
A Brief History of Progressive Education
with Dr. Jason EdwardsWelcome!
This course presents a concise history of progressive education that explains how modern education emerged around 1900 to challenge and eventually replace traditional, classical education as the reigning paradigm for American education. To truly understand the current American educational dilemma and challenge, we must know the story of the last 125 years of American educational history. In this course, Dr. Jason Edwards (historian of education at Grove City College) not only presents this story, with its various villains and detractors, but also contrasts the progressive model with the classical model it rose to challenge. Each lecture is followed by a discussion between Dr. Edwards and Dr. Christopher Perrin that explores the practical implications of various progressive educational ideas and practices, often contrasting them with the classical tradition of education. This course is particularly valuable for educational leaders who must distinguish classical education from the progressive model and often defend it from critics who favor the latter or elements of it. Anyone curious to know how the classical model was challenged and almost defeated will enjoy and benefit from this course.
Instructional Hours: 9.77, CEU Credits: 1
- Introduction: Why Study Progressive Education?
- Lecture 1: Progressive Education and the Progressive Movement
- Lecture 2: Education in America before Progressive Education
- Lecture 3: Just What Is Progressive Education?
- Lecture 4: Who Was John Dewey?
- Lecture 5: The Progressive Revolution in America
- Lecture 6: The Administrative Progressives
- Lecture 7: The Pedagogical Progressives
- Lecture 8: The Social Progressives
- Lecture 9: The “End” of Progressive Education
- Lecture 10: The Continuation of Progressive Education
- Lecture 11: Deepening our Understanding of Education (E.D. Hirsh Jr. and Film Study)
- Lecture 12: Taking the Long View of Progressive and Classical Education

Recommended main text:
Transformation of the School by Lawrence Cremin
Recommended supplemental books:
Left Back: A Century of Battles over School Reform by Diane Ravitch
Why Don’t Students Like School? A Cognitive Scientist Answers Questions about How The Mind Works and What it Means for the Classroom by Daniel T. Willingham
To obtain a certification credit for this course, simply complete each presentation lesson or discussion in the course (by marking it complete or by taking the quiz) and then also take the certification test at the end of the course. The quizzes are designed to ensure that you have understood the essential content of each presentation, and they can be taken more than once if necessary. The cumulative certification test at the end of the course is given as a pass/fail test and requires that you upload one or more essays demonstrating your understanding of the course. (Please note that essays are simply evaluated by word count.) When you have completed the course, a certificate that you can print or email will become available within “My Courses” (accessible under “Courses” in the main menu when you are signed in as an active subscriber).
We recommend previewing the essay question within the end of course test before starting the course. This will help in guiding your note taking as you progress through the course. Please allow approximately 2 weeks for essay submissions to be reviewed.
By taking the course for certification credit, you also will be on your way to obtaining a Level 2 certification.
Lessons

Introduction: Why Study Progressive Education?
Preview
Lesson 1: Progressive Education and the Progressive Movement
Preview
Discussion 1: How Did Classical Educators Respond?
Preview
Lesson 2: Education in America before Progressive Education
Lesson 2: Education in America before Progressive Education Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Discussion 2: The Influence of Massachusetts in Educational History
Discussion 2: The Influence of Massachusetts in Educational History Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 3: Just What is Progressive Education?
Lesson 3: Just What is Progressive Education? Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Discussion 3: Mental Testing & the Core Beliefs of Progressive Ed.
Discussion 3: Mental Testing & the Core Beliefs of Progressive Ed. Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 4: Who Was John Dewey?
Lesson 4: Who Was John Dewey? Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Discussion 4: The Complexity and Contradictions of John Dewey
Discussion 4: The Complexity and Contradictions of John Dewey Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 5: The Progressive Revolution in American Education
Lesson 5: The Progressive Revolution in American Education Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 6: The Administrative Progressives
Lesson 6: The Administrative Progressives Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Discussion 6: What Should the Role of Efficiency Be in Education?
Discussion 6: What Should the Role of Efficiency Be in Education? Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 7: The Pedagogical Progressives
Lesson 7: The Pedagogical Progressives Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Discussion 7: Persisting Classical Elements in Progressive Educators
Discussion 7: Persisting Classical Elements in Progressive Educators Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 8: The Social Progressives
Lesson 8: The Social Progressives Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Discussion 8: Is Child-Centered Education Appropriate in Some Ways?
Discussion 8: Is Child-Centered Education Appropriate in Some Ways? Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 9: The “End” of Progressive Education
Lesson 9: The “End” of Progressive Education Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Discussion 9: The Changing Face and Names for Progressive Education
Discussion 9: The Changing Face and Names for Progressive Education Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 10: The Continuation of Progressive Education
Lesson 10: The Continuation of Progressive Education Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Discussion 10: Big Schools, Tracking & Pedagogy vs Subject Expertise
Discussion 10: Big Schools, Tracking & Pedagogy vs Subject Expertise Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 11: Deepening our Understanding of Progressive Education
Lesson 11: Deepening our Understanding of Progressive Education Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Discussion 11: What is Media Doing to Our Concepts of Education?
Discussion 11: What is Media Doing to Our Concepts of Education? Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Lesson 12: Taking the Long View of Progressive and Classical Education
Lesson 12: Taking the Long View of Progressive and Classical Education Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

Discussion 12: What Does It Mean to Take the Long View?
Discussion 12: What Does It Mean to Take the Long View? Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.

End of Course Test
End of Course Test Please sign up for the course before starting the lesson.