Project Method and Experimental School - John Dewey.

PROJECT METHOD AND EXPERIMENTAL SCHOOL SUGGESTED BY JOHN DEWEY

John Dewey (1859–1952) was an American philosopher, psychologist and educational thinker. He was one of the most influential representatives of Pragmatism and developed the educational philosophy known as Experimentalism or Instrumentalism.

His educational philosophy is based on: 👇

experience
activity
learning by doing
problem-solving
experimentation
democracy
social interaction
reflective thinking
continuous reconstruction of experience

Dewey strongly opposed an education system in which children merely sit, listen, memorize and reproduce information.

According to him:

Education is a process of growth and reconstruction of experience.

Therefore, the learner should learn through real activities and meaningful experiences.

Dewey's Philosophy of Education

Dewey's educational philosophy is mainly associated with:

Pragmatism

and more specifically:

Experimentalism / Instrumentalism

His philosophy emphasizes that knowledge should be tested through experience and consequences.

Central principle

Learning by Doing

The child learns better by:

Doing → Experiencing → Reflecting → Solving Problems → Learning

Dewey's Concept of Education

Dewey did not consider education merely as preparation for future life.

He famously viewed:

Education as life itself.

The school should therefore be connected with the child's present life and society.

Education should help children:

solve problems
develop intelligence
cooperate with others
participate in social life
develop democratic attitudes
reconstruct experience
become independent thinkers

Project Method

A project is a purposeful activity undertaken by learners, individually or cooperatively, to solve a problem or produce something meaningful.

The Project Method emphasizes:

purposeful activity
learner participation
learning by doing
problem-solving
cooperation
real-life situations
experience
integration of different subjects

Important clarification 👉

The Project Method is strongly associated with William H. Kilpatrick, who developed it systematically as the Project Method of teaching, under the influence of Dewey's educational philosophy.

“The philosophical foundation of the Project Method was provided by John Dewey's pragmatism and experimentalism, while William H. Kilpatrick developed and popularized the Project Method as a systematic teaching method.”

Main Characteristics of the Project Method

1 Purposeful Activity

A project must have a clear purpose.

The learner should understand:

Why am I doing this?

Example:

Instead of merely studying “plants” from a textbook, students may develop a school garden.

2 Learning by Doing

The learner acquires knowledge through actual activity.

Example

Instead of simply learning about measurement:

Students measure:

classroom length
playground area
height of plants
amount of water used

Thus, mathematics becomes part of real experience.

3 Learner-Centred

The learner is an active participant.

Students:

select
plan
investigate
collect information
perform activities
discuss
solve problems
evaluate results

The teacher does not dominate the entire process.

4 Problem-Centred

Projects generally arise from a problem, need or meaningful situation.

Example

Problem: How can we reduce plastic waste in our school?

Students can:

survey plastic use
collect data
classify waste
calculate quantities
interview people
design posters
suggest solutions
implement a waste-reduction plan

Here several subjects become integrated naturally.

Principles of Project Method

The Project Method is based on several principles.

1. Principle of Purpose

Every activity should have a meaningful purpose.

2. Principle of Activity

Children learn through active participation.

3. Principle of Experience

Learning should arise from experience.

4. Principle of Freedom

Learners should have reasonable freedom to choose and organize activities.

5. Principle of Socialization

Projects encourage cooperation and group work.

6. Principle of Problem-Solving

Learners develop solutions to real problems.

7. Principle of Integration

Different subjects can be integrated around one meaningful project.

8. Principle of Learning by Doing

Knowledge is acquired through action and experience.

9. Principle of Reality

Activities should be connected with real-life situations.

Steps of Project Method

Step 1 – Selection of the Problem / Project

Learners identify or select a meaningful problem or activity.

Example

“Can we create a vegetable garden in our school?”

Step 2 – Planning

Students decide:

what has to be done
what resources are required
who will do what
how much time is needed
what information is required

The teacher helps without taking over the project.

Step 3 – Execution / Implementation

Students carry out the planned activities.

For a school garden project, they may:

select a location
prepare soil
select seeds
plant
water
observe growth
record data

Step 4 – Observation and Investigation

Students collect information and observe the results.

They may:

measure
record
compare
photograph
interview
survey
classify
analyse data

Step 5 – Evaluation

Students examine:

What worked?
What did not work?
Why did it happen?
Did we achieve our objective?
What could be improved?

