Tangible Digital Play in Australian and U.S. Preschools

Abstract

Drawing on data from preschools in Australia and the United States, the authors highlight strategies to help teachers demystify the process of engaging young learners with tangible technologies and showcase how robotic manipulatives serve as catalysts for peer collaboration, socio–emotional development, and creative problem solving.

Keywords::

• digital play
• early childhood
• tangible technology

Acknowledgment: We would like to thank the early childhood educators and children at the Early Childhood Centre at Curtin University and the University of South Florida Preschool for Creative Learning for their participation in this inquiry. The authors acknowledge partial support through a University of South Florida Nexus Initiative (UNI) Award.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ilene R. Berson

Ilene R. Berson is a Professor of Early Childhood at the University of South Florida. She studies the intersection of technology and the pedagogy of inquiry in the early years with a focus on children's affordances of digital innovations. Email: [email protected]

Karen Murcia

Karen Murcia is Head of the School of Education at Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia. She is a specialist in STEM education, and her research focuses on multimodal interactive teaching and learning. Email: [email protected]

Michael J. Berson

Michael J. Berson is a Professor of Social Science Education at the University of South Florida and a Senior Fellow in the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship. His research focuses on child advocacy and technology. Email: [email protected]

Victoria Damjanovic

Victoria Damjanovic is Director of the University of South Florida's Preschool for Creative Learning and Affiliate Faculty in the College of Education. Her research interests include project approach as a framework for children's inquiry. Email: [email protected]

Virginia McSporran

Virginia McSporran is the Director of the Early Childhood Centre at Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia. She engages in university–school collaborative research on the best practice environments for early childhood. Email: [email protected]