Learning+Model+Comparative+Article

Cognitive Apprenticeship vs. Maria Montessori

__Cognitive Apprenticeship __  The Cognitive Apprenticeship Model calls for students to learn complex tasks through a process of being lead through the steps of carrying out the task. This method has five steps: modeling, coaching, articulation, reflection, and exploration. The teacher first models the task so that students may observe how the task is performed. During this step, the expert will also externalize the thinking that is occurring during the task so the students can also observe the cognitive process behind the task as well. Next, the expert will observe students while they carry out the task themselves, and coach them by offering suggestions, feedback, or correcting them. Next, students will articulate their thinking process, knowledge, or reasoning. Then students will reflect on their own method of problem solving by comparing it with classmates', or the teacher's. The last step involves exploration. In this step, students are let loose to create their own problem solving strategies, an ask their own questions. This last

__Maria Montessori __  The Montessori method to education is another student-centered approach. In the Montessori method, students learn through interacting with a prepared environment in which they select activities to engage in. The Montessori approach breaks students into four different "planes" of development dependent on the student's age: birth to age six, ages six to twelve, ages twelve to eighteen, and ages eighteen to twenty-four. Maria had specific educational practices for the different planes, though primarily only for the first two planes. Though the skills and lessons are different for the first and second planes, the main practices are the same. Classrooms are multi-aged; set up so students work in clusters or small groups; and lessons may be demonstrated whole group, but the choice of which lesson, or activity a student engages in is up to them. The student is not doing whatever they want, but selecting from a number of activities prepared by the teacher.

__Comparison __  Both of these methods of teaching are incredibly student-centered. The emphasis for both is that students are engaging in tasks personally. They are also alike in that the main role for the teacher is to set the stage for the students, and then observe and assist. The main difference between the two is the choice of the activity. In Cognitive Apprenticeship, a complex skill is being modeled by an expert, and students set off to learn this task. In Montessori, teachers may demonstrate a number of tasks, but the students choose which activity to engage in. Cognitive Apprenticeship seems to be a much easier method to implement initially because their isn't as large of a need for set up, planning, or aides.