We are not a school of fish.
Let me be forthcoming in stating that it's been a while since I've been a learner myself, at least in an academic sense. It does take a little time to shake of the rust and get into the right state of mind to read something like Dewey's "My Pedagogic Creed". Though after a second reading, and possibly a third...wink, wink...I've come to the opinion that his beliefs in the tail end of the 18th Century are not to far different than what I consider the current beliefs. Or let me state that those beliefs are not far from my own. I would be foolish to place my values as an educator on others in the field of education; however, I'm sure there are others who agree that many of Dewey's beliefs are sound. Below are just a few beliefs that resonated with me.
I believe that it's difficult to separate the two sides as Dewey had stated. Just as difficult is to decide which has the advantage in the development of an individual, nature or nurture. Whether the learners are children or adults, all new knowledge to be learned should be built upon what they have brought psychologically or sociologically. With this attachment, knowledge can be acquired through scaffolding, and learning can become more meaningful.
As mentioned previously, scaffolding knowledge is such a vital part of learning. I strongly believe that if learning is to be successful, learners must find meaning in the knowledge to be learned. Expecting learners to acquire knowledge on a subject or topic in which they have no connection or which has no meaning will undoubtedly be problematic.
I had to put these two beliefs together as they resonated equally with me. I feel an educator has the ethical duty to provide learners not only with the proper knowledge or training, but to also help them form and develop the proper skills to survive in our social and ever more complex lives. Educators are not here to only serve the learners, but to also assist in the development and management of an adaptive and higher order society. Social growth comes from the continual development of both learners and educators. Thus, the dignity of the educator is to grow, develop and nurture diversity.
I was also amazed by how relevant many of Dewey's observations were to the current state of education for students of all ages. I appreciate your observations on Dewey's emphasis on scaffolding. After additional readings of the text and our colleague's reflections (including your own), I am gaining new insights into his text. I particularly loved your reflection on Dewey's remarks on ethics - "the dignity of the educator is to grow, develop and nurture diversity." I hadn't previously considered that it is one of our ethical duties as educators to continue to grow to better society. Thank you for providing additional insights into this text that makes me think differently about our chosen profession!
ReplyDeleteI think the interesting with Dewey, is that he was not alone in his thoughts. I don't think he was really radical for the time. He might have been radical for an educator of the day, but I think that if that creed were read by the majority of the parents in the western world, it would have been accepted. I do question, though, how much of it would be accepted today by non-educators? Teachers and school boards seem to be taking on more and more parenting responsibilities. This trend, I believe, is partially because the parents themselves are abdicating their duties to the schools. Even in adult education, too many now believe that all knowledge that comes from the mouth of the professor/teacher is truth and reality, when in, again, too many cases, it is opinion and viewpoint. I have no problem with those opinions and viewpoints, I do have a problem with students that do not have critical thinking skills to be able to place themselves within the knowledge to determine how it fits their own lives and goals.
ReplyDeleteI had not initially thought of scaffolding when reading Dewey’s statement, "I believe that it should exhibit these activities to the child, and reproduce them in such ways that the child will gradually learn the meaning of them, and be capable of playing his own part in relation to them" (Dewey, 1897). However, after reading your comments, I do believe that what Dewey is referring to is scaffolding. I agree that learners should find meaning in the knowledge and subjects they are learning. How can we relate the teachings back to the learner in a way that is meaningful to them? I think this is an important question when developing instruction. It is also important to ensure learners are developing critical thinking skills to solve problem related to the subjects they are learning when the class ends.
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