Theory

John Dewey discusses how learning comes best from hands-on experiences and by engaging with the learning, not plainly memorising facts. Dewey expressed that learning should connect with the learner’s lived experiences and should challenge the learner and build on what is already known. John Dewy stated that “Education must be conceived as a continuing reconstruction of experience.” (Dewey, 1938) This discussion from Dewey aligns well with the case study discussed earlier as the learners would learn what a workplace is within a safe workplace. We understood that learners would make mistakes and we gave them the room for that. Dewey also discusses the importance of teaching critical thinking, cooperation, responsibility and community citizenship as he believes that “the school is primarily a social institution. Education, therefore, is a process of living and not a preparation for future living.” (Dewey, 1974). This relates well with the case study as the idea behind the project is to properly prepare the learners to be prepared for the world of work, gaining and developing skills that can be used in any workplace.