Literacy In Early Childhood Education Research Articles

Fostering empathy through critical literacy in early childhood education in Colombia

ABSTRACT In Colombia, some educational settings, particularly territories with high levels of educational inequality, uphold conventional teaching strategies where emotional education and critical thinking receive little attention. This study is rooted in our intention to contribute to peace education in early childhood educational environments by fostering critical thinking and empathy, a predictor of prosocial behavior in children. The aim of this study is, first, that young children develop empathy by recognizing situations of oppression and injustice in children’s literature using critical literacy practices; and second, to contribute to young children’s development of critical thinking. Utilizing Critical Discourse Analysis, we suggest that critical literacy practices enhance empathy and critical thinking in young children through three strategies: reading selected children’s literature aloud, responding through multimodal texts, and having an open dialogue about critical issues that affect children in local communities. This article contributes to the literature about literacy, empathy development, and peace education with young children.

EFFORTS AND OUTCOMES IN ENHANCING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS’ DIGITAL LITERACY AT PAUD INSTITUTIONS

This study investigates the efforts made by Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) institutions in kecamatan Sukasari, Bandung, to enhance the digital literacy of early childhood educators. Employing a qualitative approach and case study method, the research involved observations, documents study and in-depth interviews with representatives from four ECCE institutions. Data analysis was conducted through thematic analysis, a systematic method for identifying, analyzing, and reporting patterns within the data. The results indicate positive outcomes, including enhanced teaching methods, increased creativity and resourcefulness, improved student engagement and comprehension, and educators' adaptability to technological changes. This study contributes new knowledge to the field by highlighting comprehensive and dynamic strategies employed by ECCE institutions to enhance teachers' digital literacy. The findings underscore the necessity of a holistic, supportive, and adaptive approach to digital literacy in early childhood education, aligning with current research trends in the field.

유아 STEAM교육과 비주얼 리터러시 활동 연계의 교육적 함의

Objectives The purpose of this study is to explore the need for visual literacy education in the field of early childhood education and to present the educational implications about linking early childhood STEAM education and visual literacy activities.
 Methods For this purpose, domestic and foreign academic journal papers, theses, research reports, and books related to visual literacy and STEAM education were analyzed. Through this, the social background of visual literacy and the concept of its components were understood, and the meaning of the link with early childhood visual literacy activities and STEAM education was explored.
 Results First, the concepts of visual literacy presented by various scholars were organized, the components were compared and analyzed, and the components were classified into six categories. Second, it has been confirmed that visual literacy education for young children in Korea is still at a basic level, and that visual literacy education is included in the school curriculum as part of media education in countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Third, the need to provide visual literacy education from early childhood was confirmed, and the possibility of improving educational effectiveness through linking early childhood STEAM education and visual literacy activities was explored.
 Conclusions Through this study, the need for visual literacy education to proceed from early childhood was revealed, and the educational implications of visual literacy in early childhood education were presented from a philosophical and educational perspective. In addition, the educational meaning of linking early childhood STEAM education and visual literacy activities was presented from a social and educational perspective. This is meaningful in that it can contribute to cultivating the core competencies of convergence talent required in the future society.

Parental Involvement in Mattering Early Childhood Digital Literacy: The Role of Balanced Screen time and Access to Technology Evidence from Indonesia

This study aimed to explore the dynamics of early childhood digital literacy in Indonesia and examine the roles of parental involvement, balanced screen time, and access to technology in shaping digital literacy outcomes. A quantitative research approach was employed, involving a sample of Indonesian parents and educators. Data were collected through surveys and analyzed using structural equation modeling. The study revealed that parental involvement positively influences early childhood digital literacy, highlighting the significance of active parental engagement in fostering digital skills. Additionally, balanced screen time was found to enhance digital literacy, emphasizing the importance of managing screen time for educational purposes. Access to technology acted as a moderator, amplifying the impact of parental involvement and balanced screen time on digital literacy. This research contributes to the understanding of early childhood digital literacy in the Indonesian context. The findings offer valuable insights for educational stakeholders, emphasizing the need for comprehensive curricula, parental engagement, equitable technology access, and tailored digital learning platforms. This knowledge can inform policies and practices aimed at enhancing digital literacy in early childhood education, promoting a balanced and inclusive digital education environment in Indonesia.

