Student 4_Lou Chew Teng_SCPG2400069
Within the field of education, one size does not fit all. Every learning method and approach have different learning styles and equipment. Therefore to enhance children's comprehension, retention and engagement to the real world. Some educators promoted watching and listening, some prefers text material while some highlighted on hands-on activities.All teaching methods are aim to help children in different development milestone. Let's take a comparison of Inquiry-Based Learning and Montessori Approach.
Montessori Approach
Firstly, Montessori emphasized self-directed and motivation, active learning in structured surroundings, boosting single practical skills in one activity. Montesorri materials such as cylinder blocks, pink tower, and color tablets. These are actually designed to provide children to distinguish differences in color, shapes, size, texture and weight. Through repetition and practices on a same material, children may foster in problem solving and independent learning skill.
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| In Montessori classroom, children concentrate working on own materials. |
- Hands-On Learning : Children master skill through their own hands-on exploration and experiences.
- Progression Order : All materials are arranged neatly and are displayed from left to right in progression order, from easiest to hardest. This logical sequence provides children with a clear pathway when learning.
- One Skill at a Time : Only one skill or concept at one time which request children to deeply engage with the material as they intent to discover and practice.
- Auto-Instructional : Children can work by themself, to discover and improve mastery skill work repetition and practice independently.
- Control of Error : Children may realise their own mistakes and discover the solution through repetition and practice.
- Fine Motor Skills : This manipulative quality makes them highly beneficial at developing fine motor skills. It is important components of a balanced approach to early childhood education as they encourage independence, concentration, and prepare children for real life.
Montessori materials are more than just educational tools; children able to discover, imagine, and improve cognitive growth. Through hands-on exploration, children forge connections between abstract concepts and tangible experiences.
Inquiry-Based Learning
For Inquiry-based learning, it give children opportunity to engage by and explore topics on their own, creating their own learning process. Children have to take initiative and creativity to discover the answer and get the knowledge. Children may have spark curiosity and inspire their interest if various kind of material provided. They may able to examine, research and learn from real items. Through experiments and more observation, children can ask and discuss with teachers or peers. To explore without limitation and growth mindset naturally with guidance. Providing variety range of materials according to the activities planned by educator, for example :
- Science Experiments : science tools, clay, mirrors, natural objects
- Field trips : cardboard, magnifying glasses, outdoor utensil/tools
- Classroom debates and dialogues : books, videos, concept maps
- Projects : artifacts, photo, real item
- Group work : cardboard, coloring materials, jigsaw, craft material, jigsaw activity.
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| Equipments / Materials used for Inquiry-Based Learning |
Personal Reflection
When involving a learning process, children are more engaged and motivated when they are interested. Especially children show more self-driven initiative if they have chances to explore by themself, by hand-on learning. Various materials and equipments can raise children's natural curiosity and allow them to find ways and improve problem solving skills. Practical action and experience is important to let children to think deeper, learn from their mistakes and communicate about the learning. One of the issue is inquiry-based learning required educators to spend more time and prepare material for better outcome. Educator have to be patience during waiting children exploring and experimenting these tools. Compare with Montesorri Approach, their materials are fixed in progress order and in sequence. Steps for children to approach must be in order and development will improve under planning scale. In the other hand, Inquiry-Based Learning giving children's unlimited exploration, not only in material also giving them an open-minded thinking. Children having opportunity to go further than expected or planned.
Seneca Academy. (2024, May 21). IB vs Montessori: Seneca Academy’s IB Primary Years Program - Seneca Academy. https://www.senecaacademy.org/infographic-ib-primary-years-program-vs-montessori/
