Pragmatism; Theme and Educational Implications

PRAGMATISM

Topics to discuss in this lecture

  • Pragmatism; theme and major proponents
  • Fundamental principles of Pragmatism
  • Principles and Aims of Education
  • Shape of Curriculum
  • Methods of teaching
  • Teachers and student role
  • Shape and role of school
  • Discipline in class and school

Major proponents of Pragmatism

  • Charles Peirce
  • John Dewey  
  • William James
  • Kilpatrik

Pragmatism and its Fundamental Principles

 

  • Word “Prgama” has Greek origin with meaning “efficient” , “active” or “ work Done”
  •  Modern Philosophy
  • American Philosophy, evolved for solution of the American changing society
  • Being Pragmatic means being open to change, open to the reality of today, working with the change to your benefit
  • Universe is Dynamic and changing
  • Purpose of thought is action- Focus is on Experience
  • Truth is Relative. Truth is formed by its results
  • Believe in Present

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principles of Education in context of Pragmatism

  • No Ultimate values 
  • Emphasizes on learner’s Experiences
  • Emphasis of experimentation
  • Believe in practical philosophy
  • Knowledge origins from the interaction of Environment and human experience

 

Aims of Education

 

  • Development of life skills to solve daily life problems.
  • Activity and Experiences
  • Personal and social Adjustment
  • Holistic(All round) Development
  • Child is the center of learning program

 

Shape of Curriculum  

 

  • Curriculum should be dynamic and changing, addressing needs of the time
  • Should not use 20 or 30 years old methods and content for present problems
  • Curriculum should be child centered
  • Physical sciences and physiology as well as material and biological
  • Business studies
  • History and Social Sciences were not addressed  
  • Curriculum should be broad based (Should include various Skills and activities)
  • Should be related to life and based on Principle of Utility

Methods of Teaching

  • Learning by Doing  
  • Discovery Methods
  • Project Method
  • Provision of Real life Problems/ Case Studies
  • Methods involving freedom for the children to learn

 

Role of Teacher

  • Teacher’s role is Facilitator
  • Observer
  • Friend
  • Philosopher

Discipline

  • Slogan of Pragmatism is freedom of experience and Expression
  • Full Freedom based on consequences
  • No Punishment
  • Self-Discipline

Shape and role of school

 

  • School is a miniature of society.
  •  School should be natural and spontaneous field of free activates.
  • A social institute to develop social sense of duty towards society and nation
  • Democratic
  • Social environment based of principle of liberty, and experimentation
  • Students should be involved in governance and decision making

Summary

  • Gave expansion to new subjects and braches in these subjects e.g Mathematics, Psychology, Botany, Zoology, business studies, Engineering,

Download Files

pragmatism.pdf (0.65 MB )

pragmatism-1.pdf (0.33 MB )

pragmatism-in-education.pdf (0.32 MB )