Work Models

  1. Flow Model
  2. Sequence Model
  3. Artifact Model
  4. Cultural Model
  5. Physical Model
  6. Metaphors

Research

  1. Design Problem
  2. Literature Review
  3. Work Models
  4. Design Patterns
  5. Design Experiments
  6. Lesson Ideas
  7. Montessori Computes
  8. Thinking About Circles

Related Links

Patterns and Design

Montessori

Computer as Place

In addition to being an instrument for performing various kinds of work, a computer is place for storing documents and launching applications.

Computer as classroom

Computers can be viewed as classroom environments.  The Montessori teacher takes great care to prepare the classroom environment.  A disorganized environment can frustrate or overwhelm the child by making it difficult to find or select material, or may contribute to habits of carelessness.  For the same reasons, careful attention must be paid to preparation of the computer environment.

Operating system "front ends" such as the Panels mode of Multiple Users on the Macintosh can be used to restrict and organize access to applications.  Documents created by students should be easy to move between machines.  This can be handled through the use of floppies or through networking software like Macintosh Manager.

Computer as library

Older children in a Montessori classroom are expected to do research (Polk, 1996).  Older children at schools I surveyed (Leone, 1997) used encyclopedias on CD and did searches on the Internet with web browsers as part of their research.  There was concern among some teachers I talked to that children develop their library skills along with the ability to access resources on the computer.  There was concern about making Internet Explorer a research tool at too early an age because younger children have more trouble distinguishing accurate information from inaccurate information presented on the web.