Week 1-Dewey

This week’s entry is based on selected readings from John Dewey’s 1938 book, Experience and Education.  The excerpts focused on the debate between Traditional and Progressive styles of education.  Traditional being a method based on strictly textbook and lecture learning, as opposed to Progressive, involving a more hands on approach to learning.  Hindsight being 20/20 we can see now the effects of Dewey’s theories that were implemented leading to modern techniques in education.  Classes that involve labs and field trips, or occupational learning that allows students real life experience coinciding with what they have been studying.  We discussed in class the benefits of Progressive learning and I believe most students preferred it, and I would have to agree.  Although, like Dewey emphasized in his writings, Traditional learning cannot be discarded entirely.  I believe there is a need to read, hear, and digest the material of a subject as well as experience it.  Without some foundation or knowledge the hands-on experience cannot be as meaningful or enriching.  For example, if going on a trail hike through a particular ecosystem, students with prior knowledge of the species that might be encountered would be more interactive, knowing what to look for and where to find it.  This combination of learning styles I feel has the best chance of success for the majority of students.