Abstract/Notes: Chris is also a three-time startup founder; a pioneer of mobile partnerships at Google and Dropbox; an adviser to start-up companies; an inventor of 12 patents, including one found within the Google search algorithm; and a former strategy consultant serving many industries. For some reason, I was expecting that someone starting a company would have incredibly relevant experience-that he'd say, "Oh, I've started three other companies before," or "I helped someone start a company." Remember, at that time, mobile phones were just used for phone calls and basic text messages. When we started, my team and I were building something for consumers: the ability to use their mobile phones to identify songs.

Language: English

ISSN: 1054-0040

Abstract/Notes: Education is central to the acquisition of knowledge, such as when children learn new concepts. It is unknown, however, whether educational differences impact not only what concepts children learn, but how those concepts come to be represented in semantic memory—a system that supports higher cognitive functions, such as creative thinking. Here we leverage computational network science tools to study hidden knowledge structures of 67 Swiss schoolchildren from two distinct educational backgrounds—Montessori and traditional, matched on socioeconomic factors and nonverbal intelligence—to examine how educational experience shape semantic memory and creative thinking. We find that children experiencing Montessori education show a more flexible semantic network structure (high connectivity/short paths between concepts, less modularity) alongside higher scores on creative thinking tests. The findings indicate that education impacts how children represent concepts in semantic memory and suggest that different educational experiences can affect higher cognitive functions, including creative thinking.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1038/s41539-021-00113-8

ISSN: 2056-7936

Abstract/Notes: This action research was conducted in an early childhood Montessori Primary classroom using intentional teaching practices with core curriculum materials to engage students in creative thinking. In the form of questions or suggestions, an open-ended inquiry was given to the ten participants, aged three to six years old, as they worked with Montessori materials in academic areas, including science, math, and language. The research utilized mixed methods of collection in the forms of quantitative and qualitative data and demonstrated successful intervention with a steady increase in work times of the students. A longitudinal study would contribute to this theory and provide further information regarding the increase of student understanding through creative thinking endeavors. This study provided evidence that intentional teaching practices can engage children in creative thinking, problem-solving, and collaborative learning while extending working times with materials, which contribute to a deeper level of comprehension of the direct curricular aims.

Language: English

Published: St. Paul, Minnesota, 2021

Abstract/Notes: Fostering creative minds has always been a premise to ensure adaptation to new challenges of human civilization. While some alternative educational settings (i.e., Montessori) were shown to nurture creative skills, it is unknown how they impact underlying brain mechanisms across the school years. This study assessed creative thinking and resting-state functional connectivity via fMRI in 75 children (4–18 y.o.) enrolled either in Montessori or traditional schools. We found that pedagogy significantly influenced creative performance and underlying brain networks. Replicating past work, Montessori-schooled children showed higher scores on creative thinking tests. Using static functional connectivity analysis, we found that Montessori-schooled children showed decreased within-network functional connectivity of the salience network. Moreover, using dynamic functional connectivity, we found that traditionally-schooled children spent more time in a brain state characterized by high intra-default mode network connectivity. These findings suggest that pedagogy may influence brain networks relevant to creative thinking—particularly the default and salience networks. Further research is needed, like a longitudinal study, to verify these results given the implications for educational practitioners. Research Highlights Most executive jobs are prospected to be obsolete within several decades, so creative skills are seen as essential for the near future. School experience has been shown to play a role in creativity development, however, the underlying brain mechanisms remained under-investigated yet. Seventy-five 4–18 years-old children, from Montessori or traditional schools, performed a creativity task at the behavioral level, and a 6-min resting-state MR scan. We uniquely report preliminary evidence for the impact of pedagogy on functional brain networks.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1111/desc.13389

