EME2040 Digital Blog post 3
Chapters 3 &/or 8
Educational learning theory: Dr. Maria Montessori
The Montessori system of education originated in 1907 when Maria Montessori opened
“Children’s House” in a low-income area of Rome, Italy. (1)This is a child centered model that utilizes
scientific observations of child behavior by teachers to shape lessons and projects. The underlying
understanding is that children have a natural curiosity that leads to learning if given a “supportive
and thoughtfully prepared learning environment”(2) This model may seem like a behaviorist approach
because it relies on the scientific method of observing children. It does not fit this model, however,
because it does not employ a conditioning method common to traditional classrooms of grading student
work. There is only learning through self-direction, and comprehension/development observation by
the teacher. In this way Montessori models a Constructionist approach with the student creating their
own learning.
Here is a video that explains a bit more about this model:
The Role of feedback in the Montessori Model
Although Montessori students do not receive grades, they do receive feedback.There are no
A+’s for great work or F’s for bad work, instead, as a student expresses interest in a subject they
are encouraged to investigate that subject. If a student is having difficulties, the teacher may ask
a student that has mastered the skill or subject to help the other student with the goal of reinforcing
their own understanding while providing the mentor-ship of a slightly older student to the struggling student rather than making that student rely on the much older teacher to “save” them. This builds self-confidence and a sense of family within the class itself.
Check out my BitStrip on this subject:
Created by April Bogar 5/31/2016
Here is also a nicely illustrated video contrasting
Montessori vs. Traditional classrooms
Retrieved 5/30/2016 from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NGRpzQ9vCE&list=PLPJXjT4wHl0itBTlwyU4BPBrGovXGSz5G
Communicating and collaborating in the Montessori model
Each classroom “level” consists of three ages, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12, 12-15, and 15-18.
Grouping in this way allows younger students to learn from older ones while the older students
reinforce their understanding by teaching the younger students. This method reminds
me of Lev Vygotsky’s “Social Development” and “MTO (More Knowledgeable Other)
” Constructivist model. This grouping model also affords the teacher the time to work with
students individually or in small groups, that may need more detailed or supervised instruction. Another benefit to having multiple ages in the learning environment is that it is more true-to-life.
In college and in the working world students are going to need to get along and work with people
older and younger than themselves, so this builds social skills as well. The Montessori model is very
much an inquiry-based teaching method in that it is almost entirely student driven. The teacher
does follow a curriculum, but they present the information, “ through an integrated approach that
brings separate strands of the curriculum together. ” (5)The students are understood to be naturally
curious and questioning. This quest-for-knowledge and exploration is encouraged by the teacher who
takes on more of a partnership role by leading the student to possible sources of information that they
seek or exercises to build an active understanding of a concept. This self-directed study builds
self-confidence and critical-thinking skills as the student goes beyond information
accumulation to connecting concepts to real-world application.
Grouping in this way allows younger students to learn from older ones while the older students
reinforce their understanding by teaching the younger students. This method reminds
me of Lev Vygotsky’s “Social Development” and “MTO (More Knowledgeable Other)
” Constructivist model. This grouping model also affords the teacher the time to work with
students individually or in small groups, that may need more detailed or supervised instruction. Another benefit to having multiple ages in the learning environment is that it is more true-to-life.
In college and in the working world students are going to need to get along and work with people
older and younger than themselves, so this builds social skills as well. The Montessori model is very
much an inquiry-based teaching method in that it is almost entirely student driven. The teacher
does follow a curriculum, but they present the information, “ through an integrated approach that
brings separate strands of the curriculum together. ” (5)The students are understood to be naturally
curious and questioning. This quest-for-knowledge and exploration is encouraged by the teacher who
takes on more of a partnership role by leading the student to possible sources of information that they
seek or exercises to build an active understanding of a concept. This self-directed study builds
self-confidence and critical-thinking skills as the student goes beyond information
accumulation to connecting concepts to real-world application.
I have created a flip-quiz to reinforce some of the concepts from chapters 3 and 8
I hope you enjoy the game:
( I look forward to learning how to embed BotStrips and Flip Quizes into my blog posts)
(I am embarrassed,but I have attempted ti fix the formatting multiple times with no success)
(8) Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
(I am embarrassed,but I have attempted ti fix the formatting multiple times with no success)
Resources:
(3) Retrieved 5/30/2016 from- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NGRpzQ9vCE&list=PLPJXjT4wHl0itBTlwyU4BPBrGovXGSz5G
(8) Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
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