Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to many of the commonly asked questions about Montessori Live and the functionings of the website. If you cannot find your answer here, please contact our sales or support teams.
General Information	Software Recommendations

General Information

Q: Is your program accredited by MACTE and AMS?

A: At the time of this FAQ’s publication, we are not accredited by MACTE or AMS. We are pursuing the application process for accreditation with MACTE. AMS does not currently accredit distance programs like Montessori Live.

Q: What is a typical Academic Year calendar (traditional semesters)?

A: Montessori Live courses vary between eight to fifteen weeks. The 8 week courses are offered on a quarterly basis. The 15 week courses are offered on a semester basis. Enrollment dates are regularly updated on our homepage.

Q: Are videos viewed at the students’ convenience?

A: Yes, all of the videos for your course are readily accessible. Along with your enrollment in a Montessori Live course, you are also provided access to the extensive lesson video library as a monthly or annual membership.

Q: Which levels do you provide training for?

A: Our courses are geared towards the “lower elementary” but really ages 5 to 9. In training terms, the certificate is called Elementary I. Most curriculum courses include Montessori training segments to accommodate educators who may be in a public elementary school and have to teach a multi-age class incorporating “kindergarten” students. We have plans to expand our training to approach ages 9 to 12 in the future. We will not provide extensive early childhood training at this time.

Q: Will a practicum be required for a Montessori Live training completion certificate?

A: If you are pursuing a “diploma” through Montessori Live, you will have to complete a practicum or student teaching experience. You will be required to arrange an internship with a Montessori school (to be approved by Montesssori Live) working as an assistant or educator in a learning environment.

Q: What is a “practicum” like with Montessori Live?

A: Our educator practicum course provides a means for fulfilling traditional Montessori training requirements like observations, field consultations, independent research projects, and development of original curriculum and materials. Our educator practicum course lasts approximately a semester. However, we strongly encourage students to take complete the practicum over one or two school years.

Q: What individual courses do you offer presently? Are there more being developed?

A: All of our courses can actually be offered on an individual basis. Montessori Live continues to expand its video library and courses on a continual basis.

Q: Does Montessori Live only offer programs for educators? Are there programs for administrators?

A: We’ve had many educators enroll, telling us that they’re about to lead a Montessori school, but never had Montessori training. Answering this need, we are presently offering an “administrative track” that provides an extensive background in Montessori curriculum and also extra support in the area of preparing to effectively run a Montessori based educational institution in either the private or public sectors.

Q: I understand that Montessori Live was developed by faculty members of a public Montessori charter school. Does this mean that your training is geared only towards Public Montessori?

A: Absolutely not. We don’t theoretically divide Montessori into public versus private. Our faculty members have been “traditionally” trained in Montessori (AMS endorsements). We are teaching exactly what was taught to us… and then some!

Q: Can I receive college credit for courses offered at Montessori Live?

A: Montessori Live works cooperatively with Argosy University to provide a concentration in Montessori for administrators and educators who are not working in a Montessori setting. Both programs are at the master's level and provide a MSEd in Montessori Education or Instructional Leadership. Please contact Argosy University in Sarasota, Florida for more information - (941) 379-0404. '

Q: Do you keep transcripts for students previously enrolled?

A: Yes we do. If you need a transcript, please contact our Program Manager.

Q: Can I get professional development credit through this program?

A: Montessori Live will issue all participants our certificate of completion. Participants will need to take this to their district in order to qualify for professional development credits.

Q: Are Montessori Live courses self-paced or are there some sort of “attendance” requirements?

A: Unlike many online professional development courses, our participants are not completely isolated from colleagues taking the same course. Yes, there are due dates scheduled for assignments, and, yes, there are synchronous online “chats” administered on a regularly basis.

    In the tradition of Montessori, we feel that learners learn best when collaboration and interpersonal communication is involved. Viewing the lesson videos can be done at any time during the week. There are also asynchronous forums where students can communicate in conversational strings that occur over time.

Q: How are courses typically formatted with regard to assignments, chats, forums, etc?

A: We try to segment our courses into weekly thematic units. Within a week’s module unit, students will have access to video lectures that can be viewed at all times. You will be asked to complete a forum assignment, which is typically a reflection question based on the week’s lectures. In that forum, you are also expected to provide feedback to other students who are also taking the course. Interaction with your colleagues and educators doesn’t stop there. Regularly scheduled chats provide course participants the advantage of real-time communication with each other and the instructor, providing a similar experience to a face-to-face classroom setting.

Q: How difficult are the courses? Are they really challenging?

A: Traditionally, Montessori training programs are considered post baccalaureate level courses. Montessori Live's courses include written assignments, inquiries into philosophy and educational pedagogy, practical understanding of the Montessori materials as well as the theory behind them, and thoughtful discussions with other students. Many of the courses require students to read a textbook as well. The curriculum courses require students to practice with materials and practice writing lesson plans. Each course can take from 5 to 15 hours per week.

Q: How many hours will it take me on a weekly basis to complete the course requirements?

A: Past participants have anecdotally reported that they spend about five to ten hours a week of their personal time to keep up with course requirements. We will provide you with the course syllabus in advance so that you can determine how best to accommodate your schedule for the class(es).

Q: Do I have to travel to your training center to attend any classes?

A: No, Montessori Live was established in order to eliminate the requirement of traveling long distances and paying for a temporary residence in distant geographical areas. Depending on the program of study, you may or may not be required to complete a face-to-face component. For example, Argosy University requires one weekend in their Sarasota Campus for the master's program. MACTE certification may require a face-to-face component. That is still to be determined. Completing the entire program for professional development does not require any face-to-face component at all.

