schools prioritize vocational training or academic learning?
* What role should technology play in education?
* How can we ensure equitable access to quality education for all students, regardless of their background?
It's important to note that the normative approach isn't inherently superior to empirical approaches. A strong educational theory often integrates both, using empirical evidence to evaluate the effectiveness of different normative proposals. Normative frameworks provide direction and goals, while empirical research helps determine whether those goals are being achieved and how effectively different methods contribute to achieving them.