Abstract:

Frequency and duration of technology use by young children are important considerations for families as young children are being increasingly exposed to digital technologies in their everyday lives. Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) can offer high quality learning and development to all children, yet there is a need to ensure more qualified professionals in the sector (OECD, 2019). Based on research, recommendations suggest that practitioners should use technology in a developmentally appropriate way, make informed choices, provide transformational learning experiences for the early learners and develop young children’s digital citizenship. Furthermore, digital tools can be used to strength the relationship among families, communities and professionals (U.S. Department of Education & U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2016). Moreover, European Commission recognises that reflection is an important process that assists professionals to identify their existing competences and needs for further professional development (European Commission, 2021).

Given the importance of preschool education, the European Commission currently initiated the adaptation of SELFIEforTEACHERS into ECEC. SELFIEforTEACHERS is an online tool that facilitates teachers’ reflection on their current state of digital competence with the aim to support ECEC professionals build their digital competence and respond to the specific needs of young children in a digital context. It follows the structure of the European Framework for the Digital Competence of Educators comprising six areas of competences and six-level progression model (Redecker, 2017). Upon completing their self-reflection, teachers receive a feedback report with their results and suggestions to level up.

The adaptation process addresses the particularities of ECEC and reflects literature and research on the field. It provides examples that respond to the learning context of the early years and the needs of ECEC professionals. Furthermore, a research team worked together with JRC and adapted SELFIEforTEACHERS content to ECEC context, while a number of consultations took place with experts, the ECEC working group of the European Commission and ECEC professionals who provided constructive feedback.

The adapted SELFIEforTEACHERS for ECEC will be piloted in 2023, in three European Union countries comprising quantitative and qualitative studies to test its validity and reliability. Upon completion, the tool will be available in all official European Union languages accompanied with supporting material to assist ECEC professionals during its implementation.

References:
[1] European Commission (2021). Early Childhood Education and Care. How to recruit, train and motivate well-qualified staff. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.
[2] OECD (2019). Providing quality Early Childhood Education and Care: Results from the Starting Strong Survey 2018, TALIS. Paris: OECD Publishing.
[3] Redecker, C. (2017). European Framework for the Digital Competence of Educators: DigCompEdu. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.
[4] U.S. Department of Education & U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2016). Early Learning and Educational Technology Policy Brief. https://tech.ed.gov/files/2016/10/Early-Learning-Tech-Policy-Brief.pdf

Keywords:

SELFIEforTEACHERS, ECEC, self-reflection, digital competence.