PROGRESSIVE VS. TRADITIONAL EDUCATION.   Term Paper ID:24033 Click to get this paper

Essay Subject: Compares theories, methods & effects of approaches centered on student & on teacher/subject/textbook.... More...

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Paper Abstract: Compares theories, methods & effects of approaches centered on student & on teacher/subject/textbook. Paper Introduction: Educational theories are constantly compared. One of the long-running debates in educational circles is between traditional educational theories and progressive educational theories. This debate is exemplified by the differences between John Dewey and H.H. Horne. Dewey is considered the father of progressive education; Horne believed in traditional subject-based education. Traditional education is teacher directed, subject-based and textbook driven. Progressive education is self-directed education and is based on an individual's experiences. Ideally, education should be a composite of the two approaches: a student's experiences with the real world integrated with structured subject learning. The two approaches can complement each other. Dewey began his writing in the nineteenth century but did Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. "No Classes, No Campus, No Problem: Non-Traditional Degree-Granting Programs." Adult Learning 3 (November 1991): 17-19.Prawat, Richard S. Horne on Education." Education 117 (Fall 1996): 89-9 .Loesch, Thomas, and Richard Foley. College credit is being given for workexperience and life experience by many colleges. [3]Ibid., 15. Bythe time people have reached an age where they are able to work, they haveexperienced a wide variety of activities and situations. [9]Ibid., 2 . Educational theories are constantly compared. Much of the knowledge learned in thismanner is learned informally but can still be categorized in a formalmanner when needed. [8]Ibid., 16. College creditshould not be granted for life experience which does not also require astudy of the relevant theories, statistical techniques, and other importantaspects of knowledge which can only be gained by traditional study. This is one of the premises of progressive education.Many adult education programs, colleges and universities have programswhich will grant credit for information and knowledge gained through theseinformal methods. Theteacher is considered the arbitrator of what needs to be learned, and thestudent is expected to learn the material whether the student is interestedin learning it or sees a need to learn it. [12]Ibid., 9 . "John Dewey versus H.H. Life and learning experiences and experimenting with learning bothenhance the ability of a student to gain from traditional learning. The subjects are to be learned by students without regard to thecontext in which the knowledge gained will be used. [13]Ibid. [17]Ibid., 18. In reality, experience can give a person insight into real knowledge,but this should be tempered with theory. Horne. Neitherlearning theory is complete by itself, and both types of learning work bestwith different types of students.[19] Progressive learning is better withself-directed students. This new information will have been absorbedwithin the context of the event. [15]Deborah A. AsDewey said, "Ideas are worthless except as they pass into actions whichrearrange and reconstruct in some way, be it little or large, the world inwhich we live."[9] Traditional education, teacher-directed, subject-based book learning,is in opposition to these informal methods. Prawat, "Misreading Dewey: Reform, Projects, and theLanguage Game," Educational Researcher 24 (October 1995), 13. Traditionalists find value intraining the student's will. Traditional education is teacher directed,subject-based and textbook driven. This dependence on the teacher to choose subjectmatter is supposed to ensure that students are prepared for their adultrole in society.[12] Subject matter is not to be learned in a holisticmanner. The twoapproaches can complement each other. Traditionalists discount informal learning which takesplace outside the classroom. Traditionalists want to shape and form the will of the student.[1 ] Traditionalists find value in the teaching of a solid core ofsubjects in which knowledge does not change. "Learning Preference Differences among Adults in Traditional and Nontraditional Baccalaureate Programs." Adult Education Quarterly 38 (Summer 1988): 224-233.Miller, Deborah A. Differences between the two schools of thought are profound.Progressive educationists are in favor of teaching students to question andexperiment to gain information and learning--self-directed learning;traditionalists believe that learning should be directed by the teacher.The style and type of learning can influence the rate of retention of thematerial learned. "Prophets of the True God." Times Educational Supplement, no. Traditionalists define will as an acquiredhabit. Ideally, educationshould be a composite of the two approaches: a student's experiences withthe real world integrated with structured subject learning. This debate is exemplifiedby the differences between John Dewey and H.H. [1 ]Ibid., 15. Short-term projects and activities were found to be too disjointedfor correct assimilation of content. 42 4 (24 January 1997), 22. Deweyattempted to redefine the debate between the developmentalists, whoadvocated interest-based instruction, and the humanists, who found value inthe effort that students put forth to learn even when the students found nointerest in the subject matter.[3] Dewey best described progressive educational philosophy when he wasdiscussing the skills and knowledge needed to prepared for changes by theindustrialization and democratization of society: "I believe thateducation is a process of living and not a preparation for futureliving."