Diversity of Learning Opportunities and Learning Innovation in Mattering Digital Literacy: The Role of Digital Storytelling

This study aims to explore the intricate relationships among Diversity of Learning Opportunities, Learning Innovation, Digital Storytelling, and Digital Literacy in early childhood education in Indonesia. Employing a quantitative approach with Likert-scale surveys, the research involved 250 participants from kindergarten settings in Pandeglang, Banten. The study found that diverse learning opportunities significantly impact both Digital Storytelling and Digital Literacy. Learning Innovation positively influences Digital Storytelling and Digital Literacy. Moreover, Digital Storytelling emerges as a mediator, channeling the influence of both Diversity of Learning Opportunities and Learning Innovation on Digital Literacy. The theoretical implications enrich our understanding of the interconnectedness of these elements in early childhood education. Practically, the findings guide educators and policymakers in fostering digital literacy through diverse learning experiences, innovative teaching practices, and the promotion of digital storytelling. The study’s limitations include a specific geographical focus and reliance on quantitative data. Recommendations include expanding research contexts, incorporating qualitative methods, and collaborative efforts for effective strategies in early childhood digital literacy development. Overall, this research contributes valuable insights to the dynamic landscape of early childhood education in the digital era.

Teaching Environmental Literacy in Early Childhood Education to Improve the Character of Environmental Care

This study aimed to describe environmental literacy teaching in early childhood education, which consists of teacher competence and the implementation of ecological literacy learning. This study used a qualitative case study design, with data collected from interviews, observations, and reflective journals. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with four teachers, two children, and one parent. This research was conducted at Sabilina Islamic Kindergarten, an Early Childhood Education institution in Bekasi City, West Java Province, which carries out the flagship Sabilina Sayangi Bumi (Sasami) program. The Sasami Program aims to build a caring character for the environment through various environmental activities designed by teachers. Interviews were conducted on teacher competence, implementation of ecological literacy learning in schools, instilling environmental literacy values, and assessment. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with instructors, students, and parents to gather data. The results indicated that the teachers had good pedagogical skills. Teachers can master effective learning management by developing a curriculum that supports environmental literacy learning, preparing learning plans, selecting appropriate materials based on the child's age, conducting assessments, and paying attention to early childhood learning principles. The implementation of ecological literacy through sorting trash, reduce-reuse-recycle (3R), a little gardening, animal lovers, instill the value of environmental literacy, and conducting assessments.

Immigrant Digital Generation Teacher Efforts in Investing Digital Literacy in Early Childhood Education

Learning difficulties that many students experience are learning concentration, management of learning materials, storage of learning outcomes, and exploration of stored learning outcomes. With digital literacy, it can increase student independence in finding solutions to problems that arise during learning using various digital sources. However, this is a problem for teachers of the digital immigrant generation because of the large difference in the generation gap. The output targets are (1) research reports on teachers' efforts to instill digital literacy for early childhood, (2) research articles published in the journal "Cakrawala Dini" accredited national journal Sinta 3. This research is a qualitative research with a case study type. The object of this research is the digital immigrant generation teacher at Aisyiyah Kartasura Kindergarten. Data collection techniques used are through observation, interviews, and documentation. While testing the validity of the data includes: internal validity, external validity, reliability, and objectivity. Data obtained by in-depth interviews can be analyzed by open-coding.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy in early childhood education: an intervention study in Hong Kong

ABSTRACT The issue of Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy is gaining popularity in the field of education. Most research on AI literacy has focused on primary, secondary, and higher education, and there has been limited examination of AI literacy programs in early childhood education. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of an eight-week AI literacy program on young children’s AI literacy, AI-related creativity, and their perceptions of the AI4KG program. A total of 26 young children (average age of 4 years) enrolled in the program at a kindergarten in Hong Kong were the subjects of the study. The results indicated that (1) young children were capable of learning basic AI concepts and knowledge; (2) in terms of AI-related creativity, younger children were able to design a chatting robot via imagination, while older children created an AI robot to assist people in their drawings; (3) in regards to the children's perceptions of the AI4KG program, older children who enjoyed the activity were able to train AI, while younger children preferred to draw the future AI city and participate in the AI story activity. This study highlights the positive benefits of AI literacy education in preparing young children for an AI-driven future.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy in Early Childhood Education: The Challenges and Opportunities

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy in Early Childhood Education: The Challenges and Opportunities

