Danielle Sauriol, Laura Manning, Cassie
Winter, Melissa Lossey, Stephanie Sullivan
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Born in October of1859 in Burlington Vermont
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Graduated from University of Vermont in 1879
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Attended John Hopkins University for a graduate
degree in philosophy in 1882
Was married twice first to Alice Chipman whom he
had 6 children with then to Roberta Lowitz Grant.
Passed away on June 1st 1952 at the age of 92.
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His belief was that students should learn from real
life experiences and examples by being involved in
tasks and challenges in the classroom.
Felt that students needed to be taught to be
problem solvers instead of being spoon fed
information to reiterate back to the teacher.
Also felt it was educations job to help students
learn how to cooperate with others in the outside
world for when they got there.
John Dewey is arguably one of the most influential educators of the
twentieth century. Along with being such an influential individual, his
theories are also very controversial. Dewey is known as the modern
father of experiential education. The theory of experiential education
stems from a similar philosophy known as progressivism. This is the
theory that one’s individuality is the fundamental of education. The
school and curriculum is organized around the experiences of the
student, hence “experiential education”.
Dewey began his formal education in 1875 at the age of 16 at the University of Vermont.
This is where he was first encouraged to freely think about his academics. (Dykhuizen,
1973) He graduated in 1879 at which point he began teaching high school in
Pennsylvania. After teaching for 3 years, Dewey started Johns Hopkins University to
complete his graduate studies in philosophy. In 1884 he finished his graduate
dissertation that was entitled The Psychology of Kant. Thanks to the recommendation
from his academic mentor Dewey then began teaching philosophy at the University of
Michigan. While teaching at Michigan, Dewey was responsible for writing several articles
for academic journals. He also founded several organizations at the university and
published his first book, Psychology, in 1887. He wrote several pieces on philosophy,
political and social issues, and education. Many of his educational books are used today
for teachers who are looking for supplementary teaching methods.
John Dewey is associated with many theories of education such as: progressivism,
pragmatism, and experiential education. He was the founder of progressivism but also
worked to democratize schools and fought for the right of teachers to form unions.
(Sadker and Zittleman, 2010) He very strongly believed in student-centered curriculum
and gave his students several different options as to how they would learn the given
lesson. According to E.L. Kellogg, who wrote the preface to one of Dewey’s books entitled
My Pedagogic Creed, (1897) states that the pedagogy should include all of the following:
“experimental physiology and child study, the problems of motor training, physical
culture, hygiene, and the treatment of defectives and delinquents of every class.” This is a
clear cut example of Dewey’s theory of experiential education. Every factor of a child’s life,
inside and outside of school, plays a key factor in his/her learning processes.
John Dewey established his famous laboratory school at the University of Chicago in 1896
that was based on the theory of progressivism, however, this theory did not become widely
known until the late 1920s. Progressivism does not primarily focus on the traditional
practices of education, but rather it stretches over a larger spectrum to include things such
as health, family issues, and vocational education. This put a serious damper on educators
who were adamant about these traditional methods. Dewey is extremely controversial for
his unconventional styles of teaching. Regardless of the debated theories of John Dewey,
one thing is for certain, he is one of the most significant educational theorists studied
today.
“The self is not something ready-made, but something in continuous formation
through choice of action” – John Dewey
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Dewey argued that learning and education are
“social and interactive processes” because of this,
our classroom is set up in a way that allows for
communication of ideas and collaboration.
Believed that students thrive when they are allowed
to interact with the curriculum. Essentially, he
believed students should take part and take interest
in their learning. Stations will be set up around the
room that involve science, art, math, grammar,
reading, and history all linking back to the main
unit of studying.
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The teacher is a facilitator/guide, the teachers
desk is set up in a corner facing outward with
a comfortable chair next to it. This allows the
teacher to watch the class, and is set up for
the teacher and student to discuss the unit.
Hands on learning: Stations also contribute to
getting physically involved with learning. At
each station the students have an opportunity
to experiment/create/build.
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The carpet in the back of the room is the
meeting place. On Friday afternoons the class
meets at the carpet to discuss what they
learned/discovered that week.
Student desks are in the center of the room
so that they can interact. Democracy within
education was also important to Dewey.
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Shelving is in place to display how students
choose to accomplish their lessons. It also
inspires conversation amongst students.
The supply drawers next to each station
contain many many materials and project
guides that are designed to spark learning.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM2fefI2s
78&feature=email
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsTP_fd3
3nw&feature=email (2:12-3:45)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQAtzma
GBeE&feature=email (1:40-3:51)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKKdCWT
KATA&feature=email (1:57-2:58)
Dewey, John (1902). The Child and the Curriculum. Chicago,
IL: The University of Chicago Press
Dykhuizen, George (1973). The Life and Mind of John Dewey.
Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois Univ. Press.
Sadker, David Miller & Zittleman, Karen R. (2010). Teachers,
Schools, and Society (9th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
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Danielle Sauriol: Reporter
Laura Manning: Recorder
Cassie Winter: Movie Maker
Mellissa Lossey: The Artist
Stephanie Sullivan: The Map Maker