Progressive Education in the 1940s COLLAPSE
Dr. Harapnuik stated in his e-book COVA, Dewey (1916 1938) "argued how students learn best in an environment where they can work on
real-world problems and actively take ownership of their learning. " (p.8) This reference stems from his personal experiences. His teachers felt he wasn't suited for school. Som
e of us may know of a student or students similar to his story. How is the Education system supporting learners of different levels and backgrounds? If a brick-and-mortar setting isn't suited for every child and if college isn't one size fits all, why haven't we seen great improvements in education? Students' learning should be flexible, personalized, and at their learning level. It should be tailored to what they need and in smaller class sizes. Referring back to week one video with Clay Christensen, Part 6 -- Technology as a Disruptive Force in Education, "The only way people will adopt the new is if it is better than the old demonstrably better than the old..." Is Blended Learning still not seen as better than the old? The Education system is facing the need for change but with a well-established forefront that has operated this way for years, it hasn't seen an impactful change. One disruption that will continue to challenge the system now is Covid. Homeschooling and online learning had a negative stigma when they first appeared. Online learning and homeschooling were seen
as credit recovery, suited for those left behind or not able to keep up in the traditional setting, but this opinion is changing due to the disruption of Covid. According to an article from the Washington Post, How the Pandemic is Reshaping Education, “There may be an opportunity to reimagine what schools will look like,” Education Secretary Miguel Cardona told The Washington Post. “It’s always important we continue to think about how to evolve schooling so the kids get the most out of it
.” The quote from Education Secretary Miguel Cardona may hint at some insight into a disruption finally happening. School districts must plan to reshape from the traditional and think of the future or possibly get left behind. A segment in the 1940's Progressive video shows kids with hands-on learning through work. Although the same traditional routine was happening in the classroom, that portion felt like a missed opportunity in today's classrooms. Those hands-on learning experiences, field experiences, or project-based learning could have evolved and continued in forwarding progress, but I feel more focus continues on standardized tests and pushing kids to the next grade level without a true connection to lessons. The blog People who like this stuff made me feel hopeless when tying it to the Education system. When will voices be heard? Are the correct people, who are powerful enough to cause the change listening? Are those in the power of passing Educational laws content with what they continue seeing in U.S. schools? Are they willing to move out from the status quo to cause change? I am lucky I work in an environment that allows us to collaborate and we are supported to try out our ideas. Yes, it is still in a very traditional setting and with many initiatives but we are heard, our Administration listens. This school year I will ask to pilot Blended Learning within our Dyslexia lab. My goal is to change some opinions that may still not be comfortable with those words Blended Learning.
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