NYSTCE English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Practice Test

Which philosopher viewed learning as a process of scientific inquiry and experimentation?

1. John Dewey

2. Jean Piaget

3. B.F. Skinner

4. Lev Vygotsky

The correct answer is: John Dewey

John Dewey is recognized for his perspective on learning as an active process that involves scientific inquiry and experimentation. He believed that education should be rooted in real-life experiences and encouraged critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Dewey emphasized the importance of teaching students to engage with their environment and draw conclusions based on their experiences, effectively making learning a hands-on, interactive process. This view laid the foundation for progressive education, where the student's role in learning is as an active participant rather than a passive recipient of knowledge. In contrast, while Jean Piaget focused on cognitive development and the stages through which children learn, he did not specifically frame learning as a scientific inquiry process. B.F. Skinner, associated with behaviorism, concentrated on observable behaviors and reinforcements rather than the inquiry-based learning approach, and Lev Vygotsky emphasized social interaction and cultural context in learning, rather than experimental inquiry. Thus, Dewey's address of learning as a scientific inquiry aligns him distinctly with the concept presented in the question.