Current Issues in Emerging eLearning

Article Title

Dewey, Desi, and DEC: Exploring the educational philosophy of Indian open, online, and distance education

Authors

Dennis Maxey, University of Massachusetts BostonFollow

Abstract

This paper explores pedagogical underpinnings of current Indian open, online, and distance education. Tracing the history of national and cultural adherence to the precepts of American educational theorist and philosopher, John Dewey, the paper notes the Deweyesk perspective has not translated into constructivist distance educational practices. The work surveys the history of distance education in India, and reviews literature in the field produced by Indian academics, whose recent reports suggest that online education may be transforming Indian educational philosophy, bringing a more constructivist approach to teaching on the sub-continent.

The paper is organized into the following sections:

• A brief history of open, distance, and online education in India
• The role that John Dewey’s ideas play on the subcontinent
• Philosophical underpinnings of Indian online education
• The current state of Indian online education

Keywords

John Dewey, Web 2.0, Open Education Resources, eLearning, online learning, e-education, constructivism, Pragmatism

Recommended Citation

Maxey, Dennis (2014) "Dewey, Desi, and DEC: Exploring the educational philosophy of Indian open, online, and distance education," Current Issues in Emerging eLearning: Vol. 1: Iss. 1, Article 5.
Available at: https://scholarworks.umb.edu/ciee/vol1/iss1/5