Preschoolers developing words and worlds

Abstract

This is a participatory project developed in a Portuguese kindergarten and organized into two phases. The first is the development of a multidisciplinary activity plan made for and with children. The goal is to work with children in a TALK area inside the classroom to improve language, and to initiate them into Information Communication Technologies (ICT) skills promoting Media Education (ME) as well. In Portugal, ICT integration is rarely implemented at kindergarten age, and frequently uses dependent technologies (requiring adult assistance). On the other hand, in literature tangible interfaces are considered a good approach to fulfill child abilities and start digital literacy. The second phase intends to update a low-cost manipulative to the same end: a digital flannel board. Nevertheless, children are its design builders, and as co-researchers they will plan, execute, explore, play and evaluate their own interface.