Schön’s theory of reflective
practice and John Dewey’s ideas on reflection share some similarities, and
Schön’s work can be seen as an extension and elaboration of Dewey’s ideas.
Here’s a brief overview of their contributions:
John Dewey’s ideas on
reflection:
John Dewey (1859-1952) was
an American philosopher and psychologist who emphasized the importance of
experience and reflection in the learning process. He believed that individuals
learn by actively engaging with their environment and reflecting on their
experiences. According to Dewey, reflection is a crucial aspect of the learning
process, as it allows individuals to:
1. Re-examine their
experiences and identify what worked well or poorly.
2. Analyze the situation to
understand the underlying causes of successes or failures.
3. Formulate hypotheses or
plans for future actions based on their reflections.
Dewey’s ideas on reflection
emphasized the importance of critical thinking, problem-solving, and experimentation
in the learning process.
Donald Schön’s theory of
reflective practice:
Donald Schön (1930-1997) was an American professor of education and organizational learning who built upon Dewey’s ideas. Schön’s theory of reflective practice focuses on the process of reflection as a means to improve professional practice. He argued that professionals, including teachers, need to engage in reflective practice to:
1. Make sense of their
experiences and observations.
2. Experiment with new
approaches and try out new solutions.
3. Reflect on the outcomes
of their experiments to learn from them.
Schön emphasized that
reflection is not just a one-time event but an ongoing process that is integral
to continuous learning and improvement.
Key similarities between
Schön and Dewey:
1. Both emphasize the
importance of reflection in the learning process.
2. Both believe that
reflection is essential for improving practice and solving problems.
3. Both stress the need for
critical thinking, analysis, and experimentation in the learning process.
Key differences:
1. While Dewey focused on
individual learning, Schön’s work emphasized reflective practice in
professional contexts, such as education and organizational learning.
2. Schön’s theory placed
more emphasis on experimentation and trying out new approaches as part of the
reflective process.
In summary, Schön’s theory
of reflective practice builds upon Dewey’s ideas by emphasizing the importance
of experimentation and continuous improvement in professional contexts. Both
philosophers agree that reflection is a crucial aspect of the learning process,
but Schön’s work highlights its application in specific professional settings.
Donald Schön’s theory of
reflective practice and John Dewey’s ideas on reflection share similarities.
Both emphasize the importance of reflection in the learning process, critical
thinking, and experimentation. Dewey believed that individuals learn by
reflecting on their experiences, identifying what worked or didn’t, analyzing
the situation, and formulating plans for future actions. Schön built upon
Dewey’s ideas, arguing that professionals need to engage in reflective practice
to improve their work, make sense of their experiences, experiment with new
approaches, and reflect on the outcomes. The key differences between the two
are that Dewey focused on individual learning, while Schön emphasized
reflective practice in professional contexts like education and organizational
learning.