Distance Teacher Education
Five Snapshots
The Center for Guided Montessori Studies Enrolls 10 in ‘Soft Launch’ of Primary Training
The Center for Guided Montessori Studies (CGMS) began its first online preschool teacher education program for 10 students on March 3.
The course is one element of an initiative of the International Montessori Council (IMC) that, according to its chairman Tim Seldin, could dramatically expand the number of Montessori teacher education centers in the United States.
CGMS and IMC are separate organizations, although Seldin and most other principals of the private CGMS serve on the board of the nonprofit IMC. IMC will accredit the CGMS course.
Seldin said this first CGMS cohort is a bit of a “soft launch,” with students helping to refine the course. At least two more cohorts, one with a residency component, one without, will begin this summer.
A full IMC certification would require a residency, but an associate certificate could be earned entirely thorough work done online and near home.
Meanwhile, he is seeking to build a network of new teacher education centers that would be members of the IMC. IMC has also begin planning for a program to credential Montessori teacher educators.
In an interview he said he had no intention of trying to woo teacher education centers from other organizations, but was looking at creating teacher education centers at private schools.
“We are looking at centers in 10 states,” he said “IMC centers—new centers—in schools that have asked for assistance in developing IMC teacher education programs.”
It is also likely he will recruit existing distance learning programs to become members of IMC.
Seldin downplays competition with existing distance learning course. “I don’t see us as competing. It’s good for people to have choices. It’s not our idea to say that our training is better. They are different. There is more collaboration than competition. We are already trading stuff back and forth.”
He said he hopes to have material ready within a year to begin a 6-12 elementary training program. “We will not offer a 6-9 course,” he said. “Our model is 6-12 only. And not ‘middle school.’ Our model is ‘secondary.’ “ Seldin said his CGMS model could also be used as part of on-site teacher preparation programs, such as those sometimes offered for public school districts.
He added he expects a commitment made by Gretchen Warner, executive director of the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education. Warner’s speech at a Fall conference co-hosted by IMC, assures the CGMS program would be looked on favorably for accreditation by MACTE.
IMC, Seldin said, has also established a committee to begin looking at the certification of teacher educators. That committee has not yet met.
“We really ought to have professional development and certification for teacher educators,” he said. “There is a growing consensus that this is a good idea. The question is ‘what will it look like?’”
INFO: http://guidedstudies.com.
Montessori Live Offers Elementary Training, Link to Argosy University Master’s
An online elementary Montessori teacher education program, relying heavily on streaming video of “best practices,” has opened in collaboration with a master’s degree program from Argosy University.
Montessori Live Distance Training Center has been developed and is headed by Kym Elder, a private and charter school operator in Florida.
Elder opened Island Montessori School in 2001. It now has campuses in Venice and Sarasota, FL, serving early childhood through middle school.
The teacher education course is inspired in part by the need for elementary teachers at her schools, and in part by her tireless drive to innovate. That drive has lead to a master’s degree in charter school administration and now a doctoral program in Internet technology and distance education at Nova University.
“We have been trying to find people who are not only certifiable in Florida, but also experienced and certified as Montessori elementary teachers. It is a real challenge. There are a lot of people who need training but they can’t leave their families for extended periods of time.”
Elder’s work evolved from videos produced with a “best-practices dissemination” grant from the state of Florida. The videos will be available as part of an online library—essentially video albums—accessible for a $30 monthly fee, and at no charge for Florida charter schools. Videos include teacher presentations and lectures.
The core of Montessori Live will be those online videos. According to the website, Montessori Live is “designed to become a collection of methodologies and best practice for Montessori professionals all over the known world.”
Elder estimated she has “at least 100, more like 150, videos ready to go and more in the works. We’re probably half way there.”
The elementary teacher training course will include reading, written assignments and discussion boards, Elder said. “Each course has an assigned instructor who leads the cohort through lessons. There will be same-time chats and asynchronous discussions.”
