Progressive Education MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Progressive Education - Download Free PDF

Progressive Theory of Education: It is defined as change or movement in the direction of the end; and, conversely, movement in any other direction toward any other end is regressive.

Key Points

• This theory stated education through experience or experiment or solving problems.
• It emphasized the value and importance of experience, experiment, purposeful learning, freedom, etc. 
• The problem-solving method is based upon the progressive theory. This theory stresses that students should test ideas through active experimentation.
• Learning is rooted in the questions of learners that arise through experiencing the world.

Additional Information

Hence, we conclude that the Problem-solving teaching method is based on progressive theory.

Progressive education advocates that young learners should be given the freedom to learn according to their preferences and likes

Important Points

•  Based on the belief that education should primarily serve the needs of children and focus on understanding, action, and experience rather than rote knowledge and memorization.
• Children with special needs are taught along with other children while making special provisions for their needs.
• Special education is individualized education for children with special needs. Special education means, “Specially designed instruction, to meet the unique needs of a child with special needs including instructions conducted in the classrooms. 
• A free and democratic atmosphere should be provided in the classroom for the proper development of an individual. 

Hence, children with special needs do not have to always study in a separate institution In fact, most of them can learn quite well in general classes of a school. 

Thus from the above-mentioned points, it is clear that in a progressive set-up children with special needs are taught along with other children while making special provisions for their needs. 

Progressive education prioritizes student-centered learning, where the emphasis is on understanding, critical thinking, and the development of skills over time. In this approach, assessment is not just a tool to measure what has been learned but a part of the learning process itself. 

Key Points

• Ongoing and adapted to support student learning reflects the essence of assessment in a progressive classroom. This approach, often called formative assessment, is continuous and flexible, allowing the teacher to modify instruction based on students’ needs and responses.
• It includes observations, discussions, student reflections, and other informal methods that provide real-time feedback.
• Such assessments help students become active participants in their learning by setting goals, identifying misunderstandings, and celebrating progress. In a progressive environment, this type of responsive and supportive assessment fosters deeper engagement and a stronger understanding of concepts.

Hint

•  Focusing only on final results and rankings reduces assessment to a competitive exercise, which contradicts the progressive focus on individual growth and learning processes.
• Fixed assessments conducted only at the end of the term do not provide timely feedback and fail to inform instruction throughout the learning journey.
• Assessments based strictly on standardized testing overlook individual learning differences and often emphasize rote memorization, which is not aligned with the principles of progressive education.

Hence, the correct answer is ongoing and adapted to support student learning.

Progressive education is an educational philosophy that emphasizes the development of critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity in students.

• It focuses on active learning, where students are encouraged to engage with real-world problems and are treated as individuals with unique needs and interests.

 Key Points

• Progressive education is an approach to education that emphasizes individualized learning and student-centered classrooms.
• It focuses on the learner's needs, interests, and experiences, fostering an environment where students are encouraged to actively participate in their learning.
• It emphasizes hands-on activities, collaboration, and the development of critical thinking skills, rather than passive rote memorization.

Hint

• A method of teaching that emphasizes strict adherence to standard curriculum – This reflects a more traditional, teacher-centered approach, which is not characteristic of progressive education.
• A method of teaching that emphasizes maximum use of technology and multimedia in the classroom – While technology can be integrated into progressive education, it is not the defining characteristic of this approach.
• An approach to education that emphasizes discipline and rote memorization – This describes a traditional approach to education, which focuses on passive learning and strict discipline, contrary to the progressive education philosophy.

Hence, the correct answer is 'An approach to education that emphasizes individualized learning and student-centered classrooms'.

Progressive education is an educational movement that emphasizes learning by doing, critical thinking, and the development of the whole child—socially, emotionally, intellectually, and physically.

Key Points

•  Advocates of progressive education agree that children are born in a social, cultural, and economic context, and this background influences their development.
• This perspective aligns with the view that education must consider the child’s lived experiences and environment to be meaningful and effective.
• Progressive educators promote student-centered learning and recognize that each child’s development is shaped by their unique context, including their community, culture, and family.

Hint

• The first option reflects a Romantic view (inspired by Rousseau), which is distinct from but sometimes overlaps with progressive views, yet it oversimplifies the progressive stance.
• The second option leans toward a traditional or authoritarian view of children as inherently lacking civility, which progressive educators reject.
• The fourth option emphasizes the future utility of children, which contradicts the progressive belief in valuing children for who they are now, not just for who they will become.

Hence, the correct answer is children are born in a social, cultural, economic context and this background influences their development.

Progressive Theory of Education: It is defined as change or movement in the direction of the end; and, conversely, movement in any other direction toward any other end is regressive.

Key Points

• This theory stated education through experience or experiment or solving problems.
• It emphasized the value and importance of experience, experiment, purposeful learning, freedom, etc. 
• The problem-solving method is based upon the progressive theory. This theory stresses that students should test ideas through active experimentation.
• Learning is rooted in the questions of learners that arise through experiencing the world.

Additional Information

Hence, we conclude that the Problem-solving teaching method is based on progressive theory.

John Dewey, an American philosopher has proposed the concept of 'Progressive Education' which emphasizes that learning takes place only through 'hands-on' approach so the students must interact with their environment to adapt and learn.

• A progressive classroom is a part of progressive education that believes in the capability and potential of every child.
• Progressive education emphasizes enhancing the skills and understanding of the learners by engaging with the content and experiences.

Key Points 

The characteristics of classroom environment of the progressive classroom:​

• Opportunities for construction of knowledge
• Involvement of children in decision making
• Creation of a fear-free learning environment
• Assessment of individual differences of learners
• Importance of inquiry, observation, and investigation
• Flexible and cooperative groupings to solve problems
• Use of methods like experiential learning, problem-solving, etc.

Hence, maintaining external discipline by the teacher is not an attitude of the progressive classroom.

Hint

• In this method, teachers facilitate students as a facilitator by providing them with the proper environment and materials to learn at their own pace.

Progressive education is an educational philosophy and approach that emphasizes student-centered learning, active engagement, critical thinking, and holistic development.Key Points

• A progressive classroom is a learning environment where teachers are facilitators and learners are active participants in knowledge construction.
• This means that teachers are not the sole source of knowledge, but rather they guide and support students as they learn.
• Students are encouraged to explore their own interests and to take ownership of their learning.
• Progressive education places a strong emphasis on tailoring education to the needs and interests of individual students and preparing them for active participation in a rapidly changing world.

Hence, we can conclude that a progressive classroom views teachers as facilitators and learners as active participants in knowledge construction.

A curriculum is all of the experiences that individual learners have in a program of education whose purpose is to achieve broad goals and related specific objectives.

• Progressive education refers to the education that values experiential learning. It focuses on learning by doing, hands-on experiences, critical thinking, problem-solving, etc.

Key Points

• Curricular goals in progressive education emphasize critical thinking as progressive education focused on developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills among the learners by enabling them to think or analyze the concepts beyond traditional ways.
• Critical thinking is a skill that focuses on the analysis, evaluation and synthesizing of various available facts through experience, reflection, reasoning, communication, and arguments that allow us to make the best decision that could be possible.
• As progressive education gives opportunities to the children to think critically and analyze, the children observe their surroundings i.e., their family, community, and society, and think upon the evils of society i.e., biases regarding gender, caste, religion, etc.

Hence, it is clear that curricular goals in progressive education emphasize critical thinking.

John Dewey, an American philosopher has proposed the concept of 'Progressive Education' which emphasizes that learning takes place only through 'hands-on' approach so the students must interact with their environment to adapt and learn.

• A progressive classroom is a part of progressive education that believes in the capability and potential of every child.
• Progressive education emphasizes enhancing the skills and understanding of the learners by engaging with the contents and experiences.

Key Points

Assessment strategies used in a progressive classroom:

Creation of student portfolios:

• A portfolio is a tool for assessing a variety of skills not usually testable in a single setting of the traditional written paper and pencil tests.
• It assesses team-based activities, social projects, and peer-related behavior and provides an insight into a child’s emotional, social and psychological development.

Self-assessment and peer assessment:

• Self and peer-assessment are becoming central aspects of student-centered assessment processes in education. 
• Peer and self-assessment, where students assess each other and themselves, can encourage students to take greater responsibility for their learning.

Use of reflective journals by teachers:

• In a reflective journal, teachers put their thoughts, ideas, feelings, and reflections. After observing what is actually happening in the classroom and school, teachers keep notes.
• Through these notes, the teacher makes different reflections, which provide them with a critical analysis of what they do in class and help them discover alternative steps to develop reflective practice.

Hence, it could be concluded that reliance on norm-referenced assessment only would NOT be used as an assessment strategy in a progressive classroom.

Hint 

• Norm-Referenced is the traditional class-based assignment of numerals to the attribute being measured. 
• It is an attempt to interpret the test results in terms of the performance of a certain group. This group is a norms group because it serves as a referent of the norm for making the judgment. 

John Dewey, an American philosopher has proposed the concept of 'Progressive Education' which emphasizes that learning takes place only through 'hands-on' approach so the students must interact with their environment to adapt and learn.

Belief in the capability and potential of every child is central to the concept of progressive education as it promotes: 

• emphasizes to enhance skills and understanding of the learners by engaging with the contents and experiences.
• promotes 'learning by doing' to make children self-reliant and productive to use their knowledge and talents effectively.
• ensures the active participation of students by working in a group and applying practical knowledge to complete an activity.

Hence, it could be concluded that belief in the capability and potential of every child is central to the concept of progressive education.

Additional Information

'Progressive Education' Promotes:

• Critical thinking
• Problem-solving skills
• Active engagement of students
• Development of social and communicative skills

John Dewey has been one of the most influential educational thinkers of modern times. His educational philosophy has been referred to as Pragmatism, Experimentalism, Functionalism, Instrumentalism, Operationalism, Practicalism, and Progressivism.

• Dewey has proposed the concept of 'Progressive Education' which emphasizes that learning takes place through 'hands-on' approach so the students must interact with their environment to adapt and learn.
• Dewey had a specific idea regarding how education should take place within the classroom. He criticized the undue importance given to the curriculum, which leads to the inactivity of the student in the entire process of learning.

Key PointsProgressive Education:

• In Progressive Education, students thrive in an environment where they are allowed to experience and interact with the curriculum, and all students avail the opportunity to take part in their own learning.
• Content is presented in a way that allows the student to relate the information to prior experiences, thus deepening the connection with this new knowledge. Dewey advocated for an
• the educational structure that strikes a balance between delivering knowledge while also taking into account the interests and experiences of the student.
• Progressive Education is a continuous process of adjustment, having as its aim at every stage an added capacity of growth.’ He advocated the importance of education not only as a place to gain content knowledge, but also as a place to learn how to live.
• The experience of the child occupies the central place in this method of learning; ‘all learning must come as a by-product of actions’ child learns through participation in various activities.

Hence, it could be concluded that the above-mentioned phenomenon could be attributed to progressive education.

Additional Information

• Inclusive Education means education for all children in school as It refers to the inclusion of all children in the education system, regardless of their differences and disabilities.
• Integrated education: It emphasizes the placement of children with disabilities in mainstream schools. The school system remains rigid and as a result, very few children with disabilities are able to cope with the demands of such a rigid system. 
• Special education: It is instruction designed for students with disabilities or gifts and talents, who also have special learning needs. Some of these students have difficulties in formal institutions so they need special education provisions to function in their classrooms.

John Dewey, an American philosopher proposed the concept of 'Progressive Education' which emphasizes that learning takes place only through a 'hands-on' approach so the students must interact with their environment to adapt and learn.

Key Points

• A teacher should always cater (accept) to the individual differences of the children in the class. 
• Individual differences can be defined as personal characteristics that distinguish learners from each other in the teaching and learning processes.  
• The main goal of progressive education is to get students to have a hands-on learning experience, i.e. learn by doing. Also known as experiential learning, this method sees active participation by students in hands-on projects.

Hence by all the above references, we can conclude that Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Important Points Key features of progressive education: 

• Focusing on learning by doing: This includes working on hands-on projects thereby paving the way for experiential learning, aka learning by experience.
• Integrated curriculum: This is a curriculum that covers a broad spectrum of themes.
• Problem-solving and critical thinking: They are the cornerstones of progressive education; the whole idea is to have students take on problems and solve them thus helping them hone their critical thinking.

John Dewey, an American philosopher has proposed the concept of 'Progressive Education' which emphasizes that learning takes place only through 'hands-on' approach so the students must interact with their environment to adapt and learn.

Key Points

• Progressive education emphasizes enhancing the skills and understanding of the learners by engaging with the contents and experiences.
• It emphasizes Collaborative Learning which refers to a situation where two or more individuals attempt to learn something together.  
• This type of learning is helpful in the development of critical thinking. It is believed that individuals are able to achieve higher levels of learning and retain more information when they work in a group rather than individually.

• It promotes 'learning by doing' to make children self-reliant and productive to use their knowledge and talents effectively.
• It ensures the active participation of students by working in a group and applying practical knowledge to complete an activity.

Important Points 

Feature of Progressive Education:

• Education for society and democracy.
• Collaborative and cooperative learning.
• Learning as opposed to rote knowledge.
• Emphasis on lifelong learning and social skills.
• Flexible time-table and seating arrangement
• Integrated curriculum focused on thematic units.
• De-emphasize textbooks, emphasize multiple resources.

Hence, it could be concluded that Collaborative Learning characterizes a progressive classroom.

John Dewey, an American philosopher has proposed the concept of 'Progressive Education' that emphasizes learning takes place through a hands-on approach so the students must interact with their environment to adapt and learn.

• The progressive education philosophy says that educators should teach children how to think rather than relying on rote memorization.
• It promotes co-operative learning, children gain socially and academically knowledge from co-operative learning endeavors. 
• Progressive classroom is the best way for students to experience real-world situations.
• The process of learning by doing is at the heart of this style of teaching.
• The concept, known as experiential learning, uses hands-on projects that allow students to learn by actively engaging in activities that put their knowledge to use.
• A reaction to didactic approaches such as behaviorism and programmed instruction, constructivism states that learning is an active, contextualized process of constructing knowledge.
• A progressive teacher is an effective one when he is able to stimulate the students to initiate, plan, and carry out their projects on their own. He encourages students to communicate in solving problems as a group not only within the context of the lesson.
• Knowledge is constructed based on personal experiences and hypotheses of the environment.
• For example, the workplace is a collaborative environment that requires teamwork, critical thinking, creativity, and the ability to work independently.
• Experiential learning, by helping students develop these skills, better prepares them for college and life as productive members of the workplace.

Therefore, from the above-mentioned points, it becomes clear that in a progressive classroom, knowledge is constructed by the learner.