There’s an app for that? Examining and Fostering Early Childhood Educators Content Knowledge and Use of iPads Within an Early Years Setting.

In partnership with Niagara Region Children’s Services, Brock University, and Speech Services Niagara, twenty‐seven educators from Licensed Child Care Centres across the Niagara Region were selected to participate in this unique research project to gather data to support future integration and effective use of iPads within all of Niagara’s licensed child care programs. The project took place from February 2014 – March 2015 and sought to gauge how educators’ personal beliefs might impact the use of and perceived educational value of tablets in the early year’s classroom.

How Did Participants and their Programs Benefit?

• Access to an additional tool to support inclusive practices and pedagogies.
• Free iPad to keep for program’s use beyond the project.
• Opportunity to engage in an innovative research study which measures the impact of iPads on educators’ practice and pedagogy and preschool children’s learning.
• Increased understanding regarding the role of technology on children’s learning.
• Enhanced technological competence.