Teachers’ Perspectives on Using Technology to Promote Literacy in Children Between 4 – 6 Years in Saudi Arabia State Schools in Al-Baha

Abstract

: The study aimed to explore the perspectives of preschool teachers on the use of educational applications to teach reading and writing skills to pre-school children. The study was conducted on 10 pre-school teachers working in 6 schools in Al-Baha City, Saudi Arabia. The results showed teachers’ positive opinions towards technology and educational applications in teaching reading and writing skills to pre-school children. Also, it presents different teachers' methods of integrating technology with teaching children reading and writing skills. Most teachers use educational applications on tablets such as Adnan, Lamsa and YouTube to teach reading and writing skills, while some teachers use computer software to teach writing like Word, Painter and Notes. Few of teachers preferred to use traditional methods more than technological methods in teaching writing, despite their support for the importance of technology in educating children now. Teachers reported using them during the daily program periods, especially in the main period and the last meeting individually and collaboratively. Also, teachers determine their uses of technology according to the educational activities whether for evaluation of children's progress or teaching writing and reading skills. However, teachers expressed some obstacles that prevent them from using digital technology effectively in teaching children the skills of reading and writing, such as lack of professional and financial support and equipment. Therefore, this study suggested that the Ministry of Education intensify should make an efforts to support pre-schools by providing training courses for teachers about using technology with children, providing technological devices and continuous