Turning Pragmatism into Practice

CHAPTER

1. Nature

From Humble Origins to Greatness
His Works
Organizational Strategies Related to Dewey’s Writings
Ideological Trends and Major Works
Dewey and the Social Studies
A Paradox or Misunderstanding?
A Radical Turn in PhilosophyGreek and Early Modern Metaphysics
Dewey’s Theory of Nature
The Social Studies Wars Revisited
Dewey’s Philosophy in Action
The Instrumental Nature of Social Studies and the Social Sciences
Misunderstanding the Middle Position
Developing a Democratic Vision for Teaching Social Studies
The Central Problem of the Social Studies
Developing a Rationale for Teaching Social Studies
Summary

2. Curriculum

Human Participation in Nature’s Rhythms
The Unity of Teaching and LearningThe Social Studies Teacher’s InteractionTeacher Beliefs and Enacting a Social Studies CurriculumThe Intersection of Beliefs and Teacher PreparationAims Talk RevisitedThe Three Pedagogical TraditionsThe Traditional Approach: Citizenship Transmission TeachersDisciplinary Tools: Social Scientist Approach TeachersDewey in Action: Reflective Inquiry TeachersDesigning and Implementing a Reflective Inquiry CurriculumActive OccupationsCurriculum StructuresLong-Term ProjectsThematic UnitsIssues-Centered Units and LessonsReverse Chronology UnitsThe Social Studies Curriculum Continuum
Using the Curriculum to Enlarge an Experience
Summary

3. Experience

Experience and the Natural World
Having an Experience
The Denotative Method: Evolution Versus Intelligent Design
Scientific Principles
The Public and Its Social Beliefs
Dewey, Experience and Education
Educative Experiences
Characteristics of Educative Social Studies Experiences
Psychologizing the Social Studies Curriculum with Experience
Experience and Judgment
Moral Development as Judgment
Historical Judgment
History Education as Instrumental
Summary

4. Morality

Impulse Psychology
Interest and Growth in Education
Maslow’s Hierarchy
Developing Student Interests
Interest and Pleasure
Effort, Motivation and Thinking
Valuation and Ethics
Valuation Theory
Primitive Valuations
Valuings, Desires and Interests
Means-End Relationships
Contextualism
Moral Philosophy
Dewey’s Moral Life
Habits
A Moral Self
Teacher Character Traits and Attitudes
Character Education
A Social Studies Reflective Moral Inquiry Model
Summary

5. Inquiry

A Return to Dewey’s Ontology
The Nature of Inquiry
The Unification of Theory and Practice in a Problematic Situation
Knowledge as Production
Inquiry and Tools
A New Terminology for Old Ways of Doing and Undergoing
Inquiry as Continuous
Doing the Social Studies
Social Studies Inquiry
Inquiry is More than Big Investigations
Digital Tools and Artifacts
The Problem
The Curious Case of the Common Core State Standards
Summary

6. Citizenship

Dewey’s Democracy
Social Naturalism
The State as Instrument
Young Persons’ Publics
Publics, Officials and Government
Publics and Democracy
Public Officials as Experts
Public Problems
The Social Studies
Controversial Public Issues
Refining Your Rationale with CPI and Local Values
Building a CPI Curriculum
Enacting a PPD Curriculum
Discussion
Democracy in Schools
Summary
References