Traditional (Classical)

Progressive (Constructionist)

Teacher’s Role

Academic instructor, source of knowledge, and authority figure

Facilitator, counselor, and mentor

Instruction

Direct instruction by teacher in homogeneous groups

Self-directed learning, discovery learning, and cooperative work in heterogeneous groups

Student’s Role

·    learn what the teacher teaches

·    focus on intellectual, factual learning

·    discover what they learn

·    act as peer mediators, tutors and counselors

·    focus on learning, feelings, and opinions

Curriculum

·    focus on academic areas with facts, ideas, skills, methods

·    based on research

·    balance academic and social concerns

·    concerned with student’s “higher order thinking”

·    often based on unproven fads

Reading

Phonics

Whole-language

Mathematics

·    Direct Instruction of math concepts

·    prefers “drill and skill”

·    Interactive and discovery learning – “fuzzy” math

·    rejects memorization

Social Studies

Focus on American heritage, national sovereignty, and cross-cultural studies

Focus on diversity, multiculturalism, and global citizenship

Outcomes

Emphasis on academic skills in traditional core areas / measured objectively

Emphasis on the “whole child” approach  that blends psychological, social and cultural well-being of the child / measured subjectively

Assessment

·    periodic use of objective achievement tests

·    students evaluated by grades they earn

·    use assessment tests

·    the 4 P’s – posters, portfolios, projects, PowerPoint

·    grades inflated so all students succeed

Character

Development

Citizenship and self-control

Relativism and self-esteem

Equality

Equal opportunity

Equal outcome