Abstract/Notes: Teachers and directors of early childhood education and care (ECEC) centres in Quebec have to conform to provincial guidelines when implementing their educational programme. Those in centres that identify as Montessori are simultaneously faced with the sometimes-conflicting directives of the Montessori method and Ministry guidelines. This dissertation responds to the dilemma of facing such a dual frame of reference. I report the results of an investigation which explores the beliefs and reflections on the experiences of teachers and directors in four ECEC centres that identify as Montessori in the province of Quebec. Based on a review of the literature, I designed a mixed method project with two related studies. Study 1 was a questionnaire targeted towards Ministry-recognized centres in the province of Quebec that identify as Montessori. Results from this initial study helped to paint the current landscape with data collected from 25 Montessori-inspired centres in the province, and also provided a source for recruitment of potential participants for Study 2. The second study was a deeper investigation, which used a qualitative design to explore the beliefs of teachers and directors from four individual centres that identified as Montessori. The study explored teacher and director beliefs about their implementation of the Montessori method and of Quebec’s educational programme. This was pursued through the use of questionnaires, interviews, and document reviews that provided rich descriptions of the phenomenon under study. Thematic analysis of the data led to five core themes, which emerged inductively from facing the dual frame of reference, namely: each child is unique, pedagogical approaches promoting children’s learning and development, teacher’s role in promoting children’s learning and development, parent’s role in promoting children’s learning and development, and challenges faced in promoting children’s potential. However, besides the noted similarities in beliefs, variations and contradictions also appeared. The results indicate that distinctions in beliefs - both among participants and within centres - emerged particularly around the notions of free play, pretense, creativity, and parental involvement. On this basis, further research is recommended to explore the effects of such suggested inconsistencies in Montessori programme implementation on both practical and scholarly platforms.

Language: English

Published: Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 2022

Abstract/Notes: Prior to this qualitative descriptive study, it was not known how Montessori teachers of adolescents describe using technology and its influence on thematic learning and student citizenship in the United States. The Montessori adolescent learning theory does not address technology use, but educational technology is now ubiquitous. Using interviews, a focus group, a questionnaire, and classroom artifacts, the researcher thematically analyzed data from 11 participants and found ten themes (Theme number in parenthesis) which indicated Montessori teachers use technology with their adolescent students to inspire citizenship by using technology (1) to teach life lessons, (2) in their microeconomy program, and (3) in service learning; in thematic learning (4) with individual students, (5) with groups of students, and (6) to support the teaching of non-technology lessons; yet (7) teachers struggle to balance technology use and the Montessori emphasis on work of the hand, especially given the lack of guidance from AMI and AMS on how to incorporate technology into the adolescent environment. Teachers rely upon their (8) cultivated relationships with students and the strong Montessori adolescent community to mitigate the dangers of communicating online and by being aware of student mental health. This research found (9) the Covid pandemic response meant cancellations, changes, and modifications to traditional activities. This research found (10) technology can be used in the Montessori adolescent environment to foster interested, engaged students working creatively to produce outstanding work that leads to a sense of valorization for the student.

Language: English

Published: Phoenix, Arizona, 2021

Abstract/Notes: Often considered dumping grounds for those who cannot function in mainstream schools, alternative education providers are seen as outliers in the provision of schooling. With schools as relatively stable workplaces, alternative education provision makes for a rich laboratory to further our understanding of the causal impact of schooling on a range of outcomes. They are naturally occurring experiments in schooling through interventions in instruction, curriculum and student cohort. Montessori school-based education in Australia is one such case. Experiencing a 31% growth in enrolments since 2009, they offer useful insights for different measures of education. A pre-requisite to such insights is a situational analysis of current provision. Drawing on an interview-based study with 20 Montessori school leaders, this investigation identified three problems and possibilities for schools working on the margins: i) clarity about what is their distinctive form of education; ii) building the collective; and iii) evidencing quality of provision.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1080/0305764X.2023.2189228

