John Dewey was an American philosopher and educational reformer. Some of his important works include My Pedagogic Creed, The School and Society, Democracy and Education, and Experience and Education. Dewey believed that values are subjective and change over time and space, that knowledge is a means to improve life through experience, and that thinking is meaningful when related to solving problems of life. He advocated for an education system that develops students' abilities, instills democratic values, and prepares students for the future. Dewey's ideas influenced modern progressive education through methods like learning by doing and the project method.

1. JOHN DEWEY (1859-1952)

2. JOHN DEWEY
Important Works
 My Pedagogic Creed
 The School and Society
 Democracy and Education
 Human Nature and Conduct
 Experience and Education
 Freedom and Culture

3.  There are no fixed values. Values are
subjective and relative. They are
created by man in society. They
change with time and space.
 Knowledge is a means and never an
end in itself. It is a means of
controlling the environment,
hopefully to improve the quality of
human life.
 Experience is the only basis of reality
and true knowledge. Knowledge is
only a result of experience.
 Man thinks in order to live. Thinking
is meaningful only when it is related
with the various problems of life and
is concerned with finding out
solutions for the same.
 Ideas are tools and
instruments to facilitate
thinking and help in solving
problems of life.
 Knowledge and thinking is
the process of
experimentation. Every idea
should be tested by
experiment before it is
finally accepted.
 Knowledge is that which can
be tested. Only scientific
method is true method of
gaining knowledge.
 There exist an organic
relationship between the
individual and the society.
Man or the self cannot grow
in solitude.

4. DEWEY’S IDEAS ON EDUCATION
i. Meaning of Education
ii. Aims of Education
a) To develop child’s powers and abilities.
b) To create social efficiency and social skills in the child.
c) To instill democratic values and ideals in children.
d) To prepare the individual for future life.
iii. Curriculum
a) Principle of utility
b) Principle of flexibility
c) Principle of experimental knowledge
d) Principle of integration
iv. Methods of Teaching
a) Project Method:
b) Problem-solving method
c) Experimental method
d) Learning by doing

5.  He advocated positive discipline,
free discipline, social discipline
and self discipline resulting out of
free, purposeful and creative
social activities.
 The discipline should be the
result of conjoint co-operative
and collecting activities. As such
social activities are
recommended for instilling
discipline.
 Self discipline can be taught
through assigned social
responsibility.
 Creating democratic environment
in the school will help to foster
discipline.
 The teacher has to observe, plan and
encourage pupil’s activities
environment and experience.
 A pragmatic teacher should be a
friend, a guide and a helper rather
than a task-master. He has to guide
the youngsters through complex of
life.
 The teacher should have empathy for
the child. He must conscious abstain
from imposing his own ideas,
interests, views and tendency on the
children.
 The teacher has to guide the child not
only in the habit of democrate
cooperation but also towards the
highest intellectual pursuits and
fullest aesthetic experience.
Discipline Role of the Teacher

6.  He put forward a philosophy of education which is dynamic, objective and
practical. A philosophy with experimental base for the first time in history.
 He gave a progressive outlook to education.
 Dewey completely changed the whole structure of educational setup and
paved the way for modern progressive education.
 The project method is a direct contribution of Dewey to education.
 Dewey’s ideas of experience based education and interest based teaching
have led to activity methods and active teaching in schools.
 The introduction of subjects involving manual skill to modern curricula was
an impact of Dewey’s ideas.
 The current stress on the scientific and social tendencies in education owes
much on Dewey’s influence.
 Many researchers credit him with the influence of Project Based Learning
(PBL) which places students in the active role of researcher.