Digital Fairy Tales: Children's Literacy Development During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Digital technology has become a part of most children's everyday experiences. In kindergarten, they tend to have many encounters with various forms of digital communication. The application of digital literacy in early childhood education is currently in the form of developing digital books and digital fairy tales. The purpose of this study is to describe and analyze the practice of developing digital fairy tales carried out in schools. This research uses the case study research method. The subjects of this study were 10 early childhood education teachers who became facilitators of digital fairy tale development. The selection of this subject was based on purposive sampling, with the consideration that the abilities and contributions of the informants could contribute to the understanding of the phenomenon under study. Data collection was carried out by in-depth interviews conducted through face-to-face meetings. Data analysis uses three types of activities, namely data reduction, data modeling, and drawing conclusions. The results of this study illustrate that the implementation of digital fairy tales and their development tend to lead to the application of digital fairy tale videos without direct interaction with early childhood. This application is not in accordance with the concepts and theories of digital literacy and digital fairy tales for early childhood. Thus, it is hoped that the development of digital fairy tales will take the point of view of the need for an important and more meaningful stimulus in early childhood without eliminating the interactions that are the core of storytelling activities.

Implementation of Digital Literacy in Indonesia Early Childhood Education

Digital literacy is a person's interests, attitudes, abilities, and skills in using digital technology-based devices. These skills are used to access, manage, integrate, analyze and evaluate the information needed and obtained, build new knowledge and create relationships or communication with others to participate effectively in society. This study aims to explore and explain the application of digital literacy in Early Childhood Education (ECE) institutions. The research method is descriptive quantitative with a survey technique. The instrument used is a questionnaire in the form of a Google-Form (G-Form) which is distributed online via Instagram, WhatsApp, and email. The population is ECE teachers, and a sample of 318 ECE teachers from various provinces was collected randomly. The data collected were analyzed descriptively with simple quantification. The results of the study indicate that the application of digital literacy in ECE can be implemented in a limited way and the implementation process must involve teachers and parents/guardians. The recommendation conveyed was the need for strict supervision for the implementation of digital literacy in early childhood.

Teacher's Experiences of Using Digital Storytelling in Early Childhood Education in Indonesia: A Phenomenological Study

Digital storytelling is an important component of early childhood education (ECE) because it can help capture and expand their imagination. The purpose of this study was to explain early childhood teachers' beliefs about the use of digital storytelling in their classrooms. This research was conducted in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Phenomenological methods are used to understand and describe these phenomena and the essence of ECE teachers' experiences. The results showed that the experience of ECE teachers in learning using digital storytelling in the classroom had many benefits in improving the quality of learning. This study provides guidelines for ECE teachers on how technology can be integrated into children's learning activities using digital storytelling. The results of this study can also contribute to teachers to better understand the impact of using such technology to improve the development of technological literacy in early childhood education.

Digital literacy in early childhood education: what can we learn from innovative practitioners?

ABSTRACT We present the main findings of a case study focusing on the digital literacy practices of a Portuguese early childhood teacher known for her innovative pedagogical methods. Data was collected through an in-depth interview centred on the teacher’s perceptions about her digital literacy practices and on the professional development underpinning such practices. The thematic content analysis of the data was based on core principles of early childhood pedagogy, multiliteracies and professional development theories. It revealed that, from this teacher’s perspective, the application of digital literacy practices has both enhanced and challenged her pedagogy. Moreover, the analysis showed that her innovative practices combine functional professional learning with attitudinal dispositions such as professionalism, professional identity, resilience and commitment. Overall, our research highlights the importance of combining both functional and attitudinal dimensions in professional development initiatives aiming to enhance renewed integration of digital literacy practices in early childhood education.

Enhancing Storytelling Activities to Support Early (Digital) Literacy Development in Early Childhood Education

When storytelling is combined with play-based activities, it can provide an effective stimulus for early literacy. The present study investigated the effects of a structured storytelling approach on the development of young children’s literacy and digital literacy skills. Three classes in two public kindergartens participated in an experimental study involving 62 children, aged 5–6 years. Each classroom was assigned to one of three experimental conditions. In one classroom, the children engaged in their regular literacy activities. In a second classroom, literacy development was supported with storytelling and associated play-based activities, while in the third classroom, children engaged in digital storytelling and activities. Outcomes were assessed by tests of early literacy and digital literacy skills before and after the 6-week intervention. The findings showed that both storytelling conditions significantly enhanced children’s literacy and digital literacy skills. Structured storytelling activities provide a viable and valuable way to enhance literacy and digital literacy in early childhood education.

