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Posted: 9-16-2003
Progressivism
My
personal philosophy of education is most closely related to
progressivism, which is a school of thought advocating that truth
is determined by function. Progressivism is an educational
philosophy focused on providing students with the skills and
knowledge necessary not only to survive but also to succeed in a
contemporary and competitive society. William James and John
Dewey are accredited for developing the characteristically American
philosophy of education that is progressivism.
As
the name suggests, progressivism is a philosophy that is adaptable
for society’s current state. It is a philosophy that
promotes education aimed at helping students to develop the kind of
problem solving skills that will enable them to function
successfully in a competitive society. Progressivism focuses
on educating students in a manner that leads them to become
productive adults that adeptly function in an ever-changing
world.
Progressivism
curriculum has a strong emphasis on problem solving and analysis,
for these skills are invaluable in today’s society.
Without problem solving abilities, an individual is lost and alone
in the puzzling maze of society that characterizes the world
today. Progressivism curriculum is centered on activities and
instruction that challenge the students’ problem solving and
analysis abilities in an effort to strengthen these skills.
Since progressivism is influenced by contemporary society, it is
only appropriate that the progressivism curriculum is founded on
providing for students instruction that ranges from basic
real-world skills to higher levels of investigation and
analysis.
In
line with the progressivism philosophy, the role of the teacher is
to facilitate learning by posing questions for students that
exercise their minds in a practical manner. Teachers are
responsible for the preparation of students for the real world and
it is within the classroom setting that teachers must recreate
problems that exist in society and guide students in the direction
of solving these problems. Teachers of the progressivism
philosophy encourage creative thinking as well as analytic
thinking. The questions they pose for their students are
often open-ended questions that may or may not have prescribed
answers. Progressivism is centered on an ever-changing
society, and so today’s problems constantly become more
intricate and complex, demanding that students use creativity and
ingenuity to find the most viable solution. Teachers act as
liaisons between the shelter of childhood and the harshness of the
real world, and it is their responsibility to introduce the reality
of being a productive member of society to their students and the
expectations as well as obstacles that lay before them on their
path to success in the real world.
The
teaching methods used in a progressivism classroom support the idea
of problem-based learning wherein the student is required to
develop original solutions to existing or potential societal
problems. Together with the teacher and classmates, students
are given the opportunity to speculate and question the world
around them and the world awaiting them. Within small peer
groups, for instance, students are encouraged to discuss, share and
compromise. The teacher is there to encourage this process,
rather than to provide prescribed solutions. Similarly, the
learning environment is collaborative and democratic, giving
opportunity for all to speak their minds and receive feedback from
peers as well as the teacher. This continuous loop of
feedback, potentially positive or negative, serves as the means of
assessment for problem-solving based instruction
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