From the late eighteenth through the end of the nineteenth century, educational philosophers and practitioners debated the benefits and shortcomings of the use of emulation in schools. During this period, "emulation" referred to a pedagogy that leveraged comparisons between students as a tool to motivate them to higher achievement. Many…

Deliberation has become a defining ideal of democratic theory, and learning is central to robust deliberation. It is challenging for people to learn from each other, however, in contexts of inequality and deep social cleavages--though this is precisely when such learning is most needed. The political theorist Danielle Allen has argued that the…

Many recent articles, research papers, and conference presentations about Lev Vygotsky's zone of proximal development (ZPD) emphasize the "extended" version of the ZPD that reflects human emotions and desires. In this essay, Michael G. Levykh expands on the extant literature on the ZPD through developing several new ideas. First, he maintains that…

Investigates questions regarding Alfred North Whitehead's educational rhythm. Focuses on the concept of periodicity as the essence of Whitehead's universal system and less technical thoughts on learning. (DF)

Responding to Professor Oscanyan's article "How Can I Teach My Students to Learn on Their Own," this article questions Oscanyan's assumptions about learning processes. (DS)

Bateson's integrative multilevel approach to learning, which is based on a theory of communication, is discussed. Implications of Bateson's learning theory for a more integrated approach to behavioral change are considered. (IAH)

Responding to an article by Donald Vandenberg (Educational Theory, Summer 1980) on the meaning of the phrase "educative experience" in John Dewey's "Democracy in Education," Chambliss says that Vandenberg misunderstands Dewey's conception of both education and experience. Social and educational implications of Dewey's thought…

The author disputes key points about John Dewey's views on education and experience made in an article by Donald Vandenberg (Educational Theory, Summer 1980). In particular, Beckett asserts that Dewey's ideal of growth is thoroughly consistent with his view that education is a lifelong process. (PP)

The hierarchical structure of the cognitive domain presented in Benjamin S. Bloom's taxonomy of educational objectives does not reflect the actual nature of the learning process. Attempts to apply the classification levels to student learning in mathematics and other subjects place the taxonomy's usefulness in question. (PP)