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Mobile Devices for Preschool-Aged Children

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Handbook of Mobile Teaching and Learning

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Abstract

Children are using mobile devices at home and in schools. This chapter discusses the use of media and technology with mobile devices in early childhood education (ECE) with preschool-aged children. Children under 5 years old spend almost 4 h per day interacting with mobile devices, and this time increases to over 7 h per day between the ages 5 and 10. Since average time spent on devices continues to grow, exploring any potential impact on children’s learning is important. Children can communicate through speaking, symbol recognition, and the production of written language including the use of a touchscreen or keyboards that have expanded traditional literacies in digital literacies. This chapter also explores the complexity of digital literacy including the use of interactive media, such as software programs, applications (apps), broadcast and streaming media, television, eBooks, the Internet, and other content for young children. This chapter focuses on the particular use of iPads, as the ubiquitous nature of these mobile devices warrants further exploration. It also discusses an urgent need to integrate media and technology and mobile devices in early childhood education. Additionally, this chapter portrays a pressing need for research with preschool-aged children and the use of mobile devices.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Rachel Ralph & Stephen Petrina

Authors
  1. Rachel Ralph
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  2. Stephen Petrina
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Correspondence to Rachel Ralph .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. CEO, WEMOSOFT, Wollongong, NSW, Australia

    Yu (Aimee) Zhang

  2. Teaching and Learning, The Ohio State University, Upper Arlington, OH, USA

    Dean Cristol

Section Editor information

  1. Department of Educational Studies, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA

    Belinda Gimbert

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Ralph, R., Petrina, S. (2019). Mobile Devices for Preschool-Aged Children. In: Zhang, Y., Cristol, D. (eds) Handbook of Mobile Teaching and Learning. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-41981-2_118-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-41981-2_118-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-41981-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-41981-2

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