[4] Dewey believed that, if students were interested in learning,the students would put forth the effort required to learn. A common theme among these schools is that,"if you have what it takes to do the job and have successfully proven yourabilities, you deserve your university degree as recognition of yourachievements."[17] This attitude defeats the value of study and inquiry.It gives progressive education a poor reputation. Dewey is consideredthe father of progressive education;[1] Horne believed in traditionalsubject-based education. One of the long-running debates in educational circles is between traditional educationaltheories and progressive educational theories. The experiential approach favored by progressive educationists can bevery effective in adult learning situations beginning in high school. The Council for Adult andExperiential Learning (CAEL) states that the credit should not be given forlife experience but may be awarded for experiential learning which takesplace when a student is participating in a learning situation which willresult in the student gaining competency or skill at a required level.[18]This allows for evaluation and testing. "Misreading Dewey: Reform, Projects, and the Language Game." Educational Researcher 24 (October 1995): 13-22.----------------------- [1]Frank Coffield, "Prophets of the true God," Times EducationalSupplement, no. About 1,2 colleges anduniversities have some means of recognizing learning which has taken placeoutside the traditional classroom.[15] Non-traditional degree-grantingprograms abound which on the surface are claiming to follow the progressiveeducational theory giving credit for life experiences. [6]Coffield, 22. Miller, "No Classes, No Campus, No Problem: Non-Traditional Degree-Granting Programs," Adult Learning 3 (November 1991):18. Astudent who uses all the senses to understand and own knowledge will have abetter grasp of that knowledge, both the concrete and abstract componentsof that knowledge which are learned in the traditional manner. The traditionalistwill not find enough structure to give adult learners credit for theirlearning experience. The progressive educationist will believe that thelearning is value enough. BibliographyCoffield, Frank. [4]Coffield, 22. In each event,people have lived through, they have learned something or been exposed to anew piece of knowledge. Progressive educationists value theseinformal learning situations. Included in these areas ofstudy are reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic, history, geography, andscience.[11] These are the subjects which traditionalists believe areneeded to enable students to develop into good future citizens of thecountry. [7]Prawat, 15. Students are supposedto trust the teacher's insight about the appropriateness and the need tolearn the material. [11]Ediger, 89. Horne on Education,"Education 117 (Fall 1996): 89. [19]Thomas Loesch and Richard Foley, "Learning Preference Differencesamong Adults in Traditional and Nontraditional Baccalaureate Programs,"Adult Education Quarterly 38 (Summer 1988): 23 .----------------------- 1 Liberal arts schools will not often allow transfersfrom non-liberal arts schools. The difficulty with these types of programs whichgive credit for informal learning or learning which takes place in acontext other than school is evaluation procedures. Traditional education methodsdo not care if the subject matter is of interest to the student. 42 4 (24 January 1997): 22.Ediger, Marlow. It teaches a student inquiry, while traditionallearning theory is needed to provide structure for the inquisitive student. Progressive education is self-directededucation and is based on an individual's experiences. A key idea ofprogressive education is that knowledge must be usable by the student. The education that Dewey and progressive educational theory promotesis child centered and begins with the child's own instincts and powers; thecapabilities, interests, and habits of the child must be considered.[6]Progressive educationists do not limit this belief to a single age ofchildhood; they include individuals of all ages, including adults. [16]Ibid., 17. Student interest is not to be the determinant of the curriculum,objectives, learning activities, or evaluation procedures.[13] Traditionalists believe that obedience to teachers and persons inauthority must be learned in the school setting in order that students'minds and spirits can become more like the "Infinite Being (God)."[14]Today, the emphasis of religion is deleted from the argument in publicschools, but the emphasis on unquestioning obedience is still contained inthe educational theory. [14]Ibid. [5]Marlow Ediger, "John Dewey versus H.H. [2]Richard S. A problem with many of the degree-granting non-traditional schoolsare that they are not accredited.[16] Without accreditation, studentsenrolled and granted credit are unable to transfer these credits totraditional schools. Deweybelieved that subjects should be taught in the context of broad themes, themost inclusive being the study of civilization.[7] In addition, subjectsand concepts should be taught in an application context.[8] This meansthat the student is able to apply or use the idea or knowledge gainedimmediately and directly in life. Dewey began his writing in the nineteenth century but did not gainreal prominence until the reform movement of the 193 s.[2] His educationaltheory is based on hands-on activities and cooperative learning. Learning which is very applicableto this type of study is technical and skill-oriented. A major goal of the project-oriented, activities-basedcurriculum is to teach problem solving to students. [18]Ibid., 19. Progressive teachers need to planactivities carefully so that they encompass broad content domains and ascope and sequence. Interest andeffort become integrated and not separated from each other in learning.[5]From this stance came the project-oriented curriculum. If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.

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