Chapter 1: Traditional vs. Progressive Education
Dewey polarizes traditional and
progressive education’s respective philosophies and argues that
progressively education has to do more than simply react to the problems
of traditional education; progressive education must be rigorous in
developing its methods.
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Concept Map Summary of Chapter 1.
Chapter 2: The Need of a Theory of Experience
Dewey offers a theory of education based on needing
to understand the nature of experience. He argues that we must
understand how experience occurs in order to design and conduct education
for the benefit of individuals in society both in the present and the
future.
Chapter 3: Criteria of Experience
Dewey argues that there are two abstract principles which explain the
nature of experience:
(i) continuity (that all experiences are carried forward and influence
future experiences) and
(ii) interaction (present experiences arise out of the relationship
between the situation and the individual’s stored past).
Chapters 4 to 7: Social Control; The Nature of Freedom; The Meaning of
Purpose; Progressive Organization of Subject Matter
Dewey explores and explains the principles of
continuity and interaction with regard to concrete educational
challenges: social control (Ch4), freedom (Ch5), purpose (Ch6), and the progressive organization of subject matter(Ch7).
Chapter 8: Experience - The Means and Goals of Education
Dewey briefly sums up and reiterates his underlying
arguments about the importance of having a theory of experience if one is
to able to be an effective educator.
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