Learning-by-doing
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (April 2017) |
Learning by doing refers to a theory of education. This theory has been expounded by American philosopher John Dewey and Latinamerican pedagogue Paulo Freire. It is a hands-on approach to learning, meaning students must interact with their environment in order to adapt and learn.[1] Freire highlighted the important role of the individual development seeking to generate awareness and nurture critical skills.[2] Dewey implemented this idea by setting up the University of Chicago Laboratory School.[3] His views have been important in establishing practices of progressive education. For instance, the learn-by-doing theory was adopted by Richard DuFour and applied to the development of professional learning communities.[4]
The American economist and mathematician Kenneth Arrow highlights the importance of learning by doing as a means of increasing productivity in the article The Economic Implications of Learning by Doing he writes. “But one empirical generalization is so clear that all schools of thought must accept it, although they interpret it in different fashions: learning is the product of experience. learning can only take place throughout the attempt to solve a problem and therefore only takes place during activity” - Kenneth J. Arrow (The Economic Implications of Learning by Doing)[5]
"For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them."
— Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics By Aristotle)
"I believe that the school must represent present life-life as real and vital to the child as that which he carries on in the home, in the neighborhood, or on the playground."
— John Dewey (My Pedagogic Creed)
"… The teachers were to present real-life problems to the children and then guide the students to solve the problem by providing them with a hands-on activity to learn the solution ... Cooking and sewing were to be taught at school and be a routine. Reading, writing, and math were to be taught in the daily course of these routines. Building, cooking, and sewing had these schooling components in it and these activities also represented everyday life for the students."[6]
— Peggy Hickman
Dewey expanded upon these principles in Democracy and Education.
The phrase "Learn by Doing" is the motto and instructional pedagogy of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
See also
- 4-H
- Active learning
- Experiential learning
- Project-based learning
- Procedural knowledge
- Trial and error
- Vocational education
References
- ^ "John Dewey on Education: Impact & Theory". Study.com. March 23, 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
- ^ Freire, Paulo (1982). Creating Alternative Research Methods: Learning to Do It by Doing It. Toronto: In Hall, B., Gillette, A. & Tandon, R. (eds.) Creating Knowledge: A Monopoly? Participatory Research in Development. Participatory Research Network, Toronto. pp. 29–37.
- ^ a b c d "D is for John Dewey: His Approach To Education".
- ^ DuFour, Richard; Rebecca DuFour; Robert Eaker; Thomas W. Many; Mike Mattos (2016). Learning by Doing: A Handbook for Professional Learning Communities at Work (Third ed.). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree.
- ^ Arrow, Kenneth (1962). "The Economic Implications of Learning by Doing". The Review of Economic Studies. 29 (3): 155 – via JSTOR.
- ^ "D is for John Dewey: His Approach To Education". The Positive Encourager.