Education is an ever-changing process. Methods, curriculum, instructional strategies, and implementation are always changing and shifting. Educational theorists have discussed the best and most effective ways to teach our youth for years. John Dewey and Ralph Tyler are two crucial individuals who have had an influence on educational practices. Both men’s personal philosophy of curriculum, teaching, education, and learning has made an impact on American’s schools and society.
John Dewey was solely focused on the individual child in the social world. He believed that “…true education comes through the stimulation of the child’s powers by the demands of the social situations in which he finds himself” (Flinders & Thornton, p.33). Dewey placed…show more content… He states that education “…is a process of living and not a preparation for future living” (Flinders & Thornton, p.35). He believes that the school setting should be an extension of what the child’s social life looks like outside of the school. The school has to represent the student’s life outside, weather it is “…in the home, neighborhood, or on the playground” (Flinders & Thornton, p.35). Making the school setting a comfortable and fluid place that students can relate to their home like situations was a goal of Dewey. Dewey’s thoughts on what the school is contradicts with many theorists where he says, “…education fails because it neglects this fundamental principle of the schools as a form of community life. It conceives the school as a place where certain information is to be given, where certain lessons are to be learned, or where certain habits are to be formed” (Flinders & Thornton, p.35). Dewey’s philosophy of what the school is focuses on fostering “…proper relations with others” (Flinders & Thornton, p. 35). Consistently, Dewey believes that the teacher is not there to demand the child does what she or he wishes. Instead, the teacher is there “as a member of the community to select the influences which shall affect the child” (Flinders & Thornton, p. 36). Fostering a relationship that is not dominant was a belief of Dewey’s. Once again, Dewey places the child at…show more content… Tyler believed that the objectives should be defined and there should be a definite scope and sequence to the curriculum. Dewey did not believe in the necessity of a formal assessment to make sure the student had mastered the information; instead, he felt that a project or activity could show that the child learned. On the other hand, Tyler believed in more of a formal assessment type to ensure students’ learning before moving on. In conclusion, Dewey believed that education should be differentiated for each individual. His beliefs were that the student’s education should be focused on the child as a social form.
Ralph Tyler believed in a more systematic approach to curriculum planning with a definite form of assessment at the end. Tyler believed that it was important to choose the subject matter that was to be taught in a systematic approach. Tyler states, “…educational objectives become the criteria by which materials are selected, content is outlines, instructional procedures are developed and tests and examinations are prepared” (Flinders & Thornton, p.60). Tyler devised four fundamental questions to be used to determine what will be taught.
1. What educational purposes should the school seek to attain?
2. What educational experiences can be provided that are likely to attain these