Abstract/Notes: Maria Montessori’s approach, based on observation of and experimentation with children’s learning processes, remains one of the longest-standing and widely embraced forms of alternative education. Contemporary neuroscience research increasingly validates Montessori’s principles, yet a robust bridge between these two fields remains elusive. Factors such as differing goals, terminology and the lack of a collaborative framework hinder their synergy. This literature review explores the intersection between neuroscience findings and Montessori’s educational philosophy, structured into five key areas. The Perspective first presents various neuroscience insights: an exploration of aspects related to learning, brain development and cognition. Second, a brief background on Maria Montessori’s contributions: a historical overview of Maria Montessori's life, work and educational methodology. Third is the identification of the areas where neuroscience and Montessori principles intersect, including the importance of movement, emotional development, social learning, the role of the prepared environment, the transition from concrete to abstract concepts, self-regulation, sensitive periods and memory. Finally, while acknowledging the challenges and limitations in researching Montessori education, this review emphasises the growing evidence that supports the alignment of Montessori principles with neuroscience findings. This underscores the enduring relevance of Montessori’s holistic education approach and highlights the potential benefits of a deeper collaboration between these fields, to enhance educational practices and promote comprehensive learning experiences for children. / L'approche éducative de Maria Montessori, fondée sur l'observation et l'expérimentation de l'enfant, reste l'une des formes d'éducation alternative les plus anciennes et les plus largement adoptées. La recherche contemporaine en neurosciences valide de plus en plus les principes de Montessori, mais établir un pont solide entre ces deux domaines reste difficile. Des facteurs tels que des objectifs différents, une terminologie différente et l'absence d'un cadre de collaboration entravent leur synergie. Cette revue de la littérature explore l'intersection entre les résultats des neurosciences et la philosophie éducative de Montessori, structurée en cinq domaines clés : Premièrement, la présentation de quelques idées neuroscientifiques : Une exploration de divers aspects neuroscientifiques liés à l'apprentissage, au développement du cerveau et à la cognition. Deuxièmement, un bref historique des contributions de Maria Montessori : un aperçu historique de la vie, de l'œuvre et de la méthodologie éducative de Maria Montessori. L'identification des domaines où les neurosciences et les principes Montessori se croisent est ensuite présentée, notamment l'importance du mouvement, le développement émotionnel, l'apprentissage social, le rôle de l'environnement préparé, la transition des concepts concrets aux concepts abstraits, l'autorégulation, les périodes sensibles et la mémoire. Tout en reconnaissant les défis et les limites de la recherche en éducation Montessori, cette revue met l'accent sur les preuves de plus en plus nombreuses de l'alignement des principes Montessori sur les résultats des neurosciences. Cela souligne la pertinence durable de l'approche éducative holistique de Montessori et met en lumière les avantages potentiels d'une collaboration plus approfondie entre ces domaines, dans le but d'améliorer les pratiques éducatives et de favoriser des expériences d'apprentissage complètes pour les enfants.

Language: English

DOI: 10.26034/cortica.2023.4218

ISSN: 2813-1940

Abstract/Notes: Le acquisizioni della ricerca psicopedagogica consentono oggi di cogliere con maggior consapevolezza gli aspetti di attualità dell'opera di Maria Montessori e di comprenderne gli elementi precursori rispetto ad istanze che soltanto in tempi successivi a quelli in cui la studiosa visse si sono affacciate nel dibattito pedagogico. Il volume analizza in questa chiave il modello educativo della pedagogista: ne individua i presupposti teorici e i principi metodologici, ne discute le scelte operative, gli obiettivi e le procedure didattiche, ne presenta gli sviluppi nei diversi gradi scolastici, analizza i processi che si svolgono all'interno dell'ambiente d'apprendimento, discute i dati delle ricerche. Il suo intento è offrire una visione complessiva e complessa di tale modello, scevra di semplificazioni riduttive, in grado di coglierne lo spessore dei riferimenti teorici e metodologici senza perdere di vista la visione culturale e scientifica all'interno della quale esso si colloca. [Today, the acquisitions of the psycho-pedagogical research allow us to understand, with greater awareness, Maria Montessori’s production topicality and features which are precursor elements of instances that only after her death became object of interest into the pedagogical debate. The present volume analyzes, in the above mentioned perspective, Montessori’s pedagogical model: it spreads a light on the theoretical assumptions, and the methodological principles developed by the pedagogist; furthermore, her operational choices, along with the goals she set, as well as the didactic procedures she developed are discussed, the processes that take place in the learning environment are analyzed, and the research results are discussed, as well. The goal of the present book is to propose a complex overview of Montessori’s educational model, without reductive simplifications, a perspective that offers the opportunity to better understand the depth of the theoretical and methodological references discussed, but not neglecting the cultural and scientific view in which this model is placed.]