Step 6 – Reporting / Presentation

Students communicate their findings through:

charts
reports
presentations
demonstrations
posters
exhibitions
discussions

Step 7 – Reflection

Students reflect on what they learned.

👉 This is extremely important in Deweyan education.

Complete cycle

Problem → Planning → Action → Observation → Evaluation → Reflection → New Learning

Dewey's Problem-Solving / Reflective Thinking Process

Project work is closely connected with Dewey's concept of reflective thinking.

A simplified form of Dewey's problem-solving process is:

1. Felt Difficulty

The learner encounters a difficulty or problem.

2. Definition of the Problem

The learner identifies exactly what the problem is.

3. Suggestion of Possible Solutions

Possible explanations or hypotheses are suggested.

4. Reasoning

The learner examines the possible solutions.

5. Testing / Experimentation

The proposed solution is tested through action or evidence.

6. Conclusion

The learner determines whether the solution works.

Formula

Problem → Hypothesis → Reasoning → Experiment → Verification → Conclusion

This is one of the most important links between Dewey's Experimentalism and Project Method.

Example of Project Method in Social Science

Suppose the topic is:

“Local Water Resources”

Instead of teaching only through lecture, students undertake a project.

Step 1

Identify the problem:

“What are the major water resources in our locality?”

Step 2

Plan:

divide students into groups
identify places to visit
prepare questions
decide what data to collect

Step 3

Investigation:

Students study:

wells
ponds
rivers
canals
water usage

Step 4

Data collection:

They record:

location
type of water resource
condition
usage
pollution problems

Step 5

Analysis:

Students prepare:

tables
graphs
maps

Step 6

Solution:

Students suggest ways to conserve water.

Step 7

Presentation:

Groups present their findings.

Learning achieved

Through one project students learn:

Geography + Economics + Civics + Environmental Studies + Mathematics + Communication Skills

This demonstrates integrated and experiential learning.

Project Method and Curriculum

Dewey opposed a rigid curriculum divided completely into isolated subjects.

He preferred a curriculum connected with:

children's experiences
interests
social life
real problems
environment
activities

Therefore, projects can integrate several subjects.

Example

School Garden Project

Subject	Learning
Science	Plant growth
Mathematics	Measurement and calculation
Social Science	Community and environment
Language	Report writing
Art	Garden design
Economics	Cost and budgeting

Thus:

Life situations become the centre around which subjects are integrated.

Role of the Teacher in Project Method

The teacher is not merely an information-giver.

The teacher acts as:

guide
facilitator
organizer
observer
adviser
motivator
resource person
evaluator

The teacher should:

identify suitable learning opportunities
help learners select meaningful projects
provide resources
guide planning
monitor progress
ask stimulating questions
help overcome difficulties
encourage reflection
assess the process and product

Important principle

Teacher guides; learner does.

Role of the Learner

The learner becomes an:

active participant
investigator
problem-solver
planner
decision-maker
collaborator
experimenter
communicator
reflective learner

Learner cycle

Think → Plan → Do → Observe → Reflect → Improve

Assessment in Project Method

Project-based assessment should not depend only on a written examination.

Assessment can include:

observation
project report
performance
presentation
group participation
problem-solving ability
creativity
practical skills
reflection
portfolio

Therefore, project assessment is largely:

Process + Product

Both should be considered.

Advantages of Project Method

1. Learning by Doing

Students gain direct experience.

2. Develops Problem-Solving Ability

Students learn to identify and solve real problems.

3. Develops Creativity

Students need to generate ideas and solutions.

4. Develops Cooperation

Group projects encourage teamwork.

5. Connects School with Life

Students work on meaningful real-world problems.

6. Integrates Subjects

Several subjects can be learned together.

7. Develops Communication Skills

Students discuss, interview and present findings.

8. Increases Motivation

Meaningful activities can be more engaging than passive learning.

9. Develops Responsibility

Students take responsibility for tasks.

10. Develops Democratic Skills

Students learn:

cooperation
discussion
participation
decision-making
respect for others' opinions

Limitations of Project Method

1. Time-consuming

Projects can require considerable classroom time.

2. Difficult in Large Classes

Managing many groups can be challenging.

3. Resource Requirements

Some projects need materials, technology or field access.

4. Assessment Difficulty

Individual contribution within a group can be difficult to measure.

5. Curriculum Coverage

Too much project work may make it difficult to cover a fixed syllabus.

