Choosing Apps to Implement into a Preschool Curriculum

 Choosing Apps to Implement into a Preschool Curriculum

There are a lot of Apps in the App Store that target the preschool age group. Many of the apps on the market say they offer some educational value, but there is limited research in assessing the quality of these apps. This makes it difficult for teachers and parents to evaluate the effectiveness of “educational” apps. A framework called the four pillars was created by Meyer et al., (2021) to assess the quality of preschool apps. This framework is broken down into the following four sections:

1. Active Learning

2. Engagement in the Learning Process

3. Meaningful Learning

4. Social Interaction 

This framework is important for choosing which apps to implement into a preschool Curriculum. Active and meaningful learning allows children to engage in technology in a beneficial way. Engagement in the learning process makes sure that preschoolers aren’t passively just staring at a screen, and most importantly social interaction, which is an important part of a preschool classroom. Children need to interact with their teachers and classmates while using any technology. 

The four pillars are one of the first of their kind for evaluating preschool apps. As technology continues to be an essential part of the classroom it is important that these frameworks are implemented.  

My Food – Nutrition for Kids is top-ranked according to the four pillars framework

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/my-food-nutrition-for-kids/id987953868

References

Meyer, M., Zosh, J. M., McLaren, C., Robb, M., McCaffery, H., Golinkoff, R. M., Hirsh-Pasek, K., & Radesky, J. (2021). How educational are “educational” apps for young children? App Store content analysis using the four pillars of learning framework. Journal of Children and Media, 15(4), 526–548. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482798.2021.1882516