scholarly journals What digital technology do early childhood educators use and what digital resources do they seek?

2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-105
Author(s):  
Anne Dwyer ◽  
Caroline Jones ◽  
Lee Rosas
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Knowledge Bases ◽  
Early Childhood Educators ◽  
Discussion Groups ◽  
National Standards ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
Early Childhood Professionals ◽  
Continuing Professional Learning

Continuing professional learning is vital to early childhood professionals, and the use of digital technology can potentially reduce costs and improve access. In this study, 74 educators across 17 early childhood services in Australian urban and regional locations completed a questionnaire about their personal and professional uses of digital technology to find resources. The results indicate most early childhood educators use digital technology to construct their own professional knowledge bases, and though they make some use of formal resources around national standards, they make greater use of informal resources and discussion groups. They tend to seek practical information and activity ideas and ways to connect with other professionals, although this varies somewhat by years of professional experience, age and the socioeconomic context they work in. Results highlight early childhood educators’ professional learning desires and the potential value of mobile learning for providing access to professional learning for early childhood educators working in resource-limited and geographically limited settings.

Exploring early childhood educators’ experiences of teaching young children with disability

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 280-291
Author(s):  
Leanne Munchan ◽  
Joseph Agbenyega
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Early Childhood Educators ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Diversity And Inclusion ◽  
Children With Disability ◽  
Academic Researchers ◽  
The Everyday

This paper argues that whilst inclusive education in early childhood is gaining wider acceptance in the equity and diversity movement, the value and contribution of educators’ voices about what is working and challenging are frequently ignored. This small-scale research explored five early childhood educators’ understandings and experiences of inclusive education in two kindergartens in Victoria, Australia. A thematic analysis of the data highlights inclusion as a right to belong and fully participate; the need for modifications to orchestrate a culture of acceptance, diversity and inclusion; a lack of support and inadequate professional learning; and supporting effective practice through relationship with families, experts and children. The findings draw implications of evidence-based professional learning that is less focused on the interests of academic researchers and policy makers and more on the everyday needs of early childhood educators.

Building Higher Education Community

2020 ◽  
pp. 202-225
Author(s):  
Dawn L. Mollenkopf ◽  
Melanie K. Felton ◽  
Anne Karabon ◽  
Sara A. Westerlin
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Distributed Leadership ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Core Competencies ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Early Childhood Educators ◽  
National Standards ◽  
Early Childhood Teacher ◽  
Unified Framework ◽  
Formal Network

Hierarchical leadership models are not well matched to the early childhood field, which is a complex, diverse system where early childhood educators serve in multiple dynamic roles. Distributed leadership, which involves collaboration, inclusive engagement, and shared problem-solving, typifies efforts of leaders who advocate and work toward systemic change. This chapter explains how early childhood teacher educators used distributed leadership to push for statewide changes that removed barriers to degree completion for early childhood educators. In Phase 1, educators used a shared set of competencies and a common course system to improve articulation agreements between two- and four-year colleges. In Phase 2, educators expanded, revised, and delineated core competencies from national standards (NAEYC, CEC, DEC) to inform state endorsements. In Phase 3, educators built an inclusive, formal network to lay a foundation for a statewide articulation agreement system that will incorporate the Power to Profession's unified framework and standards.

scholarly journals Supporting teacher professionalism through tailored professional learning

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Nolan ◽  
Tebeje Molla
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Education ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Teacher Professionalism ◽  
Reform Agenda ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Education And Care ◽  
Quality Learning ◽  
Continuing Professional Learning

The issue of continuing professional learning for educators in the early childhood education and care sector is in the spotlight in Australia due to the government's reform agenda, which seeks to professionalize the workforce. In an effort to ensure quality programmes are on offer for all children, educators are expected to upskill. The assumption is that quality learning opportunities for children are aligned with a more skilled and capable workforce. This is problematic due to the diversity of the early childhood education and care workforce and its ability to convert professionalization opportunities into achievements. The focus of this article is a study that problematized the alignment of professional attributes valued in the policy space and in the field of practice to understand educator agency, a key element of professional capability. Once this alignment is known, professional learning experiences can be tailored to better support the professionalization of these educators.

