Integrating Digital Technologies into the Early Literacy Learning of Young Children

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Publication year

2022

study description

Review.

core topic(s)

Early Literacy

Population Characteristics

International , Kindergarten

Exposures, Outcomes, Other

Language and Literacy Development , Parent Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs , School Readiness and Educational Outcomes , Technology and Digital/Screen-Based Media

objectives

This paper reviews different evidence from journal articles about studies conducted from 2014 to 2021 with a qualitative method on the integration of digital technologies into young children’s early literacy learning.

exposure

Digital technology.

outcomes evaluated

Early literacy.

methods

Simultaneously, this paper searches different journal articles with following key terms related to the topic: “early literacy learning”, “preschool”, “early years”, “young children”, and combined with technological terms: “digital technologies”, “digital literacy”, “ICT”, “multimodal”. In order to review relevant literature as a foundation for further research, this review utilizes Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model. This model describes the development of children with the influences of narrow to broad contexts, such as individual, microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystem (Zhou & Brown, 2015; Grace et al., 2013). According to Grace et al. (2013), the bioecological model of Bronfenbrenner intends to capitalize on the interaction between complex layers of children’s environment through social policy and culture...After completing a previous professional project plan, the concept map used to identify relevant themes of the main issue is refined to narrow down on three main themes of this literature review. Additionally, 30 peer-reviewed articles used in this literature review are collected and summarised in a table to conclude common perspectives and different findings, which contribute to identifying three chosen themes. Moreover, the chosen themes are also found by reviewing implications and limitations from various journal articles.

sample size

n=30 (articles)

measures

Review.

results

We find that young children’s involvement combined with the mediation of parents probably fosters the learning process of early literacy by utilizing digital technologies at home. Moreover, the exchange of knowledge related to young children’s early literacy learning through using digital devices at home between schools and families also positively impacts the outcomes of the early literacy learning process.

conclusions

Even though the influence of digital devices on early literacy learning at home provides positive results, this paper identifies some gaps that emerge in the learning process.

limitations

Not discussed.