The Revolution of Enlightenment: A Historical Case Study of Significant Educational Change through Teacher Education.

Item request has been placed! ×
Item request cannot be made. ×
loading   Processing Request
Read Online Read More Add to Saved list
  • Author(s): Rillero, Peter
  • Language:
    English
  • Publication Date:
    1993
  • Document Type:
    Reports - Descriptive
    Historical Materials
    Speeches/Meeting Papers
  • Additional Information
    • Peer Reviewed:
      N
    • Source:
      24
    • Subject Terms:
      Case Studies; Demonstrations (Educational); Educational Change; Educational Philosophy; Elementary Secondary Education; Field Trips; Higher Education; Science Activities; Science Curriculum; Science Education History; Teacher Education; Teacher Educator Education; Teaching Methods; Textbooks; Theory Practice Relationship
    • Abstract:
      The object teaching revolution challenged the 19th century American education practices of learning by rote memorization and relying on the textbook and teacher for knowledge. The American version of object teaching evolved from Pestalozzi's educational philosophy of "Arschauung," which refers to learning from direct concrete observation. Early efforts to introduce object teaching in America failed because proponents of this system did not utilize teacher education. Sheldon was responsible for successfully initiating the object teaching revolution. In 1859, he introduced the system in the school system of Oswego, New York by utilizing inservice teacher education. Two years later Sheldon started a teacher training college at Oswego that appears to be the first that combined theory and practice. Sheldon and his colleagues made it their goal to also educate teacher educators. Graduates of Oswego found employment in school districts and newly forming normal schools (teacher training schools) across America and were key reasons for the spread of object teaching. Despite the eventual decline of object teaching, it impacted art education, vocational education, and reading textbooks, and had a large impact on science education. The focus on natural objects made object teaching an early form of science education. Object teaching evolved into nature study, which later evolved into elementary school science. At all levels, science teaching methods such as field trips, demonstrations, and science laboratories where promoted by object teaching. The object teaching revolution provides evidence that meaningful educational change can occur in schools through teacher education. (Contains 55 references.) (PR)
    • Publication Date:
      1993
    • Accession Number:
      ED360186