John Dewey was a pioneering American philosopher and educational reformer. He believed that education should be child-centered and focus on connecting subjects to real-world experiences. According to Dewey, the teacher should act as a facilitator rather than an instructor, observing students' interests and allowing them to explore their environment and construct their own knowledge. Dewey's progressive ideas advocated for democratic classrooms where students and teachers learn together, in contrast to traditional classrooms where teachers delivered lectures and students memorized information. His influential approaches to education continue to shape schooling and teacher education today.