Joyous Montessori Discusses New Trends In Education
The way education is delivered continues to evolve, driven largely by needs of students and new technology. However, Joyous Montessori in Texas points out that some of the newer trends in learning — such as following a more hands-on approach — are similar to the Montessori approach that has been adhered to for almost a century.
Here are some of the newest trends and directions in education that are changing the role of teachers and students, according to the Montessori school.
Maker Learning
This approach to learning is not a new concept, but is gaining more traction in recent years. It is a relatively straightforward model — instead of learning primarily from a book, students instead learn practical skills by fixing or creating something, while improving their confidence through experimentation.
This approach fosters ownership of the classroom environment, while also encouraging collaboration and creativity, notes Joyous Montessori. Similarly, the classroom design in Montessori schools allows students the opportunity to explore and build essential skills through touch and interaction, it adds.
The Flipped Classroom
In the past (and present), most students expect to walk into a classroom and receive theory instruction often in the form of a lecture from a teacher. However, with a flipped classroom model, course materials are often delivered ahead of time to the students and they use class time instead to collaborate and apply their knowledge, explains Joyous Montessori.
It is the opposite of gaining knowledge and then applying it to homework. Instead, students spend more time working through problems and concepts in the classroom environment, with the teacher acting more as a facilitator than strictly an orator.
This is somewhat mirrored by Montessori learning, which allows students to learn at their own pace and develop new skills through classroom design, the school explains.
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
This emerging trend in education focuses more on developing self-awareness and relating to others, which has been shown to boost academic achievement and improve behavior when mixed with a traditional learning curriculum. Although standard learning is still important, employers are now looking for people that also have a level of social and emotional intelligence as well.
The outcomes of SEL learning are greater emotional intelligence, more responsible decision-making, and improved mental health in students, notes Joyous Montessori. It also helps students cope with trauma and difficult situations by leaving the door open to discussion, it adds. The goal of this type of learning is not to influence what students should think, but rather allowing them to be more expressive and engaged in their communities — and more and more schools across the U.S. are adopting the SEL model.
At the same time, some countries such as Denmark have turned to an empathy-learning approach as part of the curriculum that not only has been attributed to greater overall happiness, but also fosters a reduction in behaviors such as bullying.
The Future Of Education
Joyous Montessori is keeping an eye on other trends that will shape education into the future, such as more flexibility about how material is delivered to each student. This will ultimately lead to a more personalized learning experience across the board, notes the school.
