Technology and Montessori
Where do you stand on technology? Some moms are against all of it. Some are all for it. And some, like me, and somewhere in the middle. But it is something that I think all of us are forced to address in this high tech world we live in. How much is too much? How much is helpful? How do we incorporate it into our school rooms in a responsible way? These are the questions we face, and I doubt that there are any really clear answers. I have found us using more technology bits as time goes on here and I know that that is not going to go away. So what do we use and where do I draw the line? We don’t have ipads or smartphones, but we do have computers! So here is what we do:
1) Research: I use the internet to help the girls look up things that they want to know right now. It is often my first resource go to and the girls are now asking me to look certain things up as they have a question. However, it is not our only source for research. After find the initial information, if there are more questions or more interest, we will head to the library to learn more. I want to make sure that my kids know how to find information for anything that they want to know. In my opinion, education is nothing if you don’t know how to find the information for things you want to know. I think that this hybrid of research materials will help them learn this skill.
2) Inspiration: Sometimes you just need a good dose of inspiration! We have used pintrest for a long time and I know that the girls love to scroll through the pictures and they also love the projects and recipes we find there to do together. I use it to find all kinds of learning ideas for when I am in a rut and generally want something fun! 🙂 However, anther interesting use I have found is to inspire the girls to do new work! Today for example, I showed Pup some different extensions for the knobless cylinders and she was excited to try them! Hmmm….funny how showing her these things a few weeks ago didn’t interest her. but looking at pictures of them online made her get to work! Bunny has been know to try some different work after seeing someone else on a blog working on it! One of the great motivators in a Montessori classroom is peer work. Watching someone else do something always makes it more fun! Since we don’t have that, the next best thing is to use the extended classroom of the internet!
3) Communication: My girls don’t type their own emails yet or have a facebook account or anything like that, but we still manage to stay in touch with friends and family that we don’t see much. They scroll through facebook and see pictures of their cousins, hear about “bloggy” friend’s work, and share pictures with family of what they are doing! I want my girls to slowly realize that the internet is a means of communication, not just a place for entertainment!
4) Entertainment: Well everyone knows that the internet is entirely entertaining! 😉 There are games, movies, and places to shop! However, in all honestly I don’t let the girls play much on it. With the exception of a few apps on my sisters Ipad, the girls really don’t get much play time on electronics. But I am sure that as they get older it will become a part of our school routine. We do however watch a lot of TV, especially using Netflix. However, they have pretty strict set of shows that they are allowed to watch. They are not allowed to watch shows that I think are crappy tv. Why? Well…honestly when the girls watch those shows their attitudes start to change and they get snippy and mean. Seriously! So they watch mostly PBS shows and a few other things! But that is about it.
So those are the main ways we are using technology here in our school room. What about you? How do you utilize or not allow technology in your home? Do you have rules?
September 20, 2013 @ 6:13 pm
Ditto on almost everything you said…except we have an iPad. My daughter doesn’t have a Facebook acct. She uses word building apps on the iPad and also art apps. We also have Netflix on the iPad but the shows she is allowed to watch are not “bad TV”. For example, no nickelodeon shows and no Disney. We do watch a lot of Netflix but we don’t have cable. My daughter is not homeschooled…she goes t Montessori school full time. Some days she watches a lot of Netflix after school and some days none at all. But free browsing on Netflix is not allowed. All shows must be preapproved and Internet browsing is not allowed.
I have a ghost Facebook acct for logging onto spotify but I figured out how to set up my own account info for free…so I’m about to disable my Facebook. Not a huge fan of it. My husband will still have his Facebook account with all of his family and my family added as friends. I like to talk on the phone…not through FB.
Well, my “Internet time usage” is up. Thanks for the blog. It’s a good reminder to keep technology use in check. It can easily become a time waster.
September 21, 2013 @ 12:33 am
It sounds like you have the same plan we do! It is good to have technology, but it also a tricky thing to balance! Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!
September 21, 2013 @ 9:44 pm
Hi Steph!!… We have computers but not for the girls, They use iPads, and I LOVE IT…., not for the school time, they use iPad after school…, LOTS of educational games, lots of Montessori works are available for iPad, books, and cartoons on a safe you tube for kids. For me, ALL MY ALBUMS AND PRESENTATIONS ARE THERE, ON THE IPAD!!! LOVE IT!!, I always supervise iPads time for the girls!! Also, we watch tv!! Discovery Kids en español and PBS. I do have a facebook acc like an extension of the blog…, not too much fan of the social networks. I really like the time and the way we use technology. We also enjoy the simple things like go to the park, to the library, and of course for entertainment, the boad games night!!, pure family night!!!!
Hugs,
Karen
September 24, 2013 @ 1:40 am
Sounds a lot like us! Simple things are the best! I don’t have an Ipad, but I do have a tablet that hold all my albums! It is the simplest way to teach don’t you think? Hugs back to you!
September 27, 2013 @ 5:54 am
technology can really be helpful to children. but should also be moderated by the parents.:)
December 2, 2013 @ 8:32 pm
Dear Parents,
As a former Montessori Parent, Montessori teacher, and a technologist I agree with the moderation of technology. My own children where taught to use computers and tablets as a tool. And use the devices in moderation for entertainment.
Computers are devices that transfer, calculate, and retrieve information and data via binary machine code. We can use the devices solo or connect to the Internet.
When our children come of age to to drive we prepare them and teach them to drive and the rules of the roads. The same preparation should be used before your child uses a computers. Computer Technology is the development of coding on and off electircal signals logically to allow software to run on the mechanics inside. So we can connect to the world, pay our bills, read, and learn.
Montessori materials were development with physical materials that transfer information and concepts in a sequential repeating manner to help students to connect to ideas of math, language, history, and science.
Question? Can an app give a child the same logic and method of repeated sequences to deliver the same logic and concepts designed in the physical materials? Can Montessori apps help students who have difficulties manipulating physical materials and still receive the same information and concepts?
Your input is much appreciated as we start to research the subject. – MontessoriTech
December 3, 2013 @ 1:39 am
hmmmmmm…..a very interesting question. I am not sure about that. Anyone have any thoughts on that one?
December 12, 2013 @ 10:37 am
I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up!
I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back later.
Cheers