Abstract/Notes: The objective of this study was to evaluate how the design of the built environment can assist schoolteachers in their use of constructivist techniques as students transition from learning by play to didactic learning in early elementary learning spaces. With the increased expectations and standards for early elementary school, how can the built environment support both teachers and constructivist learning approaches such as experiential and active learning strategies to increase interactive and playful learning?Children's transition to structured schooling is associated with new experiences and challenges for students and parents. Students experience new environments, people, and modes of learning (Fabian & Dunlop, 2007). In addition to this impactful life transition as children enter primary school, increased state-mandated standards have resulted in more didactic teaching approaches in kindergarten causing an abrupt transition to sedentary learning from play focused learning in prekindergarten ("The New First Grade: Too Much Too Soon," 2006; Miller & Almon, 2009). However, Friedrich Froebel's intent for kindergarten was far different than what we see today, with kindergartens looking far different when compared to the original and prekindergarten in the United States more accurately resembling Froebel's vision (Fabian & Dunlop, 2007). Early childhood theorists, Piaget and Vygotsky, deemed learning by play essential for young children, proving critical for social and emotional skills (Wenner, 2009; Barros, Silver, & Stein, 2009; Coolahan, Fantuzzo, Mendez, & McDermott, 2000; Raver & Ziegler, 1997; Fantuzzo & McWayne, 2002; Coolahan, Fantuzzo, Mendez, & McDermott, 2000; Yogman, 2018). There is evidence to show children in early elementary school, learn best by doing; (Taylor & Boyer, 2019; Yogman, 2018) so, the physical classroom environment and supportive learning spaces should support this type of active and playful learning by providing spaces that allow teachers to engage their students in these types of learning experiences. Priorities have shifted due to increased expectations as many teachers find themselves in a dilemma balancing didactic teaching for learning standards versus developmentally appropriate practices. Design considerations of the physical classroom impact how a teacher engages students in subject matter (Byers, Imms, & Hartnell-Young, 2014; Thomas, 2010; Monahan, 2002). Design of the built environment can also assist teachers' utilization of active learning strategies through intentional space planning and design programming. This study hopes to understand how learning spaces can support active learning, equipping teachers with the spaces, layout, and technology needed to accommodate active learning practices to meet required objectives. By evaluating constructivist active learning strategies through a qualitative study, the researcher aims to use design as a tool to lessen the abrupt change from playful learning to sedentary learning commonly occurring as students transition into primary school. Findings from a teacher focus group provided the researcher with emergent themes aligning with constructivist pedagogy for Florida's early elementary learning standards. Focus group discussion provided the researcher with the design considerations and programming criteria to form a comprehensive design solution to ease the transition into didactic learning through a variety of learning environments and design considerations supportive of active learning strategies.

Language: English

Published: Tallahassee, Florida, 2022

Language: English

ISSN: 0519-0959

Abstract/Notes: The concept of active learning is analyzed in terms of its place in the democratic school. Defined is the meaning of an effective democracy and active learning. The relationship of participation to democracy is analyzed in terms of effectiveness. Ownership and empowerment are the keys to participatory democracy. Several educators' philosophies are examined: Maria Montessori, Benjamin Bloom, and J. Goodlad. Student preparation for a democractic society is one purpose for the active learning project. Appended are 14 references. ERIC Number ED307702

Language: English

Published: Ohio: [s.n.], 1989

Abstract/Notes: Greene Towne School, a Montessori preschool and Kindergarten in Center City, Philadelphia has provided young children with a Montessori education for 38 years. In the fall of 2002 we added a Toddler Program, and now accept children beginning...

Language: English

ISSN: 0746-956X

Abstract/Notes: This speech was delivered on September 26, 1957 at the 11th International Montessori Congress (Rome, Italy).

Language: French

Published: Roma, Italy: Vita dell'infanzia, 1959

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this study was to investigate young children’s perception of melodic construction in hope of finding clues about their broader cognitive development in nonmusical domains. Following Jeanne Bamberger’s example of musical-perceptual tasks with Montessori bells, four children aged three to six were presented with a melodic construction task and asked to create a representation of their work. Analysis of data revealed common themes with varied results of (a) eagerness or hesitancy to participate, (b) whether bells were moved or played, (c) exploration of bells, (d) internalization of rhythm, (e) cognitive readiness for melodic construction, and (f) role of visual representation. No cross-case findings could be drawn about broader cognitive development, however specific characteristics of the children and their approach to the melodic construction task are presented. Recommendations for further study center on potential clues a melodic construction task could provide about language construction in individual children.

