John Dewey

in Curriculum
Development
EFL Curriculum Analysis

Group 4 : Fatresia Tambunan

Fikri Nudin
 01 | Who is this figure?

Table of 02 | How do he perceive the curriculum?

contents.
03 | What ideology underpin his concept of
curriculum?

04 | What contributions have he made to

curriculum development?

05 | Strength and Weakness?

01 | Who is John Dewey?
● Famous and influential philosophers of the 20th century.
● Born on October 20, 1859 in Vermont, Burlington (U.S.)
● He died on June 1, 1952 (Weber, 2010).

Educational and Carrier

● He attended the University of Vermont and graduated
in 1879.
● He received a doctorate from John Hopkins University
1884
● He taught in Vermont until 1881
● and in high school in Pennsylvania until 1882
02 | How Dewey perceive the curriculum?

● Definition: in John Dewey’s philosophy education is

not viewed as a preparation for life, but life itself.

● Philosophy of John Dewey rooted in pragmatism,

emphasizes in the practical usefulness of
knowledge.
 What is Pragmatism?

Pragmatism :

What is useful is considered true and real, and truth is determined by its

application in real life.

>> School is the place where the child’s entire life experiences can be

integrated and students learn through their experiences.

 What is Pragmatism?

In Dewey’s curriculum development approach, the curriculum should

emphasize :

➢ Individual’s needs

➢ Experiences

➢ The application of knowledge over theory

To sum up, the curriculum should be closely connected to daily life,

promote continuous development, interaction of individuals with their

environment
 03 | Principles of John Dewey’s
Education
1) Learning by doing = Experimental Learning
Children learn by actively engage in the class
Example : children grow plants >> harvest fruit>> and feed it to snails

All of these activities are observed to see what happen >> take notes of their
observation and experiences >> summarize it >> turn it into discussion.
 Principles of John Dewey’s
Education
2) Discussion
Prepare students the life of democratic society where decisions
must be based on reasonable arguments. He believes that school
should prepare children for life itself, and serve society as a force for
innovation and reform.

Through this activity, students will learn :

➢ Formulate ideas
➢ Convince other
➢ See different point of view
 Principles of John Dewey’s
Education
3) Interactive
Dewey believes that interaction with the environment is essential
for learning process since education is an experience that is subject
to constant change.
Passive reception learn little.

How we see the interactive?

The dialogue can expands their understanding and underlines their

learning.
 Principles of John Dewey’s
Education
4) Interdisciplinary

What is interdisciplinary? It’s simply said a synergy of different field of study

that work together in discussing, working, finding or overcoming an issue.

 Principles of John Dewey’s
Education

This activity provides opportunity to learn how things are connected and
also effective for our brain since it bridges new knowledge with previous
experiences. It also build stronger mental models.
Dewey’s believes that continuity is critical to comprehension and that an
interdisciplinary education allows students to build on what they already
know which strengthens their understanding.
 04 | Contribution

Transforming education across the globe through:We will talk about

this first.

● The need for education to adapt a constantly changing society.

● Reflective guidance in both education and society.

● Overcome difficulty of applying the lesson in school into real-life

situations by interdisciplinary learning.

● Encourage students to be aware of their society issues an take part

to solve them.
05 | Strong Weakness
● Democracy helps to give equal opportunity to ● Not all school can provide the learning

experiment then everyone will have a better tools/equipment for experimental class.

educational experience. ● Need for deeper or further discussion/

● Children can learn interconnection among skills explanation since every experiment may lead

through education. to various result in one subject.

● Work together to overcome society issues since ● Need extra supervision to align with the time

everyone can involve within it (democracy) allocation.

● Best implemented in senior high school and

university level.
 References

Dewey, J. (1966). The child and the curriculum. Chicago, USA: The

University of Chicago Press

Dewey, J., (1916). Democracy and education. New York, USA: The

Macmillan Company

https://youtu.be/y3fm6wNzK70?si=xwLl6cjuFQ6Y_KMt
Thank you!
Do you have any questions?