ISSN: 0305-764X

Abstract/Notes: Artykuł stanowi sprawozdanie z badania jakościowo – biograficznego zrealizowanego wśród dwóch grup uczestników biorących udział w kursach Montessori. Podstawowym celem badania była analiza znaczeń nadawanych zmianie. Pytanie badawcze sformułowano następująco: Jak uczestnicy kursu Montessori (6-12) tematyzują swój proces transformacji? Artykuł podejmuje kwestię zmiany edukacyjnej w kontekście wiedzy milczącej oraz teorii osobistych a następnie opisuje procedurę gromadzenia i analizy danych z dwudziestu pięciu pogłębionych, jakościowych wywiadów indywidualnych, które następnie poddano analizie zgodnie z opisanymi przez Kvale siedmioma krokami. W rezultacie analiz udało się zidentyfikować i opisać dwie główne kategorie: radykalną transformację oraz korektę biograficzną. W końcowej części artykułu autor, w kontekście zebranego materiału zwraca uwagę na ograniczone możliwości narzucania zmiany w edukacji i – podążając za głosami uczestników badania rekomenduje pożądane warunki do zaistnienia potencjalnych zmian: tworzenie nauczycielom warunków wolności do podejmowania decyzji i tworzenia autorskich rozwiązań dydaktycznych, demokratyzacja sfery związanej z edukacją oraz wspieranie poczucia godności wśród nauczycieli.

Language: Polish

DOI: 10.35765/eetp.2023.1868.05

ISSN: 2353-7787

Abstract/Notes: The academic paper studies the foreign practices and domestic experience of their implementation in the process of innovation of preschool education as one of the important structural elements in the system of preschool educational institutions of Ukraine. It has been established that ensuring the proper functioning of the field of preschool education is considered as one of the priority state objectives, as an important structural element of providing quality educational services. The statements of scientists concerning the components of the quality of preschool education have been analysed. The management of the quality of preschool education on the basis of national standards and regulatory support has been investigated. The Concept of education development for the period 2015-2025 and the State standard of preschool education have been analysed. It has been established that modern pedagogy reconsiders the issues of upbringing, education and development of personality from the standpoint of analysis of the new socialcultural situation, modern requirements for the personality formation and taking into account the integration of world and domestic science. It has been determined that the main foreign practice in the process of innovation of preschool education is the Montessori Method. It has been revealed that the main principles of the pedagogical process according to Montessori methodology are as follows: availability of a special set of didactic material, availability of rules in Montessori environment, special training of the teacher, freedom of choice, error control, children - active participants in the learning process, maximum independence, and lack of grades and lack of competitive motive. It has been found that more than 20,000 schools around the world are currently using the Montessori methodology for children from birth to 18 years old. It has been investigated that the following methods are used in foreign practice of innovation of preschool education, namely: video modelling technique, direct instruction technique, visual cues technique, technique with symbolic games, feedback training technique, random learning technique, model of so-called peer learning, model of psychological and pedagogical support and language training.

Language: English

DOI: 10.52058/2786-4952-2021-5(5)-36-47

ISSN: 2786-4952

Abstract/Notes: This mixed-method exploratory case study investigates the research question: To what extent do pre-K through eighth-grade public Montessori school teachers perceive that their professional knowledge and abilities, experiences, and resources impact their capacity to integrate arts into their general classroom curriculum? Public Montessori teachers from five public-choice Montessori schools in a school district of the suburban and urban areas of southeastern South Carolina were invited to participate. The teachers in these public Montessori schools have varied levels of education and professional development experience with the arts in education. Some participants were general education teachers prior to becoming Montessori teachers due to the transition of traditional program elementary schools to Montessori schools. Survey questions addressed themes and subthemes related to integrating the arts with core curriculum subjects including math, history, science, English language arts, and social justice and humanities. The subthemes were also designed to delineate perceptions of experience or knowledge with visual arts, music, dance, poetry, drama, and theater. Data were gathered from the participant responses and a district program description, including professional development offerings. To analyze the data, the research question themes were coded by the field annotations: abilities, knowledge, resources, benefits, and barriers. The coding involved identifying patterns and similarities in the teachers’ responses of their perceptions related to arts integration in their Montessori classrooms. The overall results indicated the teacher participants believe that students who exhibit excess energy would benefit from an increase in movement, collaboration, and music, as well as a significant increase in exposure to the arts. Largely, the teachers indicated feeling uncertain about integrating the arts into their Montessori classrooms due to barriers such as lack of resources, time, and professional development experience. Therefore, it is recommended that educational leaders create professional development opportunities through collaboration with the arts team at each school, the community arts professionals, and the district administration.

