A Way of Learning: Bridging Ancient Chinese Philosophy of Education with Contemporary Learning Assessment and Learning Organizations

Title

A Way of Learning: Bridging Ancient Chinese Philosophy of Education with Contemporary Learning Assessment and Learning Organizations

Author

James D. SELLMANN

Page

149-190

DOI

10.6163/tjeas.2015.12(2)149

Abstract

What are the processes by which education and learning occur? Why do some individuals and groups appear to benefit more from education and why do they appear to be more proficient learners than others? For nearly 2000 years the imperial dynastic systems of China, in particular, and East Asia, in general, were supported by an educated bureaucracy. For the elite, education began in the home. The least well-off formed village schools in an attempt to have a village member pass the civil service examination, ensuring an appointment and access to resources. From the family and village school to the state bureaucracy, the success of these groups was measured by their ability to produce valued outcomes. The educated became members of the bureaucracy, controlling the supply of natural and human resources and state power. These learning groups were for the most part self-monitored and goal orientated. The stakes were high. When these learning groups failed, people lost their livelihood, sometimes their lives, and in extreme cases the dynasty collapsed. More often than not, these learning groups were successful, and we should be able to learn from them. In this paper I argue that ancient Chinese approaches to activate and achieve student learning can inform contemporary concerns and approaches toward student learning outcomes. I argue that imperial China had its own form of ＂liberal education,＂ and that contemporary American liberal education could enhance its global, multicultural, and world citizen concepts, ideals, values and beliefs by analyzing, integrating, and valuing other forms of learning and education.

Keyword

Learning organizations, student learning outcomes, the Fifth Discipline, liberal education, Confucianism, Daoism, Bingjia (military)

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