Language: Italian

Published: Milano, Italy: Franco Angeli, 2007

ISBN: 978-88-464-9025-4 88-464-9025-8

Language: Dutch

Language: Finnish

Published: Helsinki, Finland: Helsingin yliopisto, 2002

Language: German

Published: Münster, Germany: Lit, 2017

ISBN: 978-3-643-12157-8 3-643-12157-1

Series: Impulse der Reformpädagogik , 20

Language: German

ISSN: 0948-5503

Language: Danish

ISSN: 0040-6775

Language: Italian

ISSN: 0031-3777

Abstract/Notes: Cette bibliographie sans prétendre être exhaustive montre la densité croissante des recherches historiques sur Maria Montessori réalisées en Italie ces vingt dernières années. Il existe parmi nos collègues transalpins un réseau de chercheurs en la matière où les pionniers : Clara Tornar, Giacomo Cives et Paola Trabalzini, entraînent à leur suite une pléiade de chercheurs comme Fulvio De Giorgi, Renato Foschi, Tiziana Pironi ou Erica Moretti. D’où la variété des travaux qui laissent de moins en moins de zones d’ombre dans l’œuvre de la pédagogue et dans son action. La formation de Maria Montessori imprégnée du positivisme scientifique ambiant, ses liens, parfois contradictoires, avec l’Église catholique, la théosophie et la maçonnerie, son engagement social aux côtés des féministes et des enfants des classes pauvres, ses rapports à la psychanalyse, ses relations ambigües avec le pouvoir y compris fasciste, etc. sont passés au peigne fin. Cependant, tout n’est pas encore exploré concernant Maria Montessori et, surtout, le mouvement qu’elle a fondé. Les enfants qui bénéficièrent de la pédagogie montessorienne et leur devenir scolaire restent sous-étudiés, ainsi que la place du montessorisme dans l’école publique, question sensible pour les Français. Mais le travail de nos collègues italiens a largement ouvert la voie... [This bibliography, without claiming to be exhaustive, shows the increasing density of historical research on Maria Montessori carried out in Italy over the past twenty years. Among our transalpine colleagues there is a network of researchers in the field where the pioneers: Clara Tornar, Giacomo Cives and Paola Trabalzini, lead a host of researchers like Fulvio De Giorgi, Renato Foschi, Tiziana Pironi or Erica Moretti. Hence the variety of work that leaves less and less gray areas in the work of the pedagogue and in his action. Maria Montessori's training, steeped in the prevailing scientific positivism, her links, sometimes contradictory, with the Catholic Church, theosophy and Masonry, her social commitment alongside feminists and children from the poor classes, her relationship to psychoanalysis, her ambiguous relations with power, including fascists, etc. have been combed through. However, not everything has yet been explored concerning Maria Montessori and, above all, the movement she founded. The children who benefited from Montessorian pedagogy and their future at school remain under-studied, as well as the place of Montessorism in public schools, a sensitive issue for the French. But the work of our Italian colleagues has largely paved the way...]

Language: French

DOI: 10.3917/etsoc.175.0201

ISSN: 0014-2204

Language: Italian

ISSN: 0031-3777