Papers by