C von Lersner accountability, assessment, DOG, education, Montessori, observation, productivity, purpose, self assessment, self-construction, self-directed learning, self-organization

the DOG: some background

I have been developing the Dimensions of Observable Growth in collaboration with other educators for more than fifteen years, starting when my own two children were in school in Colorado in the early 2000's. The push for "data driven" decision making in classrooms prompted me to find a way to help teachers in developmental, experiential, … Continue reading the DOG: some background

C von Lersner education, evolution, Montessori, observation, paradigm, Scientific Pedagogy

Scientific Pedagogy, Part III: formulating a new discipline

The embedded illustration is an attempt to clarify and – believe it or not (see previous post) – simplify (for my own understanding), the streams of thought that appear to have influenced Dr. Maria Montessori in her work of formulating what she referred to as a Scientific Pedagogy. Importantly, the fields of Ethnography and Ethology … Continue reading Scientific Pedagogy, Part III: formulating a new discipline

C von Lersner education, evolution, Montessori, observation, productivity, Scientific Pedagogy

Scientific Pedagogy, Part I: a summary in 100 words

It's hard to talk about Scientific Pedagogy succinctly. This week, I put before myself the challenge of encapsulating my understanding of this discipline using only 100 words (… and a quote, whose words I don't feel obligated to count). In the two or so posts that will follow this one, I'll flesh out my summary … Continue reading Scientific Pedagogy, Part I: a summary in 100 words

C von Lersner attention, education, Montessori, purpose, will

Attention, Engagement, and Will: , the actor, and the director

I began to explore the phenomenon of attention in an earlier post. Here, I want to begin to unpack the significance of attention in learning, and fold in a few related ideas. (A nod to Dr. Maria Montessori, the patron saint of children's attention, is in order, as most of the terms preceding the improvised graphics have … Continue reading Attention, Engagement, and Will: , the actor, and the director