Using digital media in the early years classroom

What is it about?

The paper concerns how the teachers in one early years classroom use digital media. In various ways they make links between children's school and home learning experiences.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

What is already known about this topic • There are often reported gaps between what is known about children’s digital technology use at home and at school; • Some early years settings have diverse technologies but the use of these is not always subject to effective pedagogy; • It can be challenging to make links between what happens in the moment in a classroom, processes of pedagogic design and assessment and school policy. What this paper adds • Examples of design and of pedagogic practice that connect with children’s home experiences with digital technologies; • Suggestions of the importance, and benefits, of making links with young children’s families with regard to the use of digital technologies, in a variety of modes; • A way of conceptualising the production of space that makes links between actions in the moment, pedagogic design and assessment and school policy; Implications for practice and/or policy • There are multiple opportunities for Early Years settings to connect to children’s home uses of technology; • More explicit planning for incorporating children’s home experiences with technology into the classroom settings is needed for effective practice.

Perspectives