The potential of Montessori Pedagogy in the development of an Ed-ucational Chatbot: a research project
Parole chiave:
Innovative Learning Environments (ILE); didactic chatbot; inclusionAbstract
Recent ministerial guidelines on Innovative Learning Environments (ILE), outlined in Ministerial Decrees 65 and 66 of 2023, recognize the configuration of learning environments as a central element in the cognitive processes and social interactions that characterize inclusive teaching practices. At the international level, the OECD anticipated this perspective as early as 2008, significantly contributing to the redefinition of the ILE concept in relation to the profound changes induced by the increasing use of digital technologies in educational contexts. In subsequent contributions (OECD, 2010; 2013; 2017; 2025; INDIRE, 2014; 2016), the learning environment is progressively conceived not merely as a physical space, but as a hybrid ecosystem in which spatial, methodological, and technological dimensions interact systemically to determine the quality of educational processes. Within this framework, digital technologies and, in particular, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based platforms, assume a structural role in making the environment adaptive and responsive to individual needs, fostering more experiential, participatory, and personalized forms of learning (Caprino et al., 2022; Kasneci et al., 2023; Fauzi et al., 2023). This approach aligns with the principles of active Montessori pedagogy, which conceives the environment as a pedagogical device capable of supporting autonomy, inclusion, and the active construction of knowledge (Montessori, 2017; Aiello, 2023). In light of these premises, this contribution presents the first phase of a broader research project aimed at creating a Virtual Tour of the Montessori Children's House. Specifically, the work illustrates the design and testing of an educational chatbot intended to support the learning of Montessori pedagogical principles in a university setting.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Rosa d'Angelo, Stefano Di Tore, Paola Aiello
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