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Integration of Computers Into the Montessori Curriculum

Integration of Computers Into the Montessori Curriculum. Davina Armstrong CS294, Human Centered Computing Fall, 1999. Overview. What is Montessori? Current uses of computers in the Montessori environment Evaluation of current uses Proposed use of information appliances

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Integration of Computers Into the Montessori Curriculum

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  1. Integration of Computers Into the Montessori Curriculum Davina Armstrong CS294, Human Centered Computing Fall, 1999

  2. Overview • What is Montessori? • Current uses of computers in the Montessori environment • Evaluation of current uses • Proposed use of information appliances • Foreseeable obstacles

  3. What Is Montessori? • About Dr. Maria Montessori • Born in Italy in 1870 • First woman doctor in Italy in 1896 • Left medicine to teach in 1906 • Opened Casa dei Bambini - “Children’s House” • Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize in 1949, 1950, 1951 • Died in 1952 • The Montessori Method • Children teach themselves • Prepared environment • “Follow the child” • Developmental planes • Birth-6 years: sensorial exploration • 6-12 years: conceptual exploration • 12-18 years: humanistic exploration • 18-24 years: specialized exploration

  4. What Is Montessori? (Cont’d) • The Materials • Mathematics • Language

  5. Demo • Multiplication of multi-digit numbers with the checkerboard

  6. 4 4 2 2 7 4 3 6

  7. Current Uses of Computers • Practical Life • Drills, phonetics programs • Applications used in conjunction with the traditional Montessori Materials • Research • World Wide Web, newsgroups • CD-ROMs • Games • HyperStudio

  8. Current Uses of Computers (cont’d) • Word processing • Logo, MicroWorlds • Educational research • Software for preschool classrooms • Teaching Machines • Kid’s Space • Simulations of Montessori Materials • Drawing programs

  9. Evaluation of Current Uses • Good, in keeping with the Montessori Method • LOGO, MicroWorlds • Research - children ask and answer own questions • OK, good educational value, but not very “Montessori” • Some drills • Phonetics • HyperStudio • Word processing • Drawing programs

  10. Evaluation of Current Uses (cont’d) • Bad, no educational value, in fact detrimental • MathBlaster • The Art Of War • Games • Simulation of Montessori materials

  11. Proposed Use of Information Appliances • Montessori materials as information appliances • Retain the “look & feel” of the original Montessori materials, but have enhanced features by virtue of being computers • Battery-powered • Wireless communication • Possible enhancements • Feedback to child • Recording for teacher to evaluate

  12. Foreseeable Obstacles • Technology does not yet exist • Long battery life needed • Tiny (to fit into the beads) • Durable • Resistance from teachers • “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” - Montessori Method has been working well for decades • Fear of the children being “programmed” by the computers • Lack of comprehension regarding information appliances; can’t get away from the PC model

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