6. Teacher Competence

Teachers need good planning and facilitation skills.

7. Unequal Participation

Some students may dominate while others contribute less.

8. Not Suitable for Every Topic

Some abstract or highly specialized content may require other teaching approaches as well.

Dewey's Experimental School

What is the Experimental School?

John Dewey established the Laboratory School at the University of Chicago in 1896.

It is commonly known as the:

Dewey School / Laboratory School

It functioned as an educational laboratory where Dewey and his colleagues experimented with new approaches to teaching and learning.

Dewey wanted to test his educational theories in actual classroom situations.

Instead of simply asking:

“What should education be?”

he wanted to investigate:

“How does learning actually occur when children engage in meaningful activity?”

Therefore, the school served as a bridge between:

Educational Theory ↔ Educational Practice

Main Features of Dewey's Experimental School

1. Learning by Doing

Children learned through practical activities.

2. Child-Centred Education

The needs and interests of children were considered.

3. Activity-Based Curriculum

Learning was organized around activities and experiences.

4. Social Learning

Children worked together and learned through interaction.

5. Problem-Solving

Real problems became opportunities for learning.

6. Experimentation

Ideas were tested through actual educational practice.

7. Integration of Subjects

Subjects were connected around meaningful activities.

8. School as a Social Institution

The school was seen as part of social life.

9. Democratic Education

Children participated in cooperative activities and decision-making.

10. Reflective Thinking

Students were encouraged to think about their experiences and improve their actions.

School as a Miniature Society

One of Dewey's most important educational ideas was:

School should be a miniature society.

The school should not be completely separated from life.

Students should experience:

cooperation
communication
shared responsibility
problem-solving
social relationships
democratic participation

Therefore:

School → Society → Experience → Learning

Experimental School and Curriculum

Dewey's Laboratory School did not organize education merely around memorizing separate textbook subjects.

Instead, activities and experiences became the organizing centre.

For example, a practical activity involving cooking could involve:

Science – heat and chemical changes
Mathematics – measurement
Language – reading instructions
Social Science – family and social life
Economics – cost and budgeting

Thus:

Activity becomes the centre of curriculum integration.

Experimentalism in Dewey's Education

The term Experimentalism is particularly important.

Dewey believed educational ideas should be tested through experience.

Process

Idea -🔜Action 🔜Observation 🔜 Result 🔜 Reflection 🔜 Modification

This is the experimental attitude in education.

Dewey's Contribution to Teaching-Learning

John Dewey contributed:

Learning by Doing
Project-based learning foundations
Problem-solving method
Experimental learning
Reflective thinking
Activity-centred education
Child-centred education
Experience-centred curriculum
Integrated curriculum
Democratic education
Socialized learning
School as a miniature society
Teacher as facilitator
Learner as active participant
Connection between school and life

23. Dewey's Project Method vs Experimental School

These two should not be confused.

Project Method	Experimental / Laboratory School
A teaching-learning method/approach	An actual educational institution/laboratory
Emphasizes purposeful projects	Tested Dewey's educational ideas in practice
Learning by doing	Learning through experience
Problem-solving	Experimentation in education
Can be used in any suitable classroom	Historically associated with Dewey's Laboratory School
Systematized as Project Method by Kilpatrick	Established by Dewey at University of Chicago
Based on Deweyan pragmatism	Demonstrated Deweyan educational philosophy

24. Dewey - Pragmatism and Project Method

This relationship is very important.

Pragmatism 🔜 Truth is tested through consequences and experience 🔜 Experimentalism 🔜 Ideas are tested through action 🔜 Learning by Doing 🔜Learner engages in meaningful activity 🔜 Project Method 🔜 Problem + Planning + Action + Reflection

Dewey and Democratic Education

Dewey believed democracy is not merely a political system.

It is also a way of living together.

Therefore, schools should develop:

cooperation
communication
tolerance
participation
shared responsibility
respect for others
problem-solving

Project work naturally supports these democratic values because students work together toward common goals.

Dewey vs Traditional Education

Traditional Education	Deweyan Education
Teacher-centred	Learner-centred
Passive learner	Active learner
Memorization	Experience
Lecture	Activity
Fixed curriculum	Flexible/experience-centred curriculum
Isolated subjects	Integrated learning
External discipline	Self/social discipline
Textbook-centred	Life and experience-centred
Individual competition	Cooperation
Final examination	Continuous/formative evaluation
School separated from life	School connected with life