John Dewey was an influential American philosopher and psychologist in the late 19th and early 20th century. He believed schools should be centered around practical, hands-on learning experiences rather than just preparing students for factory work. In 1896, Dewey opened his Laboratory School at the University of Chicago to test his progressive education theories. One experiment involved taking students outside to interact with trees after drawing pictures of trees indoors. The Gary Plan, developed in 1907 in Gary, Indiana, was influenced by Dewey's progressive ideas and incorporated hands-on, occupation-focused learning across subjects. Progressive education aims to engage and challenge students through questions and respect for their interests and abilities.