An introduction to the philosophy of education (1966 edn.), New York: Free Press. Three key ‘educational’ texts that seem to appeal most strongly to informal educators are:ĭewey, J. Key texts: There is rather a lot of material to choose from here. Last, his passion for democracy, for educating so that all may share in a common life, provides a strong rationale for practice in the associational settings in which informal educators work. Third, his concern with interaction and environments for learning provide a continuing framework for practice. We can see it at work, for example, in the models developed by writers such as David Boud and Donald Schön. Second, and linked to this, Dewey’s exploration of thinking and reflection – and the associated role of educators – has continued to be an inspiration. First, his belief that education must engage with and enlarge experience has continued to be a significant strand in informal education practice. John Dewey’s significance for informal educators lies in a number of areas. For example, Coyle, Kolb, Lindeman and Rogers drew extensively on his work. However, John Dewey’s influence can be seen in many of the writers that have influenced the development of informal education over the same period. In many respects his work cannot be easily slotted into any one of the curriculum traditions that have dominated north American and UK schooling traditions over the last century. John Dewey is often misrepresented – and wrongly associated with child-centred education. Dewey’s philosophical pragmatism, concern with interaction, reflection and experience, and interest in community and democracy, were brought together to form a highly suggestive educative form.

John Dewey (1859 – 1952) has made, arguably, the most significant contribution to the development of educational thinking in the twentieth century.

(This ‘John Dewey’ page is due to be extended). His attention to experience and reflection, democracy and community, and to environments for learning have been seminal. Arguably the most influential thinker on education in the twentieth century, Dewey’s contribution lies along several fronts. John Dewey on education, experience and community.

Democracy and Education by John Dewey