The False Promises of Constructivist Theories of Learning: A Global and Ecological Critique(14 Complicated Conversation: A Book Series of Curriculum Studies)

In The False Promises of Constructivist Theories of Learning: A Global and Ecological Critique, C. A. Bowers examines why constructivist-based educational reforms fail to take into account these current critical issues: the deepening ecological crisis, globalization, and undermining of the world's diverse cultural commons. Special attention is given to the ethnocentrism and Social Darwinism that created the foundations for the ideas of Dewey, Piaget, and Freire. Also considered is how the neo-liberal promoters of economic globalization share their taken-for-granted assumptions. Additionally, Bowers explains how teachers in different cultures can contribute to the revitalization of their cultural and environmental commons without engaging in the cultural imperialism that characterizes constructivist approaches to educational reform.

About the Author :
The Author: C. A. Bowers recently retired from the faculties of the University of Oregon and Portland State University. In addition to being an invited speaker at universities worldwide, he has published over ninety-five articles in educational and environmental journals, as well as sixteen books that address the cultural roots of the ecological crisis. His most recent books include Rethinking Freire (co-editor, 2005); Mindful Conservatism (2003); Let Them Eat Data (2002); and Educating for Eco-Justice and Community (2001).

Review :
Powerfully argued, this book provides needed insights for overcoming the loss of cultural identity, including the loss of respect for the deities, intergenerational knowledge, and nature caused by the promotion of modernist pedagogies within Andean communities. (Jorge Ishizawa, Coordinator of PRATEC (Proyecto Andino de Tecnologias)) Western-style education is responsible for drawing children - from Mongolia to Mozambique, from Inuit to Aboriginal communities - into an urban consumer culture. Schooling effectively wipes out the self-esteem, collective memory, and ecological knowledge of cultures worldwide. C. A. Bowers' writings are an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the root causes of our eco-social crises. (Helena Norberg-Hodge, Author of 'Ancient Futures: Learning from Ladakh') As exemplified by 'The False Promises of Constructivist Theories of Learning', C. A. Bowers is on the cutting edge of educational thought. Most educational thinkers continue to be trapped in the paradigm inherited from Western Enlightenment traditions, however, Bowers breaks from this paradigm and recharts the direction of global education. (Joel Spring, Author of 'Educational Ideologies Are Shaping Global Society')