Montessori is a company where some amazing people develop amazing iPhone and iPad applications for kids who are learning literacy and similar basics. We interviewed Bobby George about mobile and digital technologies role in the new education and mobile industry itself. It is definitely a pioneer company that you should keep your eye on. Thank you very much for your response! Here there is a bunch of questions that we would like to ask you. Hope you’ll enjoy answering them…Thank you for the opportunity to discuss our exciting new project, Montessorium. You have presented us with some very interesting, challenging and thought provoking questions. We hope our our responses meet your level of inquisitiveness.- First of all your applications look like they are more than just works from a designer and a coder. Do you have any pedagogic background? Or do you have someone professional working with you about this? What kind of backgrounds are you coming from? Our project arose out of necessity, just as much as circumstance. Which is to say, Montessorium was founded by Montessori parents and Montessori teachers. While each of us has a unique background, Angela and Stefan come from the world of web development and June and I from the field of education, we share a common theme and purpose: we want to create beautiful, inspiring and educational applications. In short, apps that make a difference. From the very start our ambition has been to increase awareness of the Montessori approach to education. We want to extend the materials and activities found in a Montessori classroom, and make them available to a larger audience. The beauty of Montessori should not be coveted by a select few, but made accessible for an entirely new generation to embrace. - Is any of your applications are being actively used in a school or kindergarten? Or is your main market is the individual parents?While we originally designed these apps to be used primary in a family type setting, under the observation and supervision of a parent or guardian, we are increasingly becoming aware of the potential to educate a much wider audience, in a more populated type setting. Collectively, we strongly believe that our apps can: first, educate children in new, interactive and exciting ways; second, introduce new families to what Montessori education may have to offer their children; third, increase and strengthen the Montessori classroom experience at home; fourth, highlight what makes Montessori the most successful form of early childhood education on the planet. - How can digital make school more fun?Our apps are not designed to replace the classroom, but to enhance the classroom experience. That is, to extend the materials to a new platform, in a new way, and ultimately, to reach a new audience. In our estimations, one of the most significant advantages of digital applications is not the convenience that they afford, which is monumental, but the possibilities that they present. New ways to approach old problems. Think, for instance, of the ways in which the iPad will forever change the university experience. Incoming students will no longer visit the campus bookstore. They will simply download their books onto their devices. And, while in class, students can take notes, send emails, communicate both academically and socially, with their peers and their professors alike - all from a single device. Students can already access a wealth of information in an instant, tapping into dictionaries, encyclopedias and even online resources. Students may even attend classes, perhaps in another country, or on another continent, via these magic and revolutionary devices. But, this is all starting to become familiar…What fascinates us most, then, is the actual, physical learning capabilities that these new devices, such as the iPhone and iPad, can afford. They have the potential to completely change the way that children learn, interacting in new, dynamic and fun ways. This is exactly where we see Montessorium, at the forefront of these new developments. One of the fundamental tenets of Montessori education is that the child should be allowed to learn that which they wish to learn, following their own interest, at their own pace. New digital media will permit just that. We have a phrase around here that we really enjoy. The only thing more magical and revolutionary than an iPhone or iPad, is learning on them. In this sense, we would like to advocate a healthy and productive conversation on the promises and consequences of implementing digital technologies in traditional settings. - Do you think that increasing role of the digital media at school is something bad or scary as some parents or teachers believe? Why? Why not?This is an extremely timely and fascinating line of inquiry. We see ourselves at the forefront of exactly these types of questions. The old argument against technology was that it was a one way form of communication. For example, the child sits in front of the device, the radio, the television, and simply absorbs what is offered without actively engaging and thinking about the information that was being transmitted.  And, it was just that, information. Today, however, as we all know, this landscape continues to change as new devices become more sensorial and interactive. Children, and users more generally, are actually able to engage the materials with their senses! Of course, as with any new form of technology, parents and students, along with their teachers, need to find an appropriate solution that works best for the individual interests and needs of the child. - Do you find the current educational system useful / efficient? What can digital media do to improve it?What we would really like to see is an educational system designed around the individual interests of the child. A form of education that permits children the freedom to follow and explore their interests, at their own pace. It is time for the factory model of education to cease and a new form of education to arise. Of course, digital media could play a vital and timely role in this ascension. - How the technology have changed the interaction between kids?In our estimations, our apps, Intro to Math and Intro to Letters, serve to increase and strengthen the Montessori classroom activities. Often, we find students return to the classroom with a renewed sense of interest and vitality after playing with our apps at home. And, at the same time, they introduce new families to what makes Montessori such a unique form of education.- How did the role of consumer technology / digital media change at education in last 5/10/15 years?As we mentioned previously, if we could encapsulate this radical transition in a single sentence, it would read thus: In the education industry, technology has largely shifted away from a one way form of communication, (the mere transmission of information) to a more interactive and engaging method (an actual form of learning). - What do you get noticed in app store? We believe that it’s just a mess there until you get into top sellers lists? How did you menage until that stage? We believe that if you design a good product with a good, solid and meaningful story to tell, it will find a way to be seen. - Finally, do you know anything about Hyper Island? If you do, what do you think of our way of learning (learning by trying and experiencing, sharing the experiences) here? ( :We think that Hyper Island is very much in line with the Montessori revolution in education. We commend you and your school for helping us to take things at least one step further.Thank you very much again. We are looking forward to hear about your inspiring answers, Sarp

Montessori is a company where some amazing people develop amazing iPhone and iPad applications for kids who are learning literacy and similar basics. We interviewed Bobby George about mobile and digital technologies role in the new education and mobile industry itself. It is definitely a pioneer company that you should keep your eye on.


