We all hope for the best possible education for our children. But with so many options out there, things can get confusing. Should you settle on a more traditional approach to education? Or a more forward-thinking, modern approach? This article will focus on progressivism in education today, which is a pedagogy that challenges the classic system of education.
What is Progressive Education?
To better understand what progressivism in education is and why it’s an approach used today, we’ll look into not only its definition but its origin as well. We’ll be discussing where progressivism in education came from and how it can be beneficial for children today.
History
Progressivism in education today, as we know it, traces its origins in Europe. Among the initial group of people who explored this frontier was Maria Montessori. She is famous for establishing the “Montessori method” that gave birth to Montessori schools all around the world.
Between the years 1700 and 1900, many key European thinkers were responsible for changing ‘traditional’ educational systems. By around 1774, a few experimental progressive schools were set in Europe. They continued to expand and grow in popularity well into the late 1800s.
Meanwhile, ideas of progressive education also reached the United States, where it developed separately. After 1900, these ideas – in particular those contributed by John Dewey – combined with European ideas to form the benefits of progressive education that we see today.
Definition
Progressive education is a response to traditional educational systems. People supporting the benefits of progressive education thought that long-established rules about education were restrictive and too formal.
Traditional education systems emphasise taking tests to evaluate a student’s worth. | Image Source: Stock Photo
Unlike education which involves absorbing facts and fully comprehending pre-discovered knowledge, progressivism in education today focuses on experience, instead.
The main idea was that kids become proficient in their actions when they did things tied to learning. Here are some of the main tenets of progressive education:
- Education is about developing a child’s physical, emotional and intellectual aspects.
- School isn’t a fixed institution. Instead, it’s an experimental area where children are involved in learning by doing things.
- In the classroom, everyone’s opinion matters.
- Creativity and the arts help to nurture children in a journey of discovery and independent thought.
Simply put, progressivism in education today seeks to educate students on the process of thinking, instead of just regurgitating facts.
In addition, progressivism also challenges the idea that exams are an accurate gauge of an educated child.
Active participation in projects is the core of progressive education, which aims to help children learn by experience.
Learning by experience helps to maximise what the student absorbs in limited amounts of time. By being involved in a task which calls for the application of knowledge, students are able to better comprehend what they’re doing.
Characteristics Of Progressive Education vs Traditional Education
Now that we. know what progressive education is, let us now look into how it differentiates from traditional education. While one is not exactly better than the other, there are still significant differences between these two educational methods.
Unlike traditional education, progressive education has a variety of differences. Notably, these differences are almost the opposite of the methods of traditional education.
We’ve summarised these key traits of traditional and progressive education below so that you can compare and contrast both of them:
In traditional education:
- Students sit obediently and memorise knowledge from authentic sources.
- Parents don’t take part in educating their children.
- The community is a different entity from the school and involves itself only for funding grants.
- People decide how the school is run via a hierarchy of power and execute it via administration.
- The student’s performance is assessed on external criteria and is the basis of the curriculum.
- Students learn in a narrow-minded fashion by compiling knowledge and being able to use skills effectively.
- Talks, assignments and textbooks transmit knowledge.
- The main direction is straight, and mostly centres around correct responses.
- Subjects and topics, like language and mathematics, are distinct categories.
- Students learn skills carefully and attentively and are end-points.
- Normal standards from other sources are used in tests to evaluate students, after which they are ranked.
- Success means rising above the competition in terms of regurgitating information from memory in a particular time and place.
- Mastery over language and mathematical prowess is the main gauge of intellectual ability.
- School is a compulsory duty and students have to find ways to cope.
Whereas in progressive education:
- School isn’t a phase; it is one section of life.
- Students proactively participate in tasks, solve problems, and plan ahead.
- Parents are foremost teachers. They affix goals, plan ahead, and aid students in their education.
- Community is another part of the class.
- All staff participate in the decision-making process.
- The graduates’ aims, journey and core beliefs set the curriculum.
- Learning is multi-dimensional, like a spiral. The objective is to widen and deepen the scope of learning.
- Playing, experiencing different situations and socialising with others all enable students to gain knowledge.
- The main questions which children ask are the main directive for what they learn.
- Students understand how subjects relate to one another because of the overlap
- The learning materials are tools connected to skills.
- Evaluation systems are based on yardsticks, appears in varied forms, and based on progress.
- Success means learning and gradually practising what students have learnt by cooperating with others.
- People view intellect as a variety of themes including artistic pursuits and gauge by resolving real-world problems.
- School is an exciting and enjoyable portion of life.
The Teacher’s Role: The Key Difference For Progressivism In Education Today
Progressivism in education today emphasises teachers as facilitators who know the students on a personal level. | Image Source: Stock Photo
One of the key differences in progressivism in education today compared to traditional education is the teacher’s role.
Normally, teachers would address topics by talking about them and drawing symbols on the whiteboard behind them. Students rely on them for knowledge.
A progressive teacher is more of a coordinator. He or sits at a table with a maximum of eight children, assisting them in thinking and challenging the assumptions of the world.
There are two main advantages of sitting in small groups, where the teacher knows everyone.
- It provides a safe space for discussion, such that even the shyest or even weakest student has the chance to speak their mind.
- Teachers can tap into the insecurities and worries of these children, and thereby work on their issues on a personal level.
Benefits Of Progressivism In Education Today
- Progressivism in education today helps students master a couple of important skills needed once they pursue their careers.
- Students learn to cooperate with teams, think critically before doing things, and use creative means to resolve problems.
- Kids also need to learn to contribute independently. All of these skills will help them navigate through university education without parental intervention. And will also help them navigate through work and personal life after graduation.
- Progressivism in education today will also foster a passion for learning new things. This is a valuable attitude as it makes school a part of their life. It’s not a ‘phase’ during their childhood years that stops once they enter adulthood. Why? Change is the only constant and our desires will continue to change.
- To adapt, students will need to have a thirst for knowledge even after they’ve grown up.
- Students learn to become proactive learners with the ability to solve issues in a team setting or on their own.
- Kids are also well equipped to handle additional challenges without fear.
Which School Can I Enrol My Child In For Progressivism In Education In Singapore Today?
Progressive education for preschoolers
Several schools in Singapore support the idea and benefits of progressive education such as Montessori schools for preschoolers. For parents interested in sending their preschooler to a progressive school, Street Directory has a complete list of places for your little one to explore.
Progressivism in education today: The International Baccalaureate (IB) Program
The IB Program finds prominence for its progressive education. The curriculum includes a variety of different methods to learn compared to traditional education.
According to the IB website, the curriculum revolves around “critical engagement with challenging ideas, one that values the progressive thinking of the past while remaining open to future innovation”.
The curriculum shows how the IB is dedicated to making a cooperative, worldwide community of like-minded people via education.
To find out which schools in Singapore offer IB education, click here.
References: Encyclopaedia Britannica, ThoughtCo., Wingraschool.org, Street Directory
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