ISSN: 1467-7687

Abstract/Notes: Bu araştırmada, Montessori eğitimi ile MEB OÖEP uygulanan okul öncesi öğrencilerin yaratıcı düşünme becerilerini incelemek amacıyla hazırlanmıştır. Çalışmada, nicel araştırma yöntemlerinden olan betimsel ve ilişkisel tarama desenleri kullanılmıştır. Bu araştırmanın çalışma grubunu 2020-2021 eğitim-öğretim yılı güz döneminde İzmir ilinde Montessori eğitimini uyguladığını duyuran herhangi bir anaokulu ile Muş ilinde MEB OÖEP'yi uyguladığını duyuran herhangi bir özel okulun anasınıfında eğitim gören toplam 40 öğrenci oluşmaktadır. Araştırmanın çalışma grubu oluşturulurken yaş değişkeni göz önünde bulundurulmuş ve gruplar eşitlenmiştir. Araştırma verileri, Aslan (1999) tarafından Türkçeye uyarlanan "Torrance Yaratıcı Düşünce Testi" ve araştırmacı tarafından geliştirilen "Kişisel Bilgi Formu" kullanılarak elde edilmiştir. Araştırmada elde edilen verilerin analizinde; Mann Witney U Testi ve Sperman Sıra Farkları Korelasyon Analizi uygulanmıştır. Montessori eğitimi uygulanan öğrencilerin TYDT toplam yaratıcılık puanları MEB OÖEP uygulanan öğrencilerin TYDT toplam yaratıcılık puanlarından anlamlı düzeyde yüksektir. Montessori eğitimi ile MEB OÖEP uygulanan okul öncesi öğrencilerinin toplam yaratıcılık puanları arasında önemli ölçüde ilişki vardır. Montessori eğitimi uygulanan öğrencilerin yaratıcı düşünme becerilerinden akıcılık, orijinallik, başlıkların soyutluğu ve zenginleştirme alt becerileri toplam yaratıcılık puanları, MEB OÖEP uygulanan öğrencilerin akıcılık, orijinallik, başlıkların soyutluğu ve zenginleştirme alt becerileri toplam yaratcılık puanlarından anlamlı düzeyde yüksektir. Erken kapamaya direnç alt becerilerinde ise her iki eğitimi de olan öğrencilerin bulguları benzer çıkmıştır. Elde edilen sonuçlar doğrultusunda ulaşılan genel sonuç, Montessori eğitimi'nin okul öncesi öğrencilerinin yaratıcı düşünme becerilerine olumlu yönde katkı sağladığı ve MEB Okul Öncesi Eğitim Programına göre akıcılık, orijinallik, başlıkların soyutluğu ve zenginleştirme becerilerine göre daha etkili olduğudur. / In this study, it was prepared to examine the creative thinking skills of preschool students who were applied Montessori education and MEB OÖEP. Descriptive and relational scanning patterns, which are among the quantitative research methods, were used in the study. The study group of this study consists of a total of 40 students studying in the kindergarten of any kindergarten in the province of İzmir that announced that they have implemented Montessori education in the fall semester of the 2020-2021 academic year and any private school in the province of Muş that announced that they have implemented the MEB OÖEP. While creating the study group of the research, the age variable was taken into consideration and the groups were equalized. The research data were obtained using the "Torrance Creative Thinking Test" adapted into Turkish by Aslan (1999) and the "Personal Information Form" developed by the researcher. In the analysis of the data obtained in the research; Mann Witney U Test and Sperman Rank Difference Correlation Analysis were applied. The total creativity scores of the students who are applied Montessori education are significantly higher than the TTCT total creativity scores of the students who are applied to MEB OÖEP. There is a significant relationship between the Montessori education and the total creativity scores of pre-school students who are applied MEB OÖEP. Fluency, originality, abstractness of the titles and enrichment sub-skills among the creative thinking skills of the students who were applied Montessori education, the total creativity scores, the fluency, originality, the abstraction of the titles and the enrichment sub-skills of the students who were applied MEB OÖEP were significantly higher than the total creativity scores. In the sub-skills of resistance to early closure, the findings of the students with both education were similar. The general conclusion reached in line with the results obtained is that Montessori education contributes positively to the creative thinking skills of preschool students and is more effective than the fluency, originality, abstractness of the titles and enrichment skills compared to the Ministry of National Education Preschool Education Program.

Language: Turkish

Published: Samsun, Turkey, 2021

Abstract/Notes: This paper argues that the "kindergarten approach to learning" -- characterized by a spiraling cycle of Imagine, Create, Play, Share, Reflect, and back to Imagine -- is ideally suited to the needs of the 21st century, helping learners develop the creative-thinking skills that are critical to success and satisfaction in today's society. The paper discusses strategies for designing new technologies that encourage and support kindergarten-style learning, building on the success of traditional kindergarten materials and activities, but extending to learners of all ages, helping them continue to develop as creative thinkers.

