The second principle of Montessori learning looks pretty logical and straightforward to a layman, but which surprisingly is ignored by experts.
According to Montessori, learning happens only if the child has interest. In Montessori, therefore, care is taken to use 'sensitive period' to ensure interest. For instance, as child is interested in using and exploring 'senses' at the age of 3, 'sensorial lessons' are imparted at the age of 3. At a later age, child loses interest in sensorial lessons.
This method in Montessori is followed even to introduce cognitive subject like language. For instance, language is introduced to child through 'sensorial means'. For instance, words are introduced to a child phonetically ( which is natural to him) instead of introducing them through 'alphabets, as is done in traditional school. For instance, even before teaching alphabets, a child is taught simple phonetically 'right' words such as mat or rat.
This serves two purpose. Due to focus on 'sound' ( one of the sensorial means), child quickly takes interest in learning more words. No compulsion is needed. Extreme care is taken to ensure that a child is not blocked in this method of learning. For instance, when child pronounces cat as 'kat', a child is not corrected, because Kat is phonetically right. Secondly, this initial learning of words invokes child's interest to a sufficient level and automatically pulls him to know more about alphabets. Using this simple method of interest generation ( and subsequent resolution), the child n a Montessori understand figures of speech by the age of 5!!!
Contrast this with learning principles practiced in corporate world. An employee is 'instructed' to attend a training program or is 'pushed' to attend a training program to comply with norms. For instance, employees are instructed to attend a training program to ensure that a batch of 20 is completed, or are pushed to attend 'six sigma' training program because the company is keen on getting a certificate of Six sigma! In such a situation, the employee attends training programs for the sake of 'recording his attendance'. Millions are wasted in training.
If Montessori principles are applied smartly by companies, they will at least get adequate return from their huge investment. For instance, if trainings are done just at the sensitive period, it will ensure high interest and assimilation. For instance, employees need to learn the skills of 'Project management' when they are asked to lead a project. Or when employees are promoted from sales officer to Sales Manager, they would be far more interested in attending a training program on 'Managerial development'.
Companies can also 'seed' interest in employees smartly. For instance, companies can use 'individual level coaching' to suggest need of specific skill, say the skill of 'team alignment' , 'communication' or 'delegation'. Once an employee accepts the need of skill, he or she is more likely to assimilate learning from a relevant training program. Apart from coaching, companies have various other non-intrusive ways of 'seeding' and 'developing' interest. One of the way is use of intranet web.
According to Montessori, learning happens only if the child has interest. In Montessori, therefore, care is taken to use 'sensitive period' to ensure interest. For instance, as child is interested in using and exploring 'senses' at the age of 3, 'sensorial lessons' are imparted at the age of 3. At a later age, child loses interest in sensorial lessons.
This method in Montessori is followed even to introduce cognitive subject like language. For instance, language is introduced to child through 'sensorial means'. For instance, words are introduced to a child phonetically ( which is natural to him) instead of introducing them through 'alphabets, as is done in traditional school. For instance, even before teaching alphabets, a child is taught simple phonetically 'right' words such as mat or rat.
This serves two purpose. Due to focus on 'sound' ( one of the sensorial means), child quickly takes interest in learning more words. No compulsion is needed. Extreme care is taken to ensure that a child is not blocked in this method of learning. For instance, when child pronounces cat as 'kat', a child is not corrected, because Kat is phonetically right. Secondly, this initial learning of words invokes child's interest to a sufficient level and automatically pulls him to know more about alphabets. Using this simple method of interest generation ( and subsequent resolution), the child n a Montessori understand figures of speech by the age of 5!!!
Contrast this with learning principles practiced in corporate world. An employee is 'instructed' to attend a training program or is 'pushed' to attend a training program to comply with norms. For instance, employees are instructed to attend a training program to ensure that a batch of 20 is completed, or are pushed to attend 'six sigma' training program because the company is keen on getting a certificate of Six sigma! In such a situation, the employee attends training programs for the sake of 'recording his attendance'. Millions are wasted in training.
If Montessori principles are applied smartly by companies, they will at least get adequate return from their huge investment. For instance, if trainings are done just at the sensitive period, it will ensure high interest and assimilation. For instance, employees need to learn the skills of 'Project management' when they are asked to lead a project. Or when employees are promoted from sales officer to Sales Manager, they would be far more interested in attending a training program on 'Managerial development'.
Companies can also 'seed' interest in employees smartly. For instance, companies can use 'individual level coaching' to suggest need of specific skill, say the skill of 'team alignment' , 'communication' or 'delegation'. Once an employee accepts the need of skill, he or she is more likely to assimilate learning from a relevant training program. Apart from coaching, companies have various other non-intrusive ways of 'seeding' and 'developing' interest. One of the way is use of intranet web.
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