A Didaktik Approach to Bildung Citizenship Through Experience

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 2
  In Roundtable Session: Seeking Dewey's Relevance

Abstract

Many parents and educators are concerned about the limits of the test- and standards-driven approaches to schooling which have become the norm in the United States. This paper presents a counterpoint, sketching out the terrain for a progressive, intellectually rich alternative which enables young people to have a fulfilling life now and in the future. Synthesizing Dewey’s core principles of experience, growth, and citizenship with European concepts of Bildung (or formation) and Didaktik approaches to designing learning experiences, the paper presents a vision of learning which values teachers and students acting jointly as agents bringing life to the classroom.

Author

• Bob Coulter, Missouri Botanical Garden