Language: English

Published: New York: Association of Computer Machinery (ACM), 2007

Pages: 1–6

DOI: 10.1145/1254960.1254961

ISBN: 978-1-59593-712-4

Abstract/Notes: Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Montessori education on the creative thinking of working children in Tehran. Method: This research is in the category of quasi-experimental intervention researches, pre-test, post-test with control group. The statistical population of this research was made up of working children in one of the charity centers supporting children in the 12th district of Tehran in 1402. The statistical sample includes 40 working children who were selected based on the available random method from the statistical population and were divided into 2 experimental and control groups of 20 people. The data collection tool in this research was Torrance Visual Creativity Test Form "B" and the Montessori educational program was used to teach children. In order to analyze the data, the covariance analysis method was used. Findings: The findings showed that Montessori education had an effect on the scales of fluidity (p≤0.01), flexibility (p≤0.01) and expansion (p≤0.01), but the effectiveness of the intervention was not observed. In order to analyze the data, the covariance analysis method was used. Conclusion: In order to increase the creativity of working children in Tehran, instead of using lecture methods and theoretical discussions, they should rely more on working with necessary and sufficient tools, facilities and equipment and provide the necessary opportunities for children to use them. / هدف: هدف این پژوهش بررسی تأثیر آموزش به روش مونته‌سوری بر تفکر خلاق کودکان کار شهر تهران بود. روش کار: این پژوهش در طبقه پژوهش‌های مداخله‌ای شبه‌آزمایشی و از نوع پیش آزمون، پس آزمون با گروه کنترل قرار دارد. جامعه آماری این پژوهش را کودکان کار در یکی از مراکز نیکوکاری حامی کودکان در منطقه 12 شهر تهران در سال 1402 تشکیل دادند. نمونه آماری شامل 40 کودک کار است که بر اساس روش تصادفی در دسترس از جامعه آماری انتخاب شده و به 2 گروه آزمایش و کنترل 20 نفری تقسیم شدند. ابزار گردآوری داده‌ها در این پژوهش آزمون سنجش خلاقیت تورنس تصویری فرم"ب" بود و جهت آموزش کودکان از برنامه آموزشی مونته سوری استفاده شده است. به منظور تجزیه و تحلیل داده‌ها از روش تحلیل کوواریانس استفاده شد. نتایج: یافته‌ها نشان داد آموزش به روش مونته‌سوری بر مقیاس‌های سیالی (p≤0/01)، انعطاف‌پذیری (p≤0/01) و بسط (p≤0/01) تأثیر داشته اما بر مولفه ابتکار اثربخشی مداخله مشاهده نشد. به منظور تجزیه و تحلیل داده‌ها از روش تحلیل کوواریانس استفاده شد. نتیجه ­گیری: جهت افزایش خلاقیت کودکان کار شهر تهران به جای به کارگیری روش‌های سخنرانی و بحث‌های نظری، بیشتر متکی بر کارکردن با ابزارها، امکانات و وسایل لازم و کافی شوند و نیز فرصت‌های لازم را برای استفاده از آن‌ها را برای کودکان فراهم نمایند.

Language: Persian

DOI: 10.22034/esbam.2023.401731.1025

ISSN: 2980-891X

Language: English

ISSN: 0889-5643

Language: English

ISSN: 0010-700X

Abstract/Notes: Maria Montessori famously designed her own materials to support children’s development. Thus far, the literature which focuses on Montessori Sensorial education - and on creativity, problem solving and creative problem solving - has not investigated connections between these matters. This study investigated the effect of using the Montessori Method on children’s skills, especially in creative problem solving. This research examines the integration of Montessori materials into a social context to develop children’s creative problem solving, and analyses these data using the Creative Problem Solving (CPS) framework [Isaksen et al., 2000] and Rogoff’s model [1990] of social interaction. The study provides a new way of using the CPS framework, for data analysis, rather than as a way of training an individual or a group in solving problems creatively. The methodology combines a quasi-experimental design with a sample of qualitative cases. The research was conducted in one pre-school in Saudi Arabia, in the city of Riyadh, and involved twenty-four five-year-old children (12 boys, 12 girls) and four teachers. Six matched pairs of children were observed using Montessori sensorial materials (MSM) for one academic year. All the children were assessed on their problem solving capacities, in order to compare their development, using the British Ability Scale-II. The results from the quantitative analysis reveal significant differences between the experimental and control groups in their capacity to solve problems, using a pre-post-test of the four subscales of the BAS II. The qualitative analysis shows social interaction assists children in the “understanding of the challenge” component of the creative problem solving process while individual differences were identified in relation to the three creative skills. The results revealed the children’s different ways of framing and solving their own problems creatively through exploring different positions of the materials and applying them in creative solutions. The research also found that children’s own individual experiences with, and interests in, the material affected their creative problem solving.

Language: English

Published: Southampton, England, 2011