From Flipping Pages to Scrolling Screens: Exploring Emergent Digital Literacy Behaviors of Young Children

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 1:45 pm
  In Roundtable Session: AI, Technology, Digital Litercy, and Computational Thinking n Early Childhood

Abstract

Young children are increasingly expected to navigate digital texts, yet little is known about how they actually read, think, and make meaning in these environments. This qualitative study investigates the emergent digital literacy behaviors of first-grade students interacting with narrative and informational texts on iPads using the Epic! app. Analyzed through a multimodal lens, the findings reveal that digital reading is a strategic, embodied process shaped by children’s choices, sensory engagement, and moments of problem-solving. Observed behaviors included tool adaptation to support comprehension, self-regulation strategies, and personalization of the reading experience. Results offer insights for educators, app developers, and researchers, emphasizing the need for intentional scaffolding, responsive design, and methods that reflect the complexity of early digital literacy development.

Authors

• Amanda M. Mirabella, University of North Carolina Asheville

• Ilene R. Berson, University of South Florida

• Jolyn Blank, University of South Florida

• Michael J. Berson, University of South Florida

• Lisa M. Lopez, University of South Florida