The Use of Technology and the Changing Landscape of Care in China: Extended Scopes and Challenges

• In Event: Virtual Poster Session
  In Virtual iPresentation Only: SIG-Critical Perspectives on Early Childhood Education Virtual Poster Session

Abstract

The landscape of early care has changed rapidly in the post-pandemic and digital era. This theoretical research explores the literature on childcare in China regarding the use of technology. Using an economic geography model of the core and the periphery of differentiation, the research examines the advantages and drawbacks of using technology in caregiving. Research finds that although digital platforms and apps have empowered preschools and families by enabling timely communication and resource sharing, the empowerment of the periphery is accompanied by domestication and commercialization. The research concludes with suggestions on reexamining the production and consumption of virtual media products and reconsidering the ethical conduct regarding the use of technology in early education.

Author

• Zitong Wei, China Women's University