COMPARISONS

CATEGORY Traditional & Conservative Contemporary & Liberal

World Idealism: Realism: Pragmatism: Existentialism:
Philosophies Ideas are the only true reality, Reality exists independent of Universe is dynamic, Reality is subjective, within
the only thing worth human mind. World of evolving. Purpose of thought the individual. Individual
knowing. Focus: Mind physical objects ultimate is action. Truth is relative. rather than external
reality. Focus: Body Focus: Experience standards. Focus: Freedom
People Involved Socrates, Plato Aristotle Charles Sanders Pierce, William Søren Kierkegaard, Jean-Paul Sartre
James, John Dewey
Emphasis Subject matter of mind: Subject matter of social
Subject matter of physical Subject matter of personal
literature, history, experience. Creation of new
world: science, math choice
philosophy, religion social order
Educational Progressivism:
Perennialism: Reconstructionism:
Philosophies Focus: Ideas should be tested
Focus: Teach ideas that are Essentialism: Focus: Critical pedagogy:
by active experimentation.
everlasting, enduring unchanging Focus: Teach the common Analysis of world events,
Learning rooted in questions
constant truths through core, "the basics" of information controversial issues and
of learners in interaction
literature, art, philosophy, and skills diversity to provide vision
with others. Experience and
religion. for better world and social change.
student centred.
People involved Robert Hutchins, Mortimer Adler William Bagley, Herman John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Theodore Brameld, George Counts
Home, Chester Finn John Dewey, William Kilpatrick
Associated Educational Psychological (Learning) Theories
Educational Behaviourism:
Information Processing: Cognitivism/Constructivism”
Psychological Behaviour is shaped by the Humanism:
Involves three stages of memory, the Learner actively constructs
Theories learning environment. Learning Personal freedom and choice of
sensory memory to receive information, own understandings of
occurs as result of subject matter. Achievement
the short-term memory to process the reality through interaction
reinforcing responses to motivation and responsibility towards
information and the long-term memory with environment and
stimuli. highest levels. Learner centred.
to store knowledge structures (schema) reflection on actions.
Social Learning: Learning by Interaction with others.
in a systematic manner. Student-centred learning.
observing and imitating others.
People involved Atkinson-Shiffrin Skinner, Thorndike, Bandura Piaget, Vygotsky, Ausubel J.J. Rousseau, A. Maslow
Teaching Teacher Centred: Teacher Centred:
Learner Centred: Learner Centred:
Approach Teach for core unchanging knowledge: Direction given for Knowledge &
Direct Experiences, Discovery & Individuality, Self-Actualization,
Conformity, Compliance with Authority, Discipline. Teach for mastery of
Exploration encouraged Direct Experiences. Individual as
Knowledge & Discipline facts and basic skills:
Problem solving: Project method entity within social context
Lecture, Discussion Demonstration, Recitation