Early Digital Literacy Processing: Constructing Working Systems Across Modes of Communication

• In Event: Roundtable Session IV
  In Roundtable Session: Working Systems and Systematic Reviews in Digital Literacy

Abstract

Young children’s digital literacy development requires a theoretical expansion beyond traditional print-based models. This study introduces a conceptual framework integrating literacy processing theory and multimodal communication systems to examine how children navigate touchscreens and construct meaning across digital modes. Findings from a design-based study suggest a developmental trajectory in digital literacy, from device handling to multimodal affordances. The theory and preliminary findings support an expansion of early digital literacy theory and research to inform stakeholders.

Author

• Nancy L Anderson, Texas Woman's University - Denton, TX