Exploring The Impact of Digital Teaching on Teacher Experience Case : Preschool Goes Digital

“It’s actually out of my expectations, surprisingly the kids know when to stop (using gadget), they also obey when their teachers say to stop, it’s a good news for all of us” Miss Rosy, our Preschool Principal shares her experience on Preschool Goes Digital launching 

Technology has become such a huge part of our lives. it has innovated the way we work, travel, deal with our health, and also how we are educated, but is it for the better?

What is the true impact of technology, especially direct to our kids? What exactly is digital education implementation for Preschool or Kindergarten? What if the kids won’t stop playing with the gadget? How to explain them do’s and don’t while using gadgets? What are the pros and cons? If you want to find out all this and more and boldly go where no one has gone before, read this out:

Before we look at the rise of digital learning, we need to know exactly what it is:

Digital learning is where a person learns something without the need for in-person lessons. This can be in the form of video tutorials, online lectures, PDF resources, or any other medium that lets the student learn from the comfort of their own home or anywhere they have an internet connection. Digital learning has actually been around longer than most people think.

Digitalisation is part of the daily lives of most people, and most countries around the world have programmes to introduce children and young people to information and communication technology (Sepúlveda, 2020). Some claim that digital tools for young children / anak usia dini (aged 1–5) should not be introduced until we know more about their negative effects (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2016). This may be a reason why Early Childhood Education (hereafter ECE) is excluded from these programmes in many countries (European Commission, 2019), and some teachers are  hesitant to use digital tools with the children (Palaiologou, 2016). However, many teachers find digital technology useful for educational purposes and play in addition to activities that involve movement – one does not have to exclude the other (Blum-Ross & Livingstone, 2018; Enochsson & Ribaeus, 2020; Marklund & Dunkels, 2016).

Digital teaching is rapidly changing the way teachers approach education. With the rise of technology in the classroom, many preschools (pendidikan anak usia dini/PAUD) are now exploring digital teaching tools and methods to enhance the learning experience of young students.

In Mutiara Harapan Islamic School we have running a new program in Preschool that has successfully gone digital that is called “Preschool Goes Digital”. This innovation from Mutiara Harapan Islamic School has already run all the digital learning since early 2022 that start with our Upper Secondary, then Lower Secondary lastly with Primary Goes Digital and now we just launched our Preschool Goes Digital. This program has integrated technology into their learning method in a meaningful way, creating a more engaging and interactive learning experience for students. Teachers at Preschool Goes Digital have reported several benefits from using technology in the classroom, including digital tools such as educational apps that allow students to actively participate in the lesson, keeping their attention focused and increasing their engagement in the material.

From teachers personal experience, says that Digital Natives, it’s not actually hard to acquaint them with digital learning platforms. They can easily adapt and could operate the platform independently right after the scaffolding was done. However they usually use the tablets mostly to play games and entertainment, so teachers need to attract the kids with various platforms that pick their interest.

Opportunities for growth and learning:

Despite the challenges, the teacher also experienced opportunities for growth and learning. They learned new skills and techniques for using technology in the classroom, which they can carry forward even after the pandemic has ended. Additionally, the teacher also developed new methods for engaging young students online, which could be useful for future classes.

Miss Zahra one of our Preschool teachers says that 

“Gladly, the first platform introduced in KG B was Canva, where they can explore their own creativity to make their own digital posters. Here they really need to adapt from writing and drawing manually, to typing for searching and choosing the items they wanted to be in their poster”

In conclusion, the Preschool Goes Digital initiative provides a strong example of how technology can be effectively integrated into the classroom to enhance teaching practices and support student learning and development. With the continued advancement of technology, it’s essential for educators to stay up-to-date with the latest tools and resources to provide their students with the best possible education. The Preschool Goes Digital initiative is a testament to the positive impact that technology can have on education and highlights the need for ongoing support and training for teachers. It has greatly impacted the teacher experience. The integration of technology has allowed teachers to work more effectively, resulting in improved student outcomes and a more fulfilling experience for both teachers and students. As technology continues to advance, it is likely that digital teaching will become an increasingly important aspect of education, especially in the preschool setting.