Key Components of Progressive Education

There are many key components involved in progressive education, and understanding these components will lead to a successful progressive classroom. This article will provide you with descriptions of the key components of progressive education.

1. The whole child is an important component of progressive education. This means not just paying attention to the academic side of education; it means teaching the child as a whole person.

2. Another important component is community; progressive education recognizes that learning comes from interaction as a community. This key component is the reason that competitive learning is not popular in progressive education.

3. Collaboration is a component of progressive education that is utilized instead of use of rewards. This collaborative structure provides a feeling of responsibility for a group instead of just the student. This method of problem solving is a productive way to encourage students through progressive education.

4. Social justice is another aspect that is reflected through the use of community and collaboration in education. This component of progressive education encourages responsibility and commitment, and it teaches students to improve the lives of others through their own actions.

5. Another part of progressive education is intrinsic motivation. This idea suggests that teachers should focus on the long term application and understanding of material as opposed to the short term memorization.

6. Progressive education promotes deep understanding. This component is fostered through the use of problem solving, projects, and questions. Students will learn through questions and challenges as opposed to learning about lists and facts. Deep understanding promotes understanding ideas and concepts and being able to apply them to different areas of education.

7. An important part of progressive education is active learning; this means students play a large role in the curriculum they will be working on. This empowers students and helps them become actively responsible for their own education. This key factor of progressive education can make a strong impact on students.

8. A complex component of progressive education is taking the kids seriously. This component requires that a teacher base her methods of teaching and interacting with the student from the students own personal style. Many schools expect the student to conform to the standards of the school, but progressive education suggests following the lead of the student in order to be successful in education.

Progressive education is a complex and successful means of education. These key components work together in a manner that will allow students to be a vital part of the educational process. It will also allow students to learn in deeper contexts. Progressive education is a positive method of teaching because of the strong involvement of students.