Preschool Childrens Use of Digital

Devices, Their Academic

Achievement, and Social Interaction

REPORTED BY:
MA. LORRAINE M. DE LEON

Objectives
Determine the various effects of preschool childrens

use of digital devices

1. academic achievement
2. social interaction
Provide relevant information that can be beneficial
to parents in implementing the proper use of digital
devices
Offer substantial information to educators who
incorporate technology in the early childhood
classroom

Theoretical Framework
Digital Devices &
Academic Achievement

Digital Devices & Social

Interaction

Constructivism (Piaget)

Sociocultural (Vygotsky)

learning with

learning as a social

technology
Encourages learners to
actively process &
organize info

process
Zone of Proximal
Development (ZPD)
Scaffolding

Research Questions
What kind of digital devices are made available to
children at home and school? How long do they
use them?
2. Does the use of digital devices make a measurable
difference in preschool childrens academic
achievement?
3. Does the use of digital devices make a measureable
difference in their social interaction?
4. What are the advantages and/or disadvantages of
preschool childrens use of digital devices?
1.

Emerging Use of Digital Devices

Students today are growing
up in a world that is far
different technologically from
the world in which their
parents and grandparents
were students.
-Santrok

What a difference a century makes!!

19th-20th Century Learning

21st Century Learning

Limited access to

Infinite access to

information
Facts & info are
spoon-fed by
teachers
Goal is to master
content knowledge
Pencil/pen paper for
expression

information
Teachers use inquirybased approach
Goal is to learn skills to
solve problems
Powerful multi-media
technology tools for
expression

What a difference a century makes!

19th-20th Century Learning

21st Century Learning

Textbook learning

Real-world, real-time

from one source,

primarily print

learning from multiple

sources, mostly visual
and electronic

This is the challenge

in todays knowledge
society, where the
communication
media virtually
dominate every
major activity of
children and youth
from play to leisure,
family relations to
schooling,
socialization to
education
- Rosario-Braid and
Tuazon, 2011

Digital Devices & Academic

Achievement

Digital Devices and Academic Achievement

BENEFITS:
Foreign studies
Technology provides the opportunity for students to

make choices by giving them control over their own

learning and intellectual development.
Remarkable tools for motivating students and guiding
their learning.
Devices open up learning opportunities
Many apps teach academic skills & content

Digital Devices and Academic Achievement

BENEFITS:
Local studies
ICTs and the new media have empowered and

enhanced the independence of todays children and

youth. Rosario-Braid & Tuazon, 2011
Devices enhance the learning experience when used
as an alternative tool
Develops cognitive skills

Digital Devices and Academic Achievement

ISSUES:
Foreign studies
Attention control problems (increasing hyperactivity &

difficulty in concentrating)
Aggression
Sleep impairment
Cognitive delays
Impaired learning
Poor academic achievement

Digital Devices and Academic Achievement

ISSUES:
Local studies
Constant struggle to get childrens attention
Challenging for young children to organize and

process information

Digital Devices and Social

Interaction

Digital Devices and Social Interaction

BENEFITS:
Foreign studies
Students can share discoveries
Support each other in solving problems
Work collaboratively on projects
Students engage in diverse social interactions

Digital Devices and Social Interaction

BENEFITS:
Local Studies
Helps enhance social skills of children
Encourages interaction with other students and their

teacher

Digital Devices and Social Interaction

ISSUES:
Foreign studies
Disconnect from the world of physical play and

meaningful interactions
Isolation tendencies
Hinders the development of social competencies
Time allotted to family interaction is reduced

Digital Devices and Social Interaction

ISSUES:
Local studies
Affects the social and emotional development of

children
Erodes authority structures

Method/Data Gathering
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Influence of Technology in Early Childhood

Education
Language and reading readiness skills
Early learning of mathematical concepts
Promotes creativity & learning
Cognitive skill development
Eye-hand coordination
Interact cooperatively
Collaborative learning
Motivation to learn
Supports childrens developmental areas

Drawbacks & Dangers of Technology Use

Associated with emerging cases of childhood physical,

psychological and behavioral disorders

A variety of disabilities such as attention
impairments, aggression and other learning disorders
Disconnects from the essential world of physical play
and meaningful interactions
Poor academic performance
Sleep impairment
Irritability

Drawbacks & Dangers of Technology Use

Poses the risk of rewiring a childs brain
Isolates children from each other
Hampers childrens communication and

collaboration skills

Virtual World vs. Real World

Children in this information age need proper

guidance from adults

Adults need to understand the brain research on
technology
Help children create the ability to balance the instant
gratification technology provides with the minds
deeper engagement in more meaningful tasks
The importance of sustaining concentration,
focusing on one task to completion, cultivating skills
in grace, courtesy, and empathy

