M5T3: Theorist

Presentation: John Dewey

Gabriella Gaimaro
John Dewey
 John Dewey: Why?
I picked John Dewey as my theorist because to me he is very
important to the beliefs I have in education. John Dewey is
the definition of progressive. I identify with his views and
see how they can be conformed into the 2016 educational
world.

John Dewey was ahead of his times, he was an innovator

and the “Father of the Progressive Movement”.

I feel that everyone of us can take something away from his

philosophies, ideologies, and theories. This is why I picked
John Dewey for my theorist presentation.
John Dewey

“Give the pupils something to do, not

something to learn; and the doing is of
such a nature as to demand thinking;
learning naturally results.” ― John
Dewey
 John Dewey
John Dewey was known as the” Father of progress of
education”.
Progress education is when you learn by doing. Dewey
believed wholeheartedly that scholars learn by doing. He
believed in a hands-on approach.
John Dewey’s way of thinking falls inline with pragmatism.
Educators are there to guide, not teach scholars.
According to Dewey’s views, educators are to suggest
problems to scholars and stimulate them to find a solution
themselves.
 John Dewey
I believe….
John Dewey: "MY PEDAGOGIC CREED"
“I believe that all education proceeds by the participation of
the individual in the social consciousness of the race. This
process begins unconsciously almost at birth, and is
continually shaping the individual's powers, saturating his
consciousness, forming his habits, training his ideas, and
arousing his feelings and emotions. Through this
unconscious education the individual gradually comes to
share in the intellectual and moral resources which
humanity has succeeded in getting together. He becomes an
inheritor of the funded capital of civilization. The most
formal and technical education in the world cannot safely
depart from this general process. It can only organize it; or
differentiate it in some particular direction.”
 John Dewey
John Dewey stated that the educational process begins
at birth, social situations promote education. I believe
this to be true. In the most basic breakdown of this, a
child at birth already knows what to do, it needs its
mother to guide and help- facilitate him or her. This is
true for education.

Scholars need educators to help guide them to be able

to make solutions to problems.
 John Dewey
When I was younger I was not taught to do on my r own or think
for yourself in school. I went to a strict catholic school. I was
taught the facts and not allowed to learn on my own, or by trial
and error. I sat in a room and listened to my teachers, and wrote
what they wrote on the board. It was lecture style and that was it.
It was boring and anything but hands-on and fun.

Although I received a good education scholars today do not learn

this way, in this day and age.

Children are stimulated by everything around them from video

games to social media. We have to conform as educators and
teach scholars by the means they learn, hands-on.
 John Dewey
Today I feel scholars are over stimulated with technology
and the constant social media and on-the- go life that exists
in 2016. We have to be able to teach that way.

In order to engage scholars, we have to be brief with

instructions and background information. We have to make
sure our scholars are given the proper information, and
tools to be able to implement and work through problems
to gain solutions. All while keeping the engagement.

Scholars will not be engaged if they are bored. We as

educators must find ways to keep engagement and rigor.
 John Dewey
Dewey’s concept of education puts emphasis on
meaningful activities in learning and participation.
During Dewey’s time that was unheard of, the only
person who shared somewhat of Dewey’s ideology was
Maria Montessori. What was common at this time was
the “authoritarianism” and “rote” learning .
Dewey felt that this was not learning. Scholars learn by
learning from curriculum that is relevant to their lives.
I feel that learning should as often as possible have
connections to real world experiences.
 John Dewey
Scholars should feel that what they are learning and
doing can be used in their own lives in some shape,
way, or form.

Learning by doing is developmental and works on skill

set and life skills. This is critical to development of
children.

Dewey believed that schools should be a democracy.

School has to reflect and train children to be members
of society. Schools are essentially little communities.
 John Dewey
I like to believe that schools are communities that are non-
judgmental. We shape our members of the community by
giving them tools and teaching them skills to be
implemented in their own lives eventually.