Montessori Live’s first elementary cohort began in January with another scheduled to begin in late March. In May the program is scheduled to begin a collaborative arrangement with Argosy University, leading to a master’s degree in Educational Leadership.
According to Ken Rometo, Argosy’s project director in Sarasota, plans are being developed to offer a full online master’s degree in Montessori Education, which could be ready within eight months, pending various approvals.
The elementary course will be a full two years, Elder said. “We want people working in the environment.” She said she hope to target an international audience.
Courses can be taken directly from Montessori Live. The Argosy link, earning 15 credits for the elementary training toward a 36-credit degree, is a more expensive option.
According to the Montessori Live website, a variety of other training—early childhood, middle school and parent education— are in the works and collaborations with the American Montessori Society and the International Montessori Council are under consideration.
INFO: www.montessorilive.net
USA Montessori Offering Diploma, New Courses
USA Montessori Offering Diploma, New CoursesLori Musa has expanded her USA Montessori site to offer a diploma to those who complete a set of online courses.
Musa, a trained 6-9 teacher, began offering an online peace education course in 2005. Her offerings now includes a second peace education course, two philosophy courses and a set of six to eight-week “Album Building” courses on Five Great Lessons/Cosmic Education/Peace, Math, Physical & Cultural Geography/Science Experiments, Botany/Zoology, History/Matter & Astronomy, Advanced Practical Life, Language Arts and Introduction to Health Sciences and Art & Music.
She describes the offering as “100% online/24-7 teacher training/continuing education for elementary” and reports “an international faculty that is driven by their passion for Montessori education and a desire to assist others.”
In a note on her site Musa-Ford distinguishes her diploma from others:
USA Montessori Diploma should not be confused with a Montessori Elementary Teaching Credential offered by AMS or AMI—These programs are very costly, require lengthy physical attendance in a classroom, and demand a one-year full-time student teacher practicum at an accredited Montessori school for elementary-age children. While a traditional program may be the most thorough way to acquire Montessori training, financial and geographical constraints preclude many aspiring educators from realizing their dream of teaching or homeschooling utilizing the Montessori educational model.
INFO: http://www.usamontessori.org
Mid-America Offering Online EI Grad Program
Omaha-based Mid-America Montessori Teacher Training is preparing to offer a totally online Elementary I Montessori teacher preparation course with graduate credit beginning this summer.
The American Montessori Society-affiliated center has applied to increase its online MACTE accreditation for the course.
The course includes 21 graduate credits towards a master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Nebraska-Kearney.
According to Mid-America director LaVonne Plambeck, the center was able to resolve differences with the University of Nebraska-Kearney that threatened the course a few months ago.
The program will begin this summer with courses in Philosophy/Child Development, History/Geography and Language/Grammar.
In the Fall term courses will be offered in Biology/Physical Science and Math/Geometry. Spring courses will be in Integrated Arts and a practicum.
Mid-America also offers traditional Infant-Toddler, Early Childhood, Elementary I and Elementary I-II courses on-campus in Omaha.
INFO: 402 393-1311
World Wide Montessori Online Enrolling 200
Karen Tyler reports serving more than 200 students in four online early childhood teacher preparation classes through World Wide Montessori Online.
According to the site, “World Wide Montessori Online course is for all the teachers/parents that are trying to implement the Montessori Method in their classrooms/home schools. My objective is to help provide a working knowledge for these wonderful people who find themselves in a situation where they can’t attend formal training at this time. By no means are my lessons to replace a credentialed Montessori Teacher Training School. However, upon finishing my 20 month course you will receive a Certificate of Completion.”
Tuition is $200 for 20 months (with a discount for advance payment). The site also includes a message board, materials, and offers monthly online mini-workshops on topics such as How to Present Montessori Materials, The Montessori Adult, Montessori Activities—Job, Work or Play? and Record-Keeping.
INFO: www.amontessorimarketplace.com
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