Virtual World vs. Real World

Adults must stay informed about the impact of

technology
Children should be provided with a broad base
emotionally, intellectually, & in the five senses
(before introducing the use of technology)

21st Century Learners/21st Century Learning

Active, experiential learners and natural multi-

taskers
Digital literacy is defined as critical thinking in the
context of technology use, of which there are two
components: digital skills and critical thinking
skills.
Digital media use does not replace but operates in
tandem with older forms, such as print

21st Century Learners

It is not exposure to media that harms language

acquisition & development of traditional literacy,

but the absence of age-appropriate, guidedinteraction by parents.
Technology changes the way children read & learn
there is a need to be aware of these changes & how
they influence information organization, selection,
evaluation & creation

Discussion Proper

Research Question #1
What kind of digital devices are made available
to children at home and school? How long do
they use them?

Digital Devices and Usage

In the home setting

Most commonly available to children are desktop and

laptop computers, tablet computers, particularly the
iPad, and mobile phones/smartphones.
(Marsh, 2004; OHara, 2011)
Handheld video games; digital cameras; and iPods or
audio/video recorders as to name some examples
(McManis & Gunnewig, 2012; Kim, 2013).

Digital Devices and Usage

In the school setting

Usability studies with the newest technologies,

particularly mobile ones such as tablets, find that
preschool children learn to use the devices quickly,
independently, confidently, and explore freely.
(Couse & Chen 2010: Michael Cohen Group & USDOE
2011)

Digital Devices and Usage

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (2010),

the # of hours spent by children (below 8) with

technology is rising dramatically as new applications
for children appear daily, some targeting babies as
young as 6 mos.
Handheld devices (cellphones, tablets, electronic

games) have considerably increased the accessibility

& usage of technology, especially by very young
children (Common Sense Media, 2013).

Research Question #2
Does the use of digital devices make a
measureable difference in preschool childrens
academic achievement?

Digital Devices & Academic Achievement

According to the study, New Millennium Learners

(2008), conducted by the Center for Educational

Research and Innovation, There is no conclusive
evidence about the effects of technology upon
academic achievement.
The proper utilization of digital devices could also be

instrumental to the childs growth in terms of

enhancing the learning process and supporting their
developmental areas.

Digital Devices & Academic Achievement

Studies have found, improvements in childrens

knowledge and skills for thinking, planning,

observing, problem solving, reading, language,
mathematics, hypothesis formation and testing, and
collaborative learning.
(Lieberman, Bates & So, 2009)

Research Question #3
Does the use of digital devices make a
measureable difference in their social
interaction?

Digital Devices & Social Interaction

Children working with technology in teacher-led

activities or in peer groups can be a powerful type

of learning, particularly for additional language
and social skills development. -McManis, 2012
Being consumed with digital devices can hinder

children from having appropriate interaction with

others

Digital Devices & Social Interaction

Technology use with regard to established attitudes

and social values

Engagement with technology may consume the time,

which could be dedicated to more beneficial

activities

Question #4
What are the advantages and/or disadvantages
of preschool childrens use of digital devices?

Advantages
Studies show that technology, particularly the use of

computer, supports and increases young childrens

skills in the social, cognitive, language, literacy,
writing, and mathematical realms. McManis, 2012
Digital tools have great potential for education and

development
Possibilities with digital media and digital tools are

practically endless

Disadvantages

Stimulation to a developing brain caused by

overexposure to technologies, has been shown to be

associated with executive functioning and attention
deficit, cognitive delays, impaired learning, increased
impulsivity & decreased ability to self-regulate.
Small, 2008

Disadvantages
Lose the ability to demonstrate empathy, recognize

social cues, focus for extended periods of time on one

task, or follow a linear thought without interruption
-Dretzin & Rushkoff, 2010
Multitasking habituates the brain to a kind of

superficial processing Oppenheimer, 2003

Physical inactivity in relation to usage of digital

media/digital devices

Conclusion

Conclusion
Adults role (parent/teacher)
Proper utilization of digital devices
Powerful tools
Sharing the digital experience with peers or an adult
Children should continue to engage in quality

activities essential in early childhood contexts

Recommendations

Recommendations
Provide children with well-thought-of activities
Know when to scaffold
Encourage children to give their thoughts
Entertain their questions
Opportunities for children to collaborate
Modeling
Encourage parents to set guidelines for their

childrens use of digital devices