进步主义教育（Progressive education或Educational progressivism）是一个开始于19世纪后期的教育运动，它是一种信仰：教育必须依据的原则是，人类是社会动物，最好的学习是在与他人的真实的生活活动中学习。进步主义宣称有最好的学习科学理论支持。大部分进步主义教育家认为，儿童学习，好像他们是科学家。下面的过程类似于约翰·杜威的学习模式：

因此，对一个进步主义的老师的要求不仅是提供阅读和技巧，而且还要提供围绕学生的现实生活的现实世界的经验和活动。一个典型的进步主义的口号是“在做中学”（Learn by Doing）

Progressive education is a pedagogical movement that began in the late nineteenth century; it has persisted in various forms to the present. The term progressive was engaged to distinguish this education from the traditional Euro-American curricula of the 19th century, which was rooted in classical preparation for the university and strongly differentiated by social class. By contrast, progressive education finds its roots in present experience. Most progressive education programs have these qualities in common: