Friday, 28 February 2014

Dewey states that it is neither new versus old education nor progressive versus traditional, but a question of what is worthy to be called the name education.

Peer one: Paige
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Dewey states that it is neither new versus old education nor progressive versus traditional, but a question of what is worthy to be called the name education.  We want education pure and simple and need to find out what conditions need to be satisfied in order for education to be a reality.  Societal needs and job opportunities are ever changing which affect the experiences and direction that education follows.  As educators we need to be aware that although we want to provide experiences, we must start with the basics to build upon.    We want education to have purpose and for students to take ownership and control of their learning.     As educators we need to provide opportunities that show students the importance of their education and motivate them to take it to the next level.   When students are challenged at higher levels, as educators we need to also hold ourselves accountable to provide the optimum learning and this may be through transition from old methods of teaching to ones that require additional time and training.   Education is always changing with the demands around us and we must be willing to put forth the effort to make a difference.
Peer 2: Alba
Dewey confirms that in principle the basis of experience and education to achieve their goals, both for the individual learner or community. Experience is the experience of real life and which acquired learner attitudes in his life. Also, he wrote for improve education must go back to the intellectual and moral standards in the past.
In addition , Continue to use the method for the development of overt growth potential and benefit from the experience. Dewey looked some of the conditions for the success of the second option, which is that fact or the environment is determined by the success or failure of the theory . Teachers  must also give it enough time to succeed and must be patient and take advantage of experiments to improve the theory and not rush judgment on the theory failed.

Peer 3: Bryan
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The best quote in my mind from Dewey throughout the entire book was from this last reading. Dewey said "...the fundamental issue is not of new versus old education or of progressive against traditional education but a question of what anything whatever must be to be worthy of the name education". I think this is very important. Dewey is stating, and I agree, that whatever is being taught and however it is being taught needs to be with the purpose and ends of students learning. I think that through my short educational experience, I have seen both schools of educational thought being applied and have seen benefits of both. However, I see with the students in today's schools being more inclined to learn if they are actively participating, and if teachers use lessons that provide growth and learning through experience. I am sure educators from both sides can provide evidence that their style is working, and students in their class are learning. Again, that is the most important issue here. As long as the teacher is growing as an educator, the students are learning, and the school is providing a safe environment, public schools have a future. I believe that like us, many others to come will debate which educational direction schools should adopt, and the debate will continue. I have learned a lot from this book, and have had many second thoughts on aspects of education as I know it. 
On a side note, I would like to mention one more thing from this past reading. Dewey mentions the possibility of future failings with progressive education due to the educator's commitment to it. I think he has a valid point. What if schools or educators adopt progressive education as their direction to teach, and give up when challenges arrive? What if they toss aside their original beliefs as to why they chose to apply progressive education, and revert to past practices that may not have been working? I think that if we are to see true progressive education being applied throughout schools, it may take a few years to obtain the evidence that either shows the progress or does not. I am interested to see this debate further exercised, and will continue to learn more about the positive/negative aspects. 
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