Digital tools that support learning

Published: September 6, 2024

  

Operations, Miscellaneous

This week, the Public Health Agency of Sweden issued recommendations for balanced screen time among children. Tellusbarn’s preschools have long been operating in accordance with these recommendations. The educators actively work to integrate digital tools in a way that promotes the children’s learning.

A common misconception is that digitization in preschool necessarily means that children spend more time in front of screens. However, that doesn’t have to be the case.

-“At Tellusbarn , we want the children to be creators of digital content, not consumers. Our educators use digital tools only when they can add value to the learning experience—such as a USB micro-egg to explore or robots to program. We encourage children to create music, images, videos, and stories—both digitally and analogously. Our children should not use digital tools in preschool to play games or watch videos on their own, unless there is a specific purpose,” says Maria Friberg, director of Tellusbarn’s preschools.

Tellusbarn’s goal is to make digital tools a natural and playful part of children’s everyday lives at preschool. The technology is used to create exciting and creative play environments. For example, by projecting images onto the wall, children can be taken on a journey to art museums or enjoy a shared reading experience where everyone can see the pictures in the book.

According to the Swedish National Agency for Education, the mission of preschool is to prepare children for the digital society in which they will grow up. The goal is to provide all children with equal opportunities and to use digital tools in a way that promotes learning rather than consumption.

Language development is an area where digital technology can really make a difference. Apps that read text aloud in different languages and digital translation services can help multilingual children develop their language skills. Green-screen technology, which allows children to create imaginative images, is also a fun way to introduce discussions about critical thinking and the difference between reality and fantasy.

-For us, the screen should never be used as a babysitter. However, we are happy to use digital tools in creative ways that allow children to actively discover and explore both themselves and the world.

The educators at Tellusbarn have completed internal training to develop their ability to use digital tools in the classroom. There are also guidelines for this within the organization.