Language: English

ISSN: 1938-2065

Abstract/Notes: Foreign language learning has been a part of German elementary schools for several years now. Montessori schools focusing on individual learning, i.e. mostly independent from the teacher and based on auto-education, interest, and free choice, are also asked to teach an L2. The original lack of a concept of L2 learning for this environment has brought forth different approaches. Bilingual education seems to be feasible and applicable in Montessori education. The downside to this is that even in a bilingual classroom the Montessori way of learning may not allow for very much oral production of the foreign language. The role of L2 production (cf. Swain 1985, 1995, 2005) for language acquisition has been theoretically claimed and empirically investigated. Output can have a positive influence on L2 learning (cf. e.g. Izumi 2002, Keck et al. 2006). This also applies to interaction (cf. Long 1996), where negotiation of meaning and modified output are factors supporting L2 development (cf. e.g. de la Fuente 2002, McDonough 2005). Task-based Language Learning (TBLL) presents itself as one way to promote oral language production and to provide opportunities for meaning-negotiation. Especially tasks with required information exchange and a closed outcome have been shown to be beneficial for the elicitation of negotiation of meaning and modified output. This paper argues that TBLL is a promising approach for the facilitation of L2 production and thus the development of speaking skills in a Montessori context. It also hypothesizes that TBLL can be implemented in a bilingual Montessori environment while still making the Montessori way of learning possible. Different tasks on various topics, examples of which are presented in this article, can lay the foundation for this. Offering such tasks in a bilingual Montessori elementary classroom promises to foster language production and the use of communication strategies like negotiation of meaning, both being facilitative for L2 acquisition. This hypothesis remains to be tested in future research.

Language: German

DOI: 10.13092/lo.54.284

ISSN: 1615-3014

Abstract/Notes: Outdoor learning is one of the newest terminologies and implementations of using the outdoors as a part of education. This paper provides an in-depth overview to answer the question, is outdoor learning a pathway to transformational learning or another educational gimmick? To answer this question, this paper will focus on six fundamental sections. This paper begins by highlighting the ambiguity throughout history in defining education outside the classroom, with more than 75 different terminologies used to refer to education in the outdoors. The second theme is that despite this contemporary emergence, outdoor learning has a long and varied history within education, with modern elements of outdoor learning being traced back thousands of years in indigenous cultures. Then being refined throughout the 21st century before settling on the current contemporary form of outdoor learning. The third theme of this paper looks at the benefits of outdoor learning, summarized into six critical sections. These benefits include health and wellbeing, social-emotional and cognitive development, academic and behavioral benefits, memory benefits, increased positive attitudes towards the environment, and positive teacher benefits. The fourth theme of this paper reviews the barriers and challenges to implementing outdoor learning within schooling, with four primary barriers being identified. These barriers include outdoor learning having no formal status in teachers’ educational practice, a lack of teacher confidence in their outdoor teaching expertise, difficulty in starting an outdoor learning program, and physical restraints such as school grounds and weather. The penultimate theme of this paper reviews critical considerations that must be addressed when implementing an outdoor learning program; this includes cost, student numbers, transportation, insurance, time, framework, skills, assessments, the curriculum, and training. The final theme of this paper unpacks the effects of COVID-19 on outdoor learning within all levels of schooling. Initially seen as a method to return to school by being outdoors, outdoor learning has since demonstrated to educators worldwide that it deserves to be embedded as an everyday part of education even after the pandemic subsides.

Language: English

DOI: 10.20533/ijcdse.2042.6364.2022.0565

ISSN: 2042-6364

Abstract/Notes: Learning media are learning aids that can be physical or non-physical to convey messages from teachers to students. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the use and process of product development in the form of Montessori-based learning media in science learning for fifth grade students. The research is a development research (R & D) with the Sugiyono development procedure. Based on the result of product validation, it received an “appropriate” assessment with a score of 3,6 from material experts. While media experts rated “strongly agree” with a score of 4,5. Based on result of product trials, it is known that average pretest value is 52,64 and posttest is 76,66 so that it has increased. Product assessment by students through questionnaires gets a score of 3,98 or when views in the classification table, namely “agree”. Based on the use trial, the average pretest value was 36,8 and posttest was 72,2 so thatit experienced an increase. Product assessment by students through questionnaires gets an average score of 4,3 or if seen in the table, it is “Strongly agree”. This shows that the learning media based on the Montessori method development can be said to be feasible to use.

Language: Indonesian

DOI: 10.36088/fondatia.v6i2.1816

ISSN: 2579-6194

Abstract/Notes: Paper abstract presented for the ECER Conference to be held in Berlin, Freie Universität (13-16 September, 2011)

Language: English

ISSN: 2281-8375