Abstract:

The aim of this research is to design playful learning (PL) model to promote children’s new literacies through playful learning. Specifically, the aim of the study is to explore preschoolers’ motivational triggers and the teacher’s motivational scaffolding in playful learning processes. In the playful learning processes, children are active learners and knowledge co-creators. New literacies refer to a variety of media and digital practices such as information seeking and media production. The study follows principles of Design-Based Research (DBR) with the aim of designing playful learning model and to advance theory and impacting educational practice. The research was carried out in a Finnish preschool context. Altogether 17 preschoolers participated in the New Literacy PL project which included planning, making and presenting own news. The video data was collected by the principles of the video ethnography and analysed by qualitative content analysis. The results show that preschoolers’ motivational triggers to engage in the process of playful learning of new literacies are to talk about and to see the news from the video, to make their own news and to see each other's news. Results also show that when children can decide the topic of their news, the topic emanates from their own interests and life. In addition, the preschoolers are interested in using digital tools which promote their digital skills. Teacher’s motivational scaffolding in the process was manifested as encouraging the children in doing the news and as acknowledging children's motivation and interest. In addition, teacher scaffolding associated with observing the learning process and providing guidance when needed, providing different solutions to problems, and appreciating children’s individual and collaborative learning processes. Based on the findings pedagogical model of playful learning was developed. The model can support new literacies and can be utilized in playful teaching. Next phase is to test and the model with older primary school children. The research provides the model, and knowledges about children’s motivation and the teacher’s pedagogical practices in the PL context. The model is useful in the schools and teacher education.

Keywords:

Motivational scaffolding, motivational triggers, playful learning model, new literacies, Design-Based Research.