Montessori and Technology: From Prepared Environment to Cosmic Task
Join the Montessori Network of New Mexico for a thought-provoking Reading Roundtable featuring Patrick Frierson, author of the compelling article "Montessori, Technology, and the Purpose of Education" (Montessori Life, Winter 2024).
DATE: May 10th, 2024 9am-10:30am MT
VENUE: Virtual (Zoom)
In this roundtable, participants will explore how Montessori's philosophy positions technology as an integral part of humanity's cosmic task. Professor Frierson will demonstrate that Montessori was neither a naive technophile nor a resistant technophobe, but rather a visionary educator who recognized technological competence as essential to human development, particularly for young absorbent minds.
In an age of rapid digital transformation, how do Montessori educators stay true to the deeper purpose of education—nurturing human potential, wonder, and moral development—while navigating the ever-growing presence of technology in children's lives?
This live, virtual event invites Montessori educators, administrators, and thinkers across age levels to engage with the tensions and possibilities at the intersection of Montessori philosophy and 21st-century tools. Professor Frierson will open with reflections on his philosophy of technology in education, followed by guided small group discussions where attendees can engage with core questions:
How does Montessori education help us clarify the purpose of schooling in a technological world? What are the appropriate roles of technology in a Montessori environment?
How might we cultivate discernment, agency, and meaning in a digital age?
What experiments or approaches have you tried—or might consider—for teaching towards technology in your prepared environments?
Come prepared to listen, reflect, and participate in this timely conversation as we collectively consider how to remain anchored in Montessori values while preparing children for a world we are still learning to understand.
Meet Your Speaker
Patrick Frierson is the Pigott-Allen Professor of Ethics and Chair of the Philosophy Department at Whitman College, in Walla Walla, Washington, on territory ceded by the Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, Nez Perce, and Yakima nations in the Treaty of 1855. He teaches a wide range of courses ranging from philosophy of science and environmental ethics to philosophy of religion and theories of embodied cognition. Mostly, his students are all the fourth plane (17+), though he's done some volunteer teaching for younger kids. He regrets not having ever completed any Montessori training and not yet having taught in a Montessori classroom. He's doing his small part for the cause, though, trying to show philosophers and Montessorians alike that Montessori has a lot to contribute to contemporary philosophical debates on issues ranging from the nature of intellectual virtue to his topic for today--the philosophy of technology. He has written dozens of articles and several books, including three on Montessori: Intellectual Agency and Virtue Epistemology: A Montessori Perspective; The Moral Philosophy of Maria Montessori: Agency and Ethical Life; and--a book that's about to come out with Oxford University Press--Maria Montessori's Philosophy: Following the Child. He lives in Walla Walla with two of his three children, the oldest having fled his father's technophobia and dashed off to Georgia Tech to study computer science.
Why Choose MNNM?
At the Montessori Network of New Mexico, we’re committed to making professional development accessible, affordable, and relevant for educators like you. Our sliding fee scale ($5-$25) ensures everyone can participate, regardless of their budget.
Reserve Your Spot Today
Space is limited, so don’t wait! Join us on Saturday, March 8th, 2025, to connect and learn with Montessorians from around the world as we continue to strengthen skills.
Invest in your growth. Empower your teaching. Connect with your community.
Questions? Contact us at info@nmmontessori.org
Registration Fee (Sliding Scale): $5 - $25
We are offering a sliding scale fee to make this event accessible to all. Please pay what you are able to within the $5-$25 range.
Join the Montessori Network of New Mexico for a thought-provoking Reading Roundtable featuring Patrick Frierson, author of the compelling article "Montessori, Technology, and the Purpose of Education" (Montessori Life, Winter 2024).
DATE: May 10th, 2024 9am-10:30am MT
VENUE: Virtual (Zoom)
In this roundtable, participants will explore how Montessori's philosophy positions technology as an integral part of humanity's cosmic task. Professor Frierson will demonstrate that Montessori was neither a naive technophile nor a resistant technophobe, but rather a visionary educator who recognized technological competence as essential to human development, particularly for young absorbent minds.
In an age of rapid digital transformation, how do Montessori educators stay true to the deeper purpose of education—nurturing human potential, wonder, and moral development—while navigating the ever-growing presence of technology in children's lives?
This live, virtual event invites Montessori educators, administrators, and thinkers across age levels to engage with the tensions and possibilities at the intersection of Montessori philosophy and 21st-century tools. Professor Frierson will open with reflections on his philosophy of technology in education, followed by guided small group discussions where attendees can engage with core questions:
How does Montessori education help us clarify the purpose of schooling in a technological world? What are the appropriate roles of technology in a Montessori environment?
How might we cultivate discernment, agency, and meaning in a digital age?
What experiments or approaches have you tried—or might consider—for teaching towards technology in your prepared environments?
Come prepared to listen, reflect, and participate in this timely conversation as we collectively consider how to remain anchored in Montessori values while preparing children for a world we are still learning to understand.
