Progressive learning is a pedagogical movement that emphasizes teaching children how to think rather than relying on rote memorization. Traditional education teaches children to learn facts at the expense of understanding what is being taught. For example, a student may be able to recite the different parts of a cell without truly understanding how a cell functions. Progressive learning uses integrated curricula to allow students to approach concepts and content from multiple perspectives, deepening their conceptual understanding of a subject.
How Progressive Learning Teaches Children to Think
At the heart of progressive education is the process of learning by doing. This concept, known as experiential learning, allows students to learn by actively engaging in activities and hands-on projects. Applying what they are learning to real-life scenarios helps students fully grasp a subject and its applications as well as develop the skills they will need as adults. After all, the workplace is a collaborative environment that requires teamwork, critical thinking, creativity, and the ability to work independently. Progressive learning encourages students to reflect on their learning, follow their own questions, and engage in collaboration with peers and teachers, thus building their investigating, problem-solving, and communication skills.
Progressive Learning at The School in Rose Valley
John Dewey – a renowned American educator and philosopher who founded the progressive education movement – felt that education should be a journey of experience that build upon one another to help students create and understand new experiences. He also felt that school activities and students’ life experiences should be connected for learning to truly be meaningful and memorable. At SRV, we have modeled our school on the practices of John Dewey, weaving together various courses of study into a challenging core of study and experience.
One of the ways our progressive education classrooms differ from traditional models is that teachers do not stand at the front of the class and lecture. Instead we follow the Harkness Method where teachers sit among students at a round table, acting as a facilitator who interacts with the students and encourages them to think and question the world around them. Rather than simply doling out information, our teachers dialogue with the students, creating a dynamic and engaging learning environment that promotes a lifelong love of learning.
Discover the Benefits of Progressive Learning at SRV!
If you would like more information about our progressive education program or the school itself, please contact Rory Mannion, Director of Admission & Tuition Assistance, at rorym@theschoolinrosevalley.org or 610.566.1088.
