Title: Teaching natural science concepts to young children with mobile devices and hands-on activities. A case study

Authors: Michail Kalogiannakis; Maria Ampartzaki; Stamatios Papadakis; Evangelia Skaraki

Addresses: Department of Preschool Education, Faculty of Education, University of Crete, T.K74100, Gallos, Rethymno, Crete, Greece ' Department of Preschool Education, Faculty of Education, University of Crete, T.K74100, Gallos, Rethymno, Crete, Greece ' Department of Preschool Education, Faculty of Education, University of Crete, T.K74100, Gallos, Rethymno, Crete, Greece ' Department of Preschool Education, Faculty of Education, University of Crete, T.K74100, Gallos, Rethymno, Crete, Greece

Abstract: Over the years, researchers and educators have used various forms of ICT to deliver innovative ideas and teach young children. Technologies are always perceived as catalysts which can enliven the process of teaching and learning. The present study presents, an experimental teaching intervention, which seeks to examine whether early childhood children aged five to seven can develop an understanding of the concept of gravity and knowledge about the planets using hands-on activities, as well as smart mobile devices and the programming environment of ScratchJr. The need to use ScratchJr emerged from the lack of developmentally appropriate software suitable for digital creation and programming in preschool education. The results of the study were quite encouraging as the children started developing an understanding of the concept of gravity, and there was an improvement in their existing knowledge of the planets.

Keywords: ScratchJr; planets; gravity; astronomy; mobile applications; early childhood education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2018.090965

International Journal of Teaching and Case Studies, 2018 Vol.9 No.2, pp.171 - 183

Received: 24 Nov 2017
Accepted: 06 Dec 2017
Published online: 04 Apr 2018 *

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