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In 2010 the Montessori Australia Foundation (MAF) established a Montessori Research Advisory Committee. This committee is working to establish a comprehensive research framework for Montessori in Australia and New Zealand. One of the first initiatives of the committee has been to initiate an inaugural Montessori Research Workshop. The workshop was open to all Montessori educators working with children from birth to eighteen years, as well as Montessori teacher trainers. It had two aims. The first aim of the workshop was to involve teachers in classroom-based research, sometimes called 'action research' or 'practitioner enquiry'. ... The second aim of the workshop was to introduce participants to academic pathways available to Montessori educators planning careers within the parameters of state-based teacher registration authorities, for example, the NSW Institute of Teachers, as well as for teachers who are interested in undertaking study for higher degrees beyond their initial teaching qualifications. ... This book summarises the principles of action research covered in the workshop. It also includes reports documenting five of the action research projects undertaken by participants in the workshop. These reports demonstrate the breadth of the potential Montessori classrooms offer teachers for pursuing both practitioner-based enquiry as well as research projects that can become the basis of study towards a higher degree. |
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