Orig. title: Visual Research to Study the Digital Literacy and Multimodal Practices of Romanian Pre-School Children
Engl. transl.: Visual Research to Study the Digital Literacy and Multimodal Practices of Romanian Pre-School Children
Keywords
pre-school children
digital literacy
multimodal practices
visual research
drawing analysis
Publication details
| Year: | 2016 |
| Issued: | 2016 |
| Language: | English |
| Issue: | 3 |
| Start Page: | 58 |
| End Page: | 72 |
| Editors: | |
| Authors: | Tőkés G. |
| Type: | Journal article |
| Journal: | Acta Universitatis Sapientiae, Communicatio |
| Publisher: | Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania |
| Topics: | Internet usage, practices and engagement; Literacy and skills; Social mediation |
| Sample: | """In the research, 18 children participated, between 4 to 6 years of age, and one of their parents as well as the educators of the two kindergartens who were close to the selected children. In selecting the children participants, we aimed to achieve diversity regarding the place of residence, the socio-economic situation (SES), and gender. From the kindergarten of Cluj-Napoca, we selected 10 children: 5 girls and 5 boys. From the kindergarten of Miercurea Nirajului, we selected 8 children: 5 boys and 3 girls. All children’s families had middle SES based on the parents’ educational level and occupational status. All families had their own homes."" (Tokes, 2016, pp. 63-64)" |
Abstract
" The purpose of this research note was to highlight opportunities
offered by visual research to collect direct empirical data from pre-school
children about their digital literacy and multimodal practices. We have also
presented some interesting fi ndings obtained from a visual research conducted
among 4- to 6-year-old Romanian children. The issued research is part of
broader research titled Digital Literacy and Multimodal Practices of Young
Children from Romania. The mentioned research was part of the EU COST
Action IS1410 involving similar endeavours from over 30 countries (Bakó,
2016: 146). In our visual research, we have analysed 36 drawings belonging to
18 pre-school children. The topics of the drawings were: “My favourite digital
devices” and “My preferred digital applications”. The content and formal
analyses of drawings showed that pre-school children were aware of the digital
devices in their environment, but they were not experienced in using various
digital applications. Their emotional relationship with digital technology was
not strong either. In conclusion, we have found results similar to previous
research on the digital practices of young children"
Outcome
"""As expected, the analyses of the drawings of young Romanian children show
that the use of digital devices is an important but not dominant element of their
lives (Chaudron, 2015: 7). The content of the drawings indicate that Romanian preschool children grow up in media-rich homes, where they are in a daily contact
with a wide range of digital devices (Chaudron, 2015: 7). Children are familiar
with the digital devices, but their emotional relationship with these are weak.
They practise just a few multimodal activities; this scarcity is also indicated by
the plain content of the drawings. Children sketched almost the same pictures at
both drawing tasks although first they had to paint their favourite digital devices
and secondly their preferred digital activities."