I say non-judgmental because in school, scholars are allowed

to make mistakes in their academics. It is encouraged. I feel
that schools are the only place you will not be penalized for
the mistakes you make. Society is a very judgmental place
and if your given foundational skills and tools you can be
productive members of society. I feel this is what Dewey
meant in his creed.
John Dewey
 John Dewey
John Dewey’s revolutionary ideas shaped modern
education. He took the shift from a teacher doing
everything to a teacher being a facilitator.
The need to learn by doing is what many schools focus
on. Child-centered learning is all about what John
Dewey expressed. This is progressive education in a
nutshell. Reality must be experienced for it to make
sense for anyone.
Many of us are visual learns, we need to see not just
hear.
John Dewey

“Education is a social process;

education is growth; education is
not preparation for life but is life
itself.” ― John Dewey
 John Dewey
John Dewey said that education is life itself. If you
stop and really analyze that, it is mind blowing.
Scholars today feel that education and school is a place
that you are forced to be for years. When you get to a
certain grade and age you are allowed to stop going to
school. Scholars sometimes see education as a burden.
However, the reality is education is life. We are always
learning from birth to death. What we learn, and
experience is what shapes us! Our failures give us
learning experiences way more then our successful
accomplishments.
 John Dewey
We as life long learns have the ability to learn from our
failures.

“Failure is instructive. The person who really thinks

learns quite as much from his failures as from his
successes.” ― John Dewey
 John Dewey
John Dewey felt that scholars need to interact with
their environment in order for them to grow and
adapt. This holds true for educators too. Teachers and
scholars must learn together.

Dewey felt that the classroom needs to be democratic.

Meaning that everyone in the classroom has an equal
voice, the scholars and the teachers.
 John Dewey
Dewey believed in child-centered learning. This mean
that the emphasis is on the interest and the learning
needs of the scholar. My school is currently trying to
make the shift into more child-centered learning. It is
very stressful for the majority of teachers in my school.

However, I find it easier to do because I play a major

role in special education at my school. I know majority
of my special education population well, and teach
most of them throughout the day. I base my
intervention course on the actual scholars I teach.
 John Dewey
I pick the units and teach the standards and skills
based off of my scholars learning styles, needs and
interest. I have been teaching this intervention course
from the ground up for the last two years and is very
successful in my school.

Child-centered learning can be very fun and rewarding

for both the educator and the scholar.
 John Dewey
Dewey felt that scholars should be allowed to explore their
environments. Dewey felt that educators should be able to
connect multiple subjects to educate scholars. He believed
that scholars should form their own paths while acquiring,
and applying knowledge.

I agree with this but, also realize that there has to be heavy
structure and heavy management on the educators behalf.
In today’s schools scholars are not the best behaved and that
is its own problem. In order for child-centered learning to
happen, educators need to have excellent management skills
and be able to give clear precise directions.
 John Dewey: Conclusion
John Dewey has shaped my outlook on education and
how educators teach. To me, John Dewy has been
someone I have connected with for many years
throughout my degrees and teaching. His views and
ideas are ways we can set our scholars up for successful
futures in society. Dewey’s ideologies can lead the way
for a more productive, successful, well-rounded
individual. An individual that can think for him or
herself and adapt, solve problems, and take care of
themselves.
My Message For This Presentation

My mission for this project was to make you- my classmates and

my professor understand and see why John Dewey has stood out
to me.

My mission was for everyone to see how I feel he has shaped and
influenced modern education.

My mission was for everyone to see my reflections and views of

him.

My mission was for everyone to take away something from John

Dewey’s mission, thoughts and views. I hope that even if he is not
the most influential theorist to you, you would be able to see that
he is extremely important to modern education.
Ask yourself….
“If we teach today as we

taught yesterday, we rob our

children of tomorrow.”

John Dewey
M5T3: Theorist
Presentation: John
Dewey
Thank you!
Grade
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