Thank you very much for your response! Here there is a bunch of questions that we would like to ask you. Hope you’ll enjoy answering them…

Thank you for the opportunity to discuss our exciting new project, Montessorium. You have presented us with some very interesting, challenging and thought provoking questions. We hope our our responses meet your level of inquisitiveness.

- First of all your applications look like they are more than just works from a designer and a coder. Do you have any pedagogic background? Or do you have someone professional working with you about this? What kind of backgrounds are you coming from?

Our project arose out of necessity, just as much as circumstance. Which is to say, Montessorium was founded by Montessori parents and Montessori teachers.

While each of us has a unique background, Angela and Stefan come from the world of web development and June and I from the field of education, we share a common theme and purpose: we want to create beautiful, inspiring and educational applications. In short, apps that make a difference.

From the very start our ambition has been to increase awareness of the Montessori approach to education. We want to extend the materials and activities found in a Montessori classroom, and make them available to a larger audience. The beauty of Montessori should not be coveted by a select few, but made accessible for an entirely new generation to embrace.

- Is any of your applications are being actively used in a school or kindergarten? Or is your main market is the individual parents?

While we originally designed these apps to be used primary in a family type setting, under the observation and supervision of a parent or guardian, we are increasingly becoming aware of the potential to educate a much wider audience, in a more populated type setting.

Collectively, we strongly believe that our apps can: first, educate children in new, interactive and exciting ways; second, introduce new families to what Montessori education may have to offer their children; third, increase and strengthen the Montessori classroom experience at home; fourth, highlight what makes Montessori the most successful form of early childhood education on the planet.

- How can digital make school more fun?

Our apps are not designed to replace the classroom, but to enhance the classroom experience. That is, to extend the materials to a new platform, in a new way, and ultimately, to reach a new audience. In our estimations, one of the most significant advantages of digital applications is not the convenience that they afford, which is monumental, but the possibilities that they present. New ways to approach old problems.

Think, for instance, of the ways in which the iPad will forever change the university experience. Incoming students will no longer visit the campus bookstore. They will simply download their books onto their devices. And, while in class, students can take notes, send emails, communicate both academically and socially, with their peers and their professors alike - all from a single device. Students can already access a wealth of information in an instant, tapping into dictionaries, encyclopedias and even online resources. Students may even attend classes, perhaps in another country, or on another continent, via these magic and revolutionary devices. But, this is all starting to become familiar…

What fascinates us most, then, is the actual, physical learning capabilities that these new devices, such as the iPhone and iPad, can afford. They have the potential to completely change the way that children learn, interacting in new, dynamic and fun ways. This is exactly where we see Montessorium, at the forefront of these new developments. One of the fundamental tenets of Montessori education is that the child should be allowed to learn that which they wish to learn, following their own interest, at their own pace. New digital media will permit just that. We have a phrase around here that we really enjoy. The only thing more magical and revolutionary than an iPhone or iPad, is learning on them. In this sense, we would like to advocate a healthy and productive conversation on the promises and consequences of implementing digital technologies in traditional settings.


- Do you think that increasing role of the digital media at school is something bad or scary as some parents or teachers believe? Why? Why not?

This is an extremely timely and fascinating line of inquiry. We see ourselves at the forefront of exactly these types of questions. The old argument against technology was that it was a one way form of communication. For example, the child sits in front of the device, the radio, the television, and simply absorbs what is offered without actively engaging and thinking about the information that was being transmitted.  And, it was just that, information. Today, however, as we all know, this landscape continues to change as new devices become more sensorial and interactive. Children, and users more generally, are actually able to engage the materials with their senses! Of course, as with any new form of technology, parents and students, along with their teachers, need to find an appropriate solution that works best for the individual interests and needs of the child.


- Do you find the current educational system useful / efficient? What can digital media do to improve it?

What we would really like to see is an educational system designed around the individual interests of the child. A form of education that permits children the freedom to follow and explore their interests, at their own pace. It is time for the factory model of education to cease and a new form of education to arise. Of course, digital media could play a vital and timely role in this ascension.

- How the technology have changed the interaction between kids?


In our estimations, our apps, Intro to Math and Intro to Letters, serve to increase and strengthen the Montessori classroom activities. Often, we find students return to the classroom with a renewed sense of interest and vitality after playing with our apps at home. And, at the same time, they introduce new families to what makes Montessori such a unique form of education.


- How did the role of consumer technology / digital media change at education in last 5/10/15 years?

As we mentioned previously, if we could encapsulate this radical transition in a single sentence, it would read thus:

In the education industry, technology has largely shifted away from a one way form of communication, (the mere transmission of information) to a more interactive and engaging method (an actual form of learning).


- What do you get noticed in app store? We believe that it’s just a mess there until you get into top sellers lists? How did you menage until that stage?


We believe that if you design a good product with a good, solid and meaningful story to tell, it will find a way to be seen.


- Finally, do you know anything about Hyper Island? If you do, what do you think of our way of learning (learning by trying and experiencing, sharing the experiences) here? ( :

We think that Hyper Island is very much in line with the Montessori revolution in education. We commend you and your school for helping us to take things at least one step further.


Thank you very much again. We are looking forward to hear about your inspiring answers,


Sarp