George E. Hein is Professor Emeritus in the Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences and Senior Research Associate at the Program Evaluation and Research Group at Lesley University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Progressive Museum Practice: John Dewey and Democracy by George Hein

Preeminent museum education theorist George E. Hein explores the work, philosophy, and impact of educational reformer John Dewey and his importance for museums. Hein traces current practice in museum education to Dewey's early 20th-century ideas about education, democracy, and progress toward improving society, and in so doing provides a rare history of museum education as a profession. Giving special attention to the progressive individuals and institutions who followed Dewey in developing the foundations for the experiential learning that is considered best practice today, Hein demonstrates a parallel between contemporary theories about education and socio-political progress and, specifically, the significance of museums for sustaining and advancing a democratic society.

Here's what museum educators are saying:

"Through the examples of far-sighted people like John Dewey, Charles Willson Peale, Anna Billings Gallup and others, Professor Hein shows us how a combination of progressive pedagogical practice and progressive political views can significantly support museums in their role of encouraging democracy and inclusiveness."

- Des Griffin, Gerard Krefft Fellow and former Director,
The Australian Museum, Sydney

"Drawing from a wide range of references from across the world he explores how museums have attempted to be 'in the service of democracy' and 'provide education that leads to better informed, critical citizens for a more egalitarian society.'"

— Jette Sandahl, Director, Museum of Copenhagen

"Hein pushes us beyond the pedagogy of progressive education to acknowledge its moral core—Dewey's commitment to social justice and democracy. Along the way he upends some misconceptions about how novel current thinking actually is."

— Leslie Bedford, Ph.D, Leadership in Museum Education Program, Bank Street College of Education

"Infused with Hein's trademark warmth and fair-mindedness, this book will spark rich discussion about John Dewey and our progressive museum education heritage, and is sure to be welcomed across the field."

— Rika Burnham, Head of Education, The Frick Collection

“An introduction to constructivist learning theory”
Keynote address to International formidlings-seminar, 15 March 2010, Nyborg, Denmark.

“Why museum educators?”
Keynote address, ICOM/CECA meeting 18 September 2011, Zagreb, Croatia.