iPads in the Early Years by Dezuanni, Michael; Dooley, Karen; Gattenhof, Sandra;

Short description:

This book discusses the impact on children’s learning when iPads were introduced in three very different early years settings in Brisbane, Australia. It outlines how researchers worked with pre-school teachers and parents to explore how iPads can assist with letter and word recognition, the development of oral literacy and digital literacies and talk around play. Chapters consider the possibilities for using iPads for creativity and arts education through photography, storytelling, drawing, music creation and audio recording, and critically examine the literacies enabled by educational software available on iPads, and the relationship between digital play and literacy development.

Long description:

Digital devices, such as smart phones and tablet computers, are becoming commonplace in young children’s lives for play, entertainment, learning and communication. Recently, there has been a great deal of focus on the educational potential of these devices in both formal and informal educational settings. There is now an abundance of educational ‘apps’ available to children, parents, and teachers, which claim to enhance children’s early literacy and numeracy development, but to date, there has been very little formal investigation of the educational potential of these devices.

This book discusses the impact on children’s learning when iPads were introduced in three very different early years settings in Brisbane, Australia. It outlines how researchers worked with pre-school teachers and parents to explore how iPads can assist with letter and word recognition, the development of oral literacy and digital literacies and talk around play. Chapters consider the possibilities for using iPads for creativity and arts education through photography, storytelling, drawing, music creation and audio recording, and critically examine the literacies enabled by educational software available on iPads, and the relationship between digital play and literacy development.

iPads in the Early Years provides exciting insights into children’s digital culture and learning in the age of the iPad. It will be key reading for researchers, research students and teacher educators focusing on the early years, as well as those with an interest in the role of ICTS, and particularly tablet computers, in education.

"This is essential reading for researchers, research students and teacher educators focusing on the early years, as well as those with an interest in the role of ICTs, and particularly tablet computers, in education"- Martine Horvath, Early Years Educator, May 2015

"Underlying the writing is reference to theory and pedagogical approaches. The authors present an honest account of the challenges of the research, discussing how adaptations to teaching were made/needed but also reporting the opportunities it created, which would not have been as accessible or possible without the use of iPads. The book concludes with five ‘digital basics’ to help people design learning for children. " -  Dr Anna Mary Cooper, University of Salford, The Psychologist

Table of Contents:

Introduction  1. Literacy and Digital Culture in the Early Years  2. Arts Education and iPads in the Early Years  3. Drawing and Writing on the Screen  4. Digital Media Literacies in the Early Years  5. Drama, Storymaking and iPads in the Early Years  6. Visual Arts Learning With iPads  7. In and Out of Preschool Learning with iPads  8. Networking iPads into Preschool Spaces  Conclusion