Language: English

Published: Biddeford, Maine, 2021

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how Montessori middle school educators described the use of project-based and student-centered learning to teach social development to their adolescent female students in the southeast region of the United States. The theoretical framework providing a lens for this examination of project-based and student-centered learning and how teachers described how such learning exercised on their students’ social development was Vygotsky’s social learning and development theory. Two research questions were posed for this study. RQ1 asked: How do Montessori middle school educators describe the use of project-based learning to teach social development to their adolescent female students? RQ2 asked: How do Montessori middle school educators describe the use of student-centered learning to teach social development to their adolescent female students? The sample (N = 30) completed 30 questionnaires, 10 individual semi-structured interviews via Zoom, and a 3-member focus group via Zoom. The sampling strategy was purposeful sampling. All participants originated from the southeast region of the United States and represented one school. An open-ended questionnaire, semi-structured interviews, and a focus group were the sources of data. Thematic analysis with an inductive coding approach was performed to identify, analyze, and report patterns emerging from the data. Four key themes emerged: (a) promoting the construction of knowledge; (b) student voice and choice; (c) student ownership and agency; (d) construction of learning. The results highlighted the important role that Montessori middle school educators play when teaching adolescents girls.

Language: English

Published: Phoenix, Arizona, 2021

Abstract/Notes: Masalah dalam Penelitian ini Adakah pengaruh penggunaan media sandpaper letters terhadap pengenalan huruf pada anak kelompok B di PAUD Jaya Henida Palembang?. Penelitian ini bertujuan Untuk mengetahui pengaruh penggunaan media sandpaper letters terhadap pengenalan huruf anak kelompok B di PAUD Jaya Henida Palembang. Metode penelitian yang digunakan pada penelitian ini adalah pendekatan deskriptif kualitatif. Teknik pengumpulan data dalam penelitian ini adalah dokumentasi. Berdasarkan penelitian yang telah dilakukan di PAUD Jaya Henida Palembang, maka dapat ditarik beberapa kesimpulan sebagai berikut : 1) Kemampuan keaksaraan anak PAUD pada umumnya telah mencapai perkembangan normal dalam tahap kemunculan literasi, meliputi kemampuan dengar – bicara dan baca – tulis; 2) Kendala dan kebutuhan guru dalam pengembangan keaksaraan, diantaranya kurangnya peralatan dan materi, buku sumber, sarana dan fasilitas yang memadai; 3) Desain pengembangan keaksaraan di fokuskan pada kegiatan menstimulus kemunculan kemampuan dengar – bicara baca – tulis sesuai dengan tahap perkembangan anak PAUD; 4) Cara mengembangkan alat peraga sandpaper letter berbasis metode Montessori yaittu sebagai berikut : pertama, alat peraga menarik. Kedua, alat peraga memiliki gradasi. Ketiga, alat peraga digunakan untuk dapat melatih anak belajar secara mandiri. Keempat, alat peraga digunakan untuk mengetahui kesalahan yang terjadi dengan adanya alat peraga.

Language: Indonesian

DOI: 10.56799/jim.v2i4.1301

ISSN: 2810-0581

Abstract/Notes: This chapter will look at the purpose of education in the context of Indonesia’s past and present. I will draw on the philosophy of Ki Hajar Dewantara (1889–1959), who is regarded as the father of Indonesian education. In conceptualising education, he was influenced by his upbringing, local culture, and international influences from various educators and philosophers such as Rabindranath Tagore, Maria Montessori, and Friedrich Fröbel. This chapter is particularly timely because the Indonesian government has started to critically re-examine two of the educational concepts proposed by Dewantara, which are “pendidikan karakter” (character education) and “merdeka belajar” (independent learning). The chapter will start with a discussion on the purpose of education before introducing Dewantara and his background. I will then offer two comparisons; First, between Dewantara’s purpose of education and the aims of Dutch schools during the colonial period in Indonesia, highlighting the importance of imparting local wisdom and values in Dewantara’s school which were ignored by the colonial schools. Second, between Dewantara’s purpose of education and the current government’s policies. By doing so, I will highlight the different purposes articulated for education in various contexts, from the colonial era to present-day Indonesia. The conclusion of this chapter is that there have been profound changes to the very purpose of education in Indonesia. Nevertheless, Dewantara’s philosophy is still very much relevant today and thus, the Indonesian government should revisit its conceptualisation of the foundations of education. Dewantara’s thought is also likely to see increased interest in other countries due to a growing global demand for awareness of non-Western educational philosophies.

Language: English

Published: Singapore: Springer Nature, 2023

Edition: 1st ed.

ISBN: 978-981-9901-39-5

Language: English

Published: Chennai, India: Clever Fox Publishing, 2023