Meet Your Speaker
Patrick Frierson is the Pigott-Allen Professor of Ethics and Chair of the Philosophy Department at Whitman College, in Walla Walla, Washington, on territory ceded by the Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, Nez Perce, and Yakima nations in the Treaty of 1855. He teaches a wide range of courses ranging from philosophy of science and environmental ethics to philosophy of religion and theories of embodied cognition. Mostly, his students are all the fourth plane (17+), though he's done some volunteer teaching for younger kids. He regrets not having ever completed any Montessori training and not yet having taught in a Montessori classroom. He's doing his small part for the cause, though, trying to show philosophers and Montessorians alike that Montessori has a lot to contribute to contemporary philosophical debates on issues ranging from the nature of intellectual virtue to his topic for today--the philosophy of technology. He has written dozens of articles and several books, including three on Montessori: Intellectual Agency and Virtue Epistemology: A Montessori Perspective; The Moral Philosophy of Maria Montessori: Agency and Ethical Life; and--a book that's about to come out with Oxford University Press--Maria Montessori's Philosophy: Following the Child. He lives in Walla Walla with two of his three children, the oldest having fled his father's technophobia and dashed off to Georgia Tech to study computer science.
Why Choose MNNM?
At the Montessori Network of New Mexico, we’re committed to making professional development accessible, affordable, and relevant for educators like you. Our sliding fee scale ($5-$25) ensures everyone can participate, regardless of their budget.
Reserve Your Spot Today
Space is limited, so don’t wait! Join us on Saturday, March 8th, 2025, to connect and learn with Montessorians from around the world as we continue to strengthen skills.
Invest in your growth. Empower your teaching. Connect with your community.
Questions? Contact us at info@nmmontessori.org
Registration Fee (Sliding Scale): $5 - $25
We are offering a sliding scale fee to make this event accessible to all. Please pay what you are able to within the $5-$25 range.
Join the Montessori Network of New Mexico for a thought-provoking Reading Roundtable featuring Patrick Frierson, author of the compelling article "Montessori, Technology, and the Purpose of Education" (Montessori Life, Winter 2024).
DATE: May 10th, 2024 9am-10:30am MT
VENUE: Virtual (Zoom)
In this roundtable, participants will explore how Montessori's philosophy positions technology as an integral part of humanity's cosmic task. Professor Frierson will demonstrate that Montessori was neither a naive technophile nor a resistant technophobe, but rather a visionary educator who recognized technological competence as essential to human development, particularly for young absorbent minds.
In an age of rapid digital transformation, how do Montessori educators stay true to the deeper purpose of education—nurturing human potential, wonder, and moral development—while navigating the ever-growing presence of technology in children's lives?
This live, virtual event invites Montessori educators, administrators, and thinkers across age levels to engage with the tensions and possibilities at the intersection of Montessori philosophy and 21st-century tools. Professor Frierson will open with reflections on his philosophy of technology in education, followed by guided small group discussions where attendees can engage with core questions:
How does Montessori education help us clarify the purpose of schooling in a technological world? What are the appropriate roles of technology in a Montessori environment?
How might we cultivate discernment, agency, and meaning in a digital age?
What experiments or approaches have you tried—or might consider—for teaching towards technology in your prepared environments?
Come prepared to listen, reflect, and participate in this timely conversation as we collectively consider how to remain anchored in Montessori values while preparing children for a world we are still learning to understand.
Meet Your Speaker
Patrick Frierson is the Pigott-Allen Professor of Ethics and Chair of the Philosophy Department at Whitman College, in Walla Walla, Washington, on territory ceded by the Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, Nez Perce, and Yakima nations in the Treaty of 1855. He teaches a wide range of courses ranging from philosophy of science and environmental ethics to philosophy of religion and theories of embodied cognition. Mostly, his students are all the fourth plane (17+), though he's done some volunteer teaching for younger kids. He regrets not having ever completed any Montessori training and not yet having taught in a Montessori classroom. He's doing his small part for the cause, though, trying to show philosophers and Montessorians alike that Montessori has a lot to contribute to contemporary philosophical debates on issues ranging from the nature of intellectual virtue to his topic for today--the philosophy of technology. He has written dozens of articles and several books, including three on Montessori: Intellectual Agency and Virtue Epistemology: A Montessori Perspective; The Moral Philosophy of Maria Montessori: Agency and Ethical Life; and--a book that's about to come out with Oxford University Press--Maria Montessori's Philosophy: Following the Child. He lives in Walla Walla with two of his three children, the oldest having fled his father's technophobia and dashed off to Georgia Tech to study computer science.
Why Choose MNNM?
At the Montessori Network of New Mexico, we’re committed to making professional development accessible, affordable, and relevant for educators like you. Our sliding fee scale ($5-$25) ensures everyone can participate, regardless of their budget.
Reserve Your Spot Today
Space is limited, so don’t wait! Join us on Saturday, March 8th, 2025, to connect and learn with Montessorians from around the world as we continue to strengthen skills.
Invest in your growth. Empower your teaching. Connect with your community.
Questions? Contact us at info@nmmontessori.org
Registration Fee (Sliding Scale): $5 - $25
We are offering a sliding scale fee to make this event accessible to all. Please pay what you are able to within the $5-$25 range.
Once you register, you will receive a confirmation email that will include links to the TEDXPrague ED 2017 and the Zoom link for the live Roundtable.