Q: How are observations of my performance accomplished “online?”

A: There are a number of ways this can be accomplished. The easiest way for some would simply involve setting up a camera and videotaping oneself. The tape can then be sent to your assigned Montessori Live field supervisor, and it can be viewed for evaluation. If you have access to equipment like Internet webcams and online conferencing programs, we can make arrangements to schedule live webcasting sessions instead. We also highly recommend practicing with the materials as they are being presented each week. As with any training program, a participant's success depend on their efforts to practice and master the Montessori materials not just the philosophy.

Q: Can I come visit Montessori Live’s home campus anyway?

A: Well, who wouldn’t want to visit our beautiful "real world" facility, Island Village Montessori Charter School, in Venice, Florida? Yes, if you are so inclined, we would most certainly welcome you, provided that arrangements are made in advance with Montessori Live staff.

Q: Are the courses offered in languages other than English (U.S.)?

A: We have not developed any of our courses in other languages as of yet. As much as we desire to work with not only aspiring educators from the United States, we also greatly desire to work on an international level. Our future goals involve developing separate courses on phonics instruction in Spanish and French. All other courses will be developed in English but translated into Spanish. New translation software is coming out daily. We hope that our videos might one day be easily translated into many languages.

Q: What is Montessori Live’s approach towards evaluation? Do you give failing grades if a student is not performing well?

A: Montessori Live faculty members wish to provide their adult students the same opportunities that Montessori education provides to children. We don’t believe in failing students.

    What we do believe is creating nurturing relationships, providing support, and guiding students in the right direction. Instead of giving a grade, we ask our participants to resubmit. It is from mistakes, that we learn about how to function in the world.

    With that said, if a student has demonstrated extreme difficulty or lack of participation, yes such a student would be counseled out (but we don’t give up on our students easily – it would take a lot of complications for this to occur)! We are very patient as we expect educators to be with their students.

    There are completion requirements that are usually set at approximately 80%. A student will not receive credit for the course otherwise. There are no refunds for courses that are not completed.

Q: Can these courses be taken at your own rate/speed? Or can you only sign up for a course at a particular time?

A: The courses are only offered at set times during the year because of the need for interactive chats and forum discussions with a cohort. While there is a basic timeline, participants mostly work at their own pace. All assignments have deadlines but there are only a couple of times when participants are required to be online at the same time. This is usually during scheduled chat sessions. Itis important to keep up with forum discussions and live chats.

    The only exception to this is the Parentcator Lectures which do not involve interactive chats and forum discussions. The Parentcator ectures are designed to help educate parents on Montessori philosophy and methodology.

Q: Can I participate in Montessori Live if I do not live in the United States?

A: Montessori Live has been created with this in mind. We recognize that there are many schools all over the world that are far from quality teacher training programs. Our program will provide a high quality teacher-training program so that your staff will not have to travel across the world to benefit from Montessori training. Montessori Live has been developed for schools like yours, in particular.

Q: Do I have to be a computer “expert” in order to participate?

A: Above all requirements, our participants need to know exactly what type of computer they have, what kind of operating system is used, how much memory is installed, etc. Below, we list the essential requirements needed by your computer to be fully functional with Montessori Live. This is the level of “expert” knowledge that is necessary for determining if the computer you’re using is appropriate.

    When it comes to working with computers, we expect our participants to confidently view and navigate Internet pages, work with email communications, compose files on word processing programs, back-up personal file storage, and ensure that the Internet connection being used is fully functional and is considered “high-speed.”

Q: Do you have a technical help desk?

A: We do not have a formal “help desk” at this time, but we do offer technical assistance via email. Our program manager handles initial inquiries. If such problems are beyond typical issues, our webmaster or project director can provide further assistance.

Q: Are group memberships available for my entire school?

A: Yes. Montessori Live will create a custom package for your school provided you have a minimum of 5 educators.

Q: Why do these courses cost money?

A: The Internet is has many expenses associated with hosting sites. Plus, live staff is required to produce our videos and courses. Island Village Montessori Charter School has costs associated with creating and maintaining this online program of teacher training.

    The program began with the help of two dissemination grants from the State of Florida.  As the grant funding for production comes to an end, IVMS must make this project self-sustaining. We feel strongly that our courses need live instructors as guides rather than a completely self-paced course as in some online models. For all of these reasons, Montessori Live cannot be free. We pledge to keep our prices affordable to promote the Montessori pedagogy and philosophy of education around the world.

Q: How do I cancel my membership?

A: Log in to your "My Home" page. At the bottom of the page is a table containing your current memberships and their status. Click on the "Cancel this Subscription" link next to the proper one. You will be taken to PayPal to finish the process.

YOU MUST CONTINUE WITH THE PAYPAL PORTION OF THIS PROCESS OR YOUR CREDIT CARD WILL STILL BE CHARGED.

Software Recommendations

Browser Compatability

Windows Users - It is highly recomended that you use Firefox browser while using this website.

Mac Users - It is highly recommended that you use Firefox browser while using this website.

Get Firefox here

Throughout this web site there are two major pieces of software that you will need to have installed on your computer for complete functionality.

All of the forms and documents that are available for either viewing or download use Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF).To view these documents you will need the most recent version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.

You may download the software for free.

Acrobat Reader for MacIntosh

Acrobat Reader for Windows

Acrobat Reader for Unix

All of the movies in the Video Library are formatted with Apple's QuickTime .mov format. Both Mac and Windows Users will need to upgrade to Apple’s QuickTime 7 to play the movies.

You may download the software for free.

QuickTime 7 for Mac

QuickTime 7 for Windows