Análisis de publicaciones sobre alfabetización inicial desde una perspectiva didáctica

The aim of this work is to elaborate a systematic review of studies on teaching and learning of written language in Early Childhood Education in Spain. Studies published between 2009 and 2019 focused on teaching and learning classroom processes are considered, in order to know and analyse the teaching practices which are divulged from research. On one hand, results allow to detect a predominance of works focused on teacher’s activity in classroom in front of experimental works or literature reviews. A balance between quantitative and qualitative parameters measured and a higher attention to the period 3-6 years are also stated. On the other hand, literature data show a high diversity in teaching procedures to promote initial literacy in Early Childhood Education, with a predominance of practices related to a teacher guided systematic instruction (alphabet practice, instructional practice, syllabic method, synthetic method, etc.) in front of those related to a more collaborative sociocultural approach, (constructivism, projects, shared reading of stories, situational practice, etc.). Analysis of revised practices shows a teaching generally oriented towards the writing system and the control of achievements.

Tablets and apps for promoting robotics, mathematics, STEM education and literacy in early childhood education

New interactive technologies in terms of smart mobile devices and accompanied applications (apps) attract an increasing attention in the field of preschool and early-primary education. This has risen a great amount of academic literature, and numerous implementation initiatives. Despite this widespread interest, successful integration of interactive technologies in preschool and early-primary education still faces unresolved issues and challenges. This paper refers mostly to smart mobile devices and their accompanied mobile applications (apps) at the device/platform level. Robotics, Mathematics, STEM and Literacy are discussed below, since these are the fields found to provide most opportunities in early childhood, especially promising to cultivate interests early in computing. The ultimate objective is to present a greater comprehension of the influence of new technologies on young children's learning procedure and its potential for early childhood education. The study ends up with a general analysis of the research findings and a short proposal for the extension of the under-study subject as well.

Tablets and apps for promoting robotics, mathematics, STEM education and literacy in early childhood education

Tablets and apps for promoting robotics, mathematics, STEM education and literacy in early childhood education

‘Córdoba, through Children’s eyes’. Assessing citizenship literacy in Early Childhood Education and Special Education classes

ABSTRACTThis dissertation assesses an innovation experience carried out by the RIECU network (Early Childhood Education Schools -Teachers’ Centre- University). The aim is to enable children to investigate the wealth of their city’s heritage through an inclusive proposal, due to the value of a paradigm of peaceful intercultural coexistence. 234 people participated: Early Childhood Education and Special Education teachers, advisers and children, as well as students and professors. The experience focused primarily on development of project to learn more about the monuments and main features of the three cultures that coexisted peacefully in the city of Córdoba. This project was assessed with the help of a mixed focus group in which all the parties involved participated. The data analyzed reveal that: (1) Children explored the main features of the monument assigned and the culture to which it belongs; (2) The innovation experiences positively impacted educational inclusion processes; and (3) Children did not acquire an overall understanding of the city as a paradigm of peaceful intercultural coexistence.

Vibrations in Place: Sound and Language in Early Childhood Literacy Practices

This article explores how close attention to sound can help one to rethink literacy in early childhood education. Through an analysis of text, audio, video, and photographic data from a sound walk undertaken with a parent and a child, we make two arguments. First, contrary to skills-based approaches that abstract literacy from context, we show how literacy emerges from vibrational entanglements between bodies and places. We provide examples of how listening and sound-making unfold together in place, as sound moves between different material bodies, including children, animals, objects, buildings, and landscapes. Our analysis suggests that a wide range of sound-making and listening practices, not just those focused on words, should be valued in early childhood literacy. Second, we demonstrate how sound also transcends bodies and places through its multiplicity, ephemerality, and fluidity. We draw on the more-than-human semiotics of Eduardo Kohn to analyze how sounds operate as relational signs between human and nonhuman entities, using his ideas to move beyond human-centered, symbol-centered practices of literacy.

Evidence-based reform: enhancing language and literacy in early childhood education

ABSTRACTEvidence-based reform is transforming education at all levels, both in providing effective models for use in schools and in linking policy to effective practice on a broad scale. As early education moves from a concern with effects of preschool versus no preschool to focus on creating and evaluating effective preschool models capable of improving language and literacy outcomes and of being broadly replicated, evidence should play a leading role. This article describes promising areas for development and evaluation, particularly for improving the language and literacy of children from economically challenged communities.