Leonard Waks's Friends

Leonard Waks's Discussions

Started this discussion. Last reply by Nikimathew Sep. 30, 2008.

Leonard Waks was featured

April 21

About Me:: I am a philosopher with interests in American pragmatism (especially the philosophy of John Dewey), education, and technology. I currently serve as chairperson of the Commission on Social Issues of the Dewey Society.

What particular Deweyan ideas are you most interested in?: Interested in the entire Dewey corpus and its contemporary relevance. Have written primarily about Dewey on science, on art, on the means-ends continuum, on experimental logic, and on education.

What arenas of practice are you interested in working in?: k-12 schooling, policy, health care, arts, higher education, curriculum issues, international issues, environment, economics, community renewal

Say more about issues of practice that interest you.: I am currently interested in the regionalization of educational authority beyond the school district unit, on the appropriate and inappropriate uses of the new digital technologies in education, and on educational activities that break away from the narrow conventions of curriculum, including pre-selected subject matters and standardized modes of evaluation.

What specific activites do you hope the John Dewey Society can undertake?: I would like to see the society address pressing social issues as they arise by alerting the members in our blog, and preparing 'white papers' to inform the broader community and policy makers. In addition, I want the society to facilitate the efforts of its members in 'the scholarship of engagement' through drawing on their expertise and experience in writing for public audiences e.g., in letters to the editors and journals of opinion, and speaking in public venues.

At 10:20am on May 1, 2008, Amy Shuffelton said…: Hey! A new way to stay in touch! Yes, it was delightful to chat in Cambridge. I came back to weeks of frazzlement, busy busy busy like all academics at the end of the semester, but that conference always leaves me refreshed and re-excited about philosophy. Looking forward to reading some of it this summer.

Best wishes, and be in touch!

Amy