1	Brief Overview of John Dewey’s “Experience & Education” James Neill james@wilderdom.com
2	Traditional vs. Progressive Education John Dewey often acknowledged as the “father of experiential education” Observed problems with both traditional (didactic) vs. progressive (liberal, student-driven) education Both forms of education had significant problems because neither were based on good educational theory
3	Theory of Experience: Continuity & Interaction Proposed a theory of experience based on two main principles: Continuity (past experiences influence present influence) Interaction (present experience arises from interaction between past experience and present situation
4	Teacher as a “Midwife” The role of the teacher was as “midwife”, i.e., the teacher helps the student (pregnant mother) give birth to new knowledge, but the teacher cannot do it for the student, the teacher can only guide The task of education is no less fraught with danger, risk, difficulty, drama, etc. than the task of giving birth
5	Classic Book: “Experience & Education” (1937) Continues to be read widely Has strongly influenced educational philosophy, particularly in alternative, progressive, & experiential circles Core concepts have held up over time, although they have been developed – much like evolutionary theory has endured
6	Traditional vs. Progressive Education (Ch I) Reacting to traditional education is not sufficient There are strengths and weaknesses of both traditional & progressive education To proceed, we must have a theory of experience which guides educational design and conduct; we must not simply react in a simplistic way against one type of education
7	The Need for a Theory of Experience (Ch II) Dewey 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.
8	What is Continuity? One’s experience of the moment is unique and profoundly influenced by one’s experience of past moments The experience of the present moment will impact on the experience of all future moments The teacher must understand what each group and each individual student brings to the present educational present The teacher must also understand how the present educational moment can effect all future moments for each student
9	Continuity in Brief “The Past and Future Matter to the Present”
10	What is Interaction? The educational experience of a student arises from the interaction between a student’s past and the present situation It is the responsibility of the educator to understand the dynamic of the past-present-future interactions in order to construct/facilitate education experiences which will provide maximum benefit both in the present and future for the students
11	Interaction in Brief “Education is (and should be about) Living”