Young Children, Apps, and iPads: Touch Screen Technology and Early Childhood Education

• In Event: Ready to Learn Initiative: Using a Transmedia Approach to Enhance Early Literacy and Numeracy Skills

Abstract

Objective: To present findings from a recent study with children ages 2-8 on the educational use of touch screen technologies and accompanying Apps (iPads and Apps). The “Young Children, Apps and iPad” study was designed to inform the making of educational transmedia properties currently being developed by Project LAMP (Learning Apps Media Partnership), a project of the Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network (HITN), and Project UMIGO (You Make It Go), a project of Window to the World Communications (WTTW. The educational goal is to increase young children’s acquisition of early literacy and mathematic skills. This study will be presented within the context of the larger agenda of formative research and summative evaluation conducted for both projects.

Theoretical Framework: The underlying theoretical orientation views iPads and Apps as satisfying the defining criteria for convergent media. Additionally, the LAMP and UMIGO projects view convergence to include various content types as well as digital platforms and technologies. Curriculum is integrated within and across content and platform, and is sequenced through leveling within an App experience, increasing in complexity. The App study, specifically, hypothesizes preschoolers as young as 2 years old can navigate and benefit from iPad use.

Methods: The study includes in-depth interviews and observations of children ages 2-8 using iPads and Apps, as well as small group interviews and completed questionnaires by caregivers.

A total of 60 children participated. The children were recruited to represent three age groups: 2-3, 4-5, and 6-8 years of age; an equal gender distribution; and a mix of novice and experienced iPad users. Two thirds of participating children live in low-income families.

This study was conducted in two phases. Phase One was completed with children 2-8 years old and their caregivers at a research facility. Children were observed during in-depth interviews, while their caregivers participated in group interviews. All caregivers completed a pre-interview survey about media and technology use. Phase Two was conducted with children 2-8 years old in schools that serve low-income children. Caregivers completed the media survey.

Data Sources: Data sources include interview transcripts, observation logs, and parent interviews and completed surveys.

Results: iPad technology offers an accessible and meaningful media platform for young children. Children as young as 2 years old access, play and learn using iPads and Apps. Young children explore and learn in ways that are natural to them (touch, repeat, trial and error). The App interface is as critical as the platform and needs to be intuitive in order to easily afford access.

Significance: iPad technology allows for access and productive play in an educational digital environment. Findings indicate that these technologies offer a new convergent platform for educational use with children as young as 2 years old. iPad technology is a viable component of a transmedia eco-system.

Author

• Michael Cohen, Michael Cohen Group LLC