Digital technology as a tool to support children and educators as co-learners

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 306-317
Author(s):  
Kelly Johnston
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
Early Childhood Educators ◽  
Practitioner Inquiry ◽  
Digital Resources ◽  
Children’S Agency ◽  
Complementary Resource ◽  
Ongoing Project

Digital technologies are increasingly prevalent and can complement more traditional resources to support children’s investigations and explorations in early learning contexts. A new consideration is the value of technology in positioning early childhood educators as co-learners and co-investigators alongside children. This article presents findings from a case study undertaken with two early childhood educators working with a class of preschool-aged children. The participating educators engaged in a practitioner inquiry project focusing on how technology could support and extend children’s interest in outer space and the solar system. This study found that digital technology supported educators and children to work as co-investigators, moving between the roles of apprentice and expert as they shared pre-existing understandings and sought new knowledge. In addition, digital and non-digital resources were used contemporaneously to support investigation in their ongoing project. The findings provided clear examples of technology as an integrated, complementary resource in play-based learning, supporting children’s agency as they worked with educators to increase scientific knowledge as well as digital handling skills.

scholarly journals Blogging In A Virtual Learning Community: How Does It Support Continuous Professional Learning For Ontario Registered Early Childhood Educators?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon Sveda
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Learning Community ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Professional Community ◽  
Virtual Learning ◽  
Early Childhood Educators ◽  
Virtual Learning Community ◽  
Potential Barriers ◽  
It Support

This research study examined the use of blogging as a medium for professional learning for registered early childhood educators (RECEs) in Ontario. Although educators are more frequently turning to blogs, social media, and virtual learning communities for their professional learning, there is a limited amount of previous research which has examined the use and efficacy of these mediums for that purpose. Using grounded theory, and guided by a social constructivist framework, I gathered data from blog posts and comments written by a small group of RECEs practicing in Ontario, and conducted interviews at two intervals to gather their perceptions of the blogging experience. While further study is needed to address potential barriers which may hinder RECEs from using blogging, I found that there were benefits in the use of blogging as a medium for reflection, building a professional community, and professional learning.

scholarly journals L’usage de l’anglais dans une école de langue française en milieu minoritaire : un véritable enjeu ?

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 64-87
Author(s):  
Callie Mady
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Learning Community ◽  
Professional Learning Community ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Early Childhood Educators ◽  
French Language ◽  
Classroom Observations ◽  
Language School

This article presents the results of a study whose goal was to support French language learners and their teachers, in kindergarten classes in a French language school in Ontario. Data were collected through classroom observations and interviews with the teachers and early childhood educators, who also participated in a professional learning community addressing the needs of French language learners. The participants revealed that language use was their biggest concern. The majority of these teachers and early childhood educators indicated that participation in the professional learning community influenced their use of English in class. The participants stated that they had increased consciousness and confidence in students’ ability to learn French without the use of English, which motivated them to progressively reduce their English use while encouraging students’ French use.

scholarly journals Blogging In A Virtual Learning Community: How Does It Support Continuous Professional Learning For Ontario Registered Early Childhood Educators?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon Sveda
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Learning Community ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Professional Community ◽  
Virtual Learning ◽  
Early Childhood Educators ◽  
Virtual Learning Community ◽  
Potential Barriers ◽  
It Support

This research study examined the use of blogging as a medium for professional learning for registered early childhood educators (RECEs) in Ontario. Although educators are more frequently turning to blogs, social media, and virtual learning communities for their professional learning, there is a limited amount of previous research which has examined the use and efficacy of these mediums for that purpose. Using grounded theory, and guided by a social constructivist framework, I gathered data from blog posts and comments written by a small group of RECEs practicing in Ontario, and conducted interviews at two intervals to gather their perceptions of the blogging experience. While further study is needed to address potential barriers which may hinder RECEs from using blogging, I found that there were benefits in the use of blogging as a medium for reflection, building a professional community, and professional learning.

Understanding educator attitudes towards and perceptions of mathematics in early childhood

2021 ◽  
pp. 1476718X2110527
Author(s):  
Kelly Johnston ◽  
Rebecca Bull
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mathematical Thinking ◽  
Strong Predictor ◽  
Early Childhood Educators ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Educator Attitudes ◽  
Effective Form

The first 3 years of life are identified as a period where children are primed for mathematical thinking, and a time where significant and critical development occurs. Additionally, mathematical ability in the years before children start school serves as a strong predictor of later achievement. However, many early childhood educators do not recognise the relevance of focussing on numeracy with very young children, and there remains a paucity of research on mathematical thinking and learning with infant and toddler aged children. This study sought to investigate early childhood educators’ perspectives on mathematics for children birth to 5 years of age. Educators were invited to complete an online survey and a mixed methods approach was used to interpret the responses. The findings revealed that even though mathematics was seen as relevant and important across the birth to five age range, these values were not significantly reflected in educator’s preferred or espoused teaching practices. The study also identified a range of factors that positively and negatively influenced educator self-efficacy and dispositions towards mathematics across their lifespans. Practitioner led research projects are suggested as an effective form of professional learning to incorporate into future research projects.

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