Electronic media are ever-present for young children; yet, far more is known about media at home than in child care settings. This two-part survey study examined early childhood teachers' beliefs, access to, and self-reported use of media in U.S. settings. One group of teachers (N = 118) reported on media beliefs and practices (Study 1), and…

Educational success stories are powerful tools that shape the decisions of policymakers. This study explores the ways in which these stories are crafted and how they differ among various educational stakeholders. Using administrator and teacher interviews from a school district which earned accolades for implementation of a 1:1 laptop program,…

Children frequently encounter computers in many aspects of daily life. It is important to consider the consequences not only on children's cognitive development but on their emotional and self-development. This paper reports on research undertaken in Australia with 52 children aged between 44 and 79 months to explore the existence or not of a…

Computer technology holds promise for facilitating learning and teaching in the current educational systems at all levels. This study examined computer use in Jordanian pre-school settings. The study surveyed 113 pre-school teachers from 43 pre-school settings, gathering information about their perception of using computer in their classrooms.…

We describe two empirical investigations of three- and four-year-old children's uses of technology, one conducted in family homes and the other in preschool settings, with the aim of comparing the ways in which children's learning with technology is supported in these different settings. The studies conceptualise learning within a sociocultural…

Touch-screen technologies, on-demand multimedia, and mobile devices are prompting a rethinking of education. In a world of increasing fiscal constraints, state leaders are under pressure to capitalize on these new technologies to improve productivity and help students excel. The task is daunting across the education spectrum, but for those in…

Computers were introduced in Greek kindergartens of our country with the new curricula for kindergarten, "Inter-disciplinary Integrated Framework of Study Programs," ("Official Journal of the Hellenic Republic," 376 t.B/18-10-2001, article 6), in order to contribute to the spherical growth of children and to extend their…

Earlier observations suggested that young children's engagement with information and communication technologies (ICT) could be unproductive. Interplay: Play, Learning and ICT in Pre-school Settings set out to explore how practitioners can enhance three-year-olds' to four-year-olds' encounters with new technologies in the playroom. The study took…

The United States has invested in educational technology and nourished the enthusiasm to infuse computers in K-12 classrooms since the early 90s through various technology policy initiatives. However, the Digital Divide and differences between the expected and actual technology use in schools are still in existence. In line with this problematic,…

The use of computers and the Internet by students has increased rapidly in recent years. In 2001, computer and Internet use was more widespread among school-age children and adolescents than among adults. The now commonplace use of these technologies follows the installation of computers and Internet access in nearly all public schools and in a…

To better prepare early childhood teachers for computer use, more information about their current skills and classroom practices is needed. Sampling from a large metropolitan public school system in the USA, the study surveyed 297 state pre-kindergarten teachers, gathering information about their attitudes, skills, and instructional methods…

Computers have become an increasingly accepted learning tool in the early childhood classroom. Despite initial concerns regarding the effect of computers on children's development, past research has indicated that computer use by young children can support their learning and developmental outcomes (Siraj-Blatchford & Whitebread, 2003; Yelland,…

This article reviews the research evidence that relates to the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in pre-school settings. While there is widespread agreement that children should be helped to become confident users of ICTs, the literature presents a more qualified picture of potential benefits and barriers. The review…

The 2011 edition of the "Digest of Education Statistics" is the 47th in a series of publications initiated in 1962. The "Digest" has been issued annually except for combined editions for the years 1977-78, 1983-84, and 1985-86. Its primary purpose is to provide a compilation of statistical information covering the broad field…