Characterizations of preschool technology education: Analyses of seven individual preschool teachers’ and childcare attendants’ descriptions of their teaching

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Author
Sundqvist, P.
Year
2022

Purpose

The study investigates how kindergarten employees in Sweden describe their work on the topic of technology and how technology teaching is characterised in these descriptions. The research question is: How do kindergarten staff characterise technology education?

Result

The results show very varied practices in technology teaching, which means that the learning opportunities for children in different kindergartens are not the same. Some employees describe a clear and deliberate type of technology teaching, while others describe teaching that may be perceived as restricted and/or superficial. The study uncovered six ways to characterise technology education. Technology education (1) is about technological objects and systems in the children’s environment, (2) is about learning how to handle technological objects, (3) is doing experiments, (4) involves developing skills, (5) is naturally included in children’s play, and (6) is based on digital technology.

Design

The data were collected through seven semi-structured interviews and questionnaires involving seven kindergarten employees. The interviews lasted between 25 and 45 minutes and were both recorded and transcribed. Later, the material was analysed using narrative analysis.

References

Sundqvist, P. (2022). Characterizations of preschool technology education: Analyses of seven individual preschool teachers’ and childcare attendants’ descriptions of their teaching. International Journal of Technology and Design Education32(4), 2003–2018.

Online year: 2021

Issue year: 2022

Review year: 2022

Financed by

Mälardalen University, Sweden