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

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

3. What Is Montessori? n 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 n 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) n The Materials –Mathematics –Language

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

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

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

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

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

11. Proposed Use of Information Appliances n 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 n Technology does not yet exist –Long battery life needed –Tiny (to fit into the beads) –Durable n 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