Australian early childhood educators’ perspectives on digital teaching of geometry: The pedagogical enablers and barriers

Abstract

Although studies have investigated the enablers and barriers of digital teaching and learning of STEM, the integration of digital technologies into teaching geometry – one of the main mathematical concepts, is frequently ignored and does not garner much scholarly attention. To fill this specific gap, this small-scale qualitative study explored the perspectives of four early childhood educators who have successful experience in using digital technologies in the teaching and learning of geometry with preschool-age children. The analysis of data uncovered early childhood educators’ effective pedagogical practices of digital geometry teaching while discussing the pedagogical benefits and challenges of embedding digital educational materials in geometric teaching. The findings of this research can particularly contribute to a qualitative lens of practically utilising digital technologies in engaging children in explorative geometric learning, which thereby provides valuable information for early childhood stakeholders to take into consideration in digital pedagogies of geometry education.