Reclaiming Dewey for the information age

Abstract

Dewey's philosophy of education is perhaps more relevant today than it has been at any time since its inception. Fields as diverse as public management, political theory, and postmodern philosophy have witnessed efforts to reclaim Dewey's philosophy. This article will argue for the reclamation of Dewey's philosophy to guide educational institutions in the Information Age, particularly in their approach to teaching about technology. To do so, it will first establish parallels between the current American social context and the social context in which Dewey wrote. It will then describe two specific problems that society is facing that could be solved by an application of Dewey's philosophy, problems that have been aggravated by the advent of Web 2.0: the cheapening of interpersonal communication and the deadening of creativity. Next, it will explore the gravity of ignoring these problems. Finally, it will propose solutions, including the application of Dewey's philosophy to cultivate digital artisanship in students. © Common Ground, Alexander Nanni.