This month, Gay Wales, MSCA Deputy Chair, and I attended the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Annual General Meeting in Delft, The Netherlands. Representing the Australian AMI affiliate at this global meeting, with 57 other nations in attendance, was not only an honour but also a reminder of the incredible work happening around the globe in the progressing the Montessori educational movement forward.
Research Linking Creativity and Academic Success
One highlight from the AGM was learning about the work of Solange Denervaud, a Swiss neuroscientist and former Montessori educator, who has conducted extensive research on the cognitive and neural development of children educated in Montessori settings. Her interdisciplinary work combines neuroscience, psychology, and education to explore how different pedagogical approaches influence children’s learning processes and brain development.
One of Denervaud’s significant studies, published in PLOS ONE, compared 201 children aged 4 to 15 from Montessori and traditional schools. The research assessed executive functions—such as cognitive flexibility, working memory, and selective attention—alongside creativity and academic performance. While Montessori students did not show significant differences in overall executive functioning compared to their traditionally schooled peers, they outperformed them in creativity and academic outcomes. These findings suggest that the benefits of Montessori education may stem more from enhanced creative skills than from executive functions alone.
Denervaud also investigated the neural correlates of learning in Montessori versus traditional
educational environments. Using neuroimaging techniques like MRI and EEG, she examined
how different teaching methods affect brain network dynamics. Her research revealed that Montessori students exhibited more flexible and adaptive brain activity patterns, particularly in networks associated with error monitoring and creative problem-solving. This neural flexibility is thought to result from the Montessori emphasis on self-directed learning and exploration.
Fostering Flexible Thinkers: How Montessori Nurtures Creativity and Cognitive Growth
In a study involving 250 children aged 4.5 to 13, Denervaud found that Montessori students demonstrated superior creative thinking abilities. This was not limited to artistic creativity but extended to applying personal resources to solve problems—a skill crucial for adaptability and innovation. The research suggested that the Montessori approach fosters an environment where children are encouraged to explore, make mistakes, and learn through discovery, thereby enhancing their creative capacities.
Denervaud’s work also highlights the importance of the learning environment in shaping children’s cognitive development. She emphasises that Montessori education, with its focus on process-oriented learning and intrinsic motivation, supports the development of neural pathways that facilitate flexible thinking and problem-solving. This contrasts with traditional education models that often prioritise rote memorisation and performance metrics, potentially leading to more rigid cognitive patterns.
Overall, Solange Denervaud’s research provides compelling evidence that Montessori education positively influences children’s creative abilities and brain development. Her findings advocate for educational practices that prioritise self-directed learning, exploration, and intrinsic motivation to cultivate adaptable and innovative thinkers.
Sources
Denervaud, S., Sander, D., Gentaz, E. (2020). Why Montessori education fosters
academic success and creative thinking in children. PLOS ONE, 15(11), e0225319.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0225319
Denervaud, S. (2021, May 9). Brain-Montessori. Le Matin Dimanche.
https://www.secretofchildhood.ch/uploads/5/9/9/7/59974709/brain-montessori-le-matin-
dimanche-9-may-2021.pdf
Denervaud, S. (n.d.). The impact of educational experiences on brain development: Insights
from Montessori and traditional schooling. Springer Nature Communities.
https://communities.springernature.com/posts/the-impact-of-educational-experiences-on-
brain-development-insights-from-montessori-and-traditional-schooling
Montessori Deutschland. (n.d.). Interview mit Solange Denervaud. https://www.montessori-
deutschland.de/aktuelles/interview-mit-solange-denervaud/
