Making Learning Visible in the 21st Century; Examining of The Use of Digital Assessment Tools in Montessori Education

Abstract

This research aims to determine the experiences of Montessori educators, who apply the Montessori educational approach and use a digital assessment tool, towards the digital assessment tool they use and their views on these experiences. Within the scope of this purpose, the study was designed in phenomenological research, one of the qualitative research methods. Within the scope of this study, phenomenon was determined as the digital assessment tools used by Montessori educators in Montessori education settings. The study group consisted of 14 Montessori educators, 3 of whom were working in Barcelona and 11 from an official and private Montessori school in Istanbul. The data collection of the study consisted of personal information form and individual interviews conducted by the researcher with Montessori educators through online interview systems. When the data gathered as a result of these interviews were analyzed, it was seen that the digital assessment tools were considered as a phenomenon with different dimensions by the Montessori educators who participated in the research. These dimensions have been ease of use and necessity, parent, Montessori education. In addition, it was determined that Montessori educators explained for the tools they use, apart from the digital assessment tool. The non-digital assessment tools dimension was also examined in the study in order to reveal the educators' perceptions of the digital assessment tool holistically. As a result of the study, sixteen sub-themes related to four themes were formed. The findings were discussed within the framework of the studies in the field.