Digital technologies in early childhood education : a frame analysis of preservice teachers’ perceptions

Abstract

<div lang="en" class="abs"><p class="abs_header">Abstract</p><p>Research on early childhood teachers’ perceptions of technology integration has been criticized for not paying enough attention to the unique pedagogical characteristics of early childhood education. This qualitative study contributes to resolving this need by scrutinizing preservice teachers’ perceptions of technology usage through the frames of education, socialization, and care, which form a harmonious whole referred to as the EDUCARE approach. The findings suggest that an individual preservice teacher can be for or against technology usage depending on the frame they reflect on technology integration through. Children’s ages and participants’ beliefs about the children’s access to technology at home were the most significant factors behind the variation in dynamics between and within the frames. The implications for future research are also discussed.</p></div>