What is the three-center theory of traditional education?

Herbart's traditional three centers are teacher center, teaching material center and classroom center. Dewey's modern three centers are student center, experience center and activity center.

Herbart, a famous German psychologist and educator, put forward three central theories of traditional education. The third middle school takes teachers as the main body, experiences as the center, activities as the center, classes as the center, teaching materials as the center, and students learn passively, emphasizing the one-way transfer of knowledge in the classroom and independent teaching methods.

Later, Dewey, a representative figure of American pragmatic pedagogy, criticized the theory of three centers in education, so Dewey put forward the theory of children, experience and activity-"three centers in new education" The new three centers have corrected the teacher-led and inquiry-based teaching by instilling and cooperating.

Ideological content:

In Dewey's mind, in an undemocratic and unequal society, education is only the purpose imposed on the educated by external forces. A democratic society is different. We should pursue the theory of aimlessness. In fact, in the era of class struggle and proletarian revolution, Dewey emphasized the effectiveness of education in improving society, and the class nature of Dewey's teleology of education was obvious.

Dewey believes that people's participation in the real life of society is a proper way to grow physically and mentally and transform their experience. Therefore, teachers should turn the classroom of imparting knowledge into a paradise for children's activities, guide children to actively participate in activities, unconsciously develop moral character and acquire knowledge in activities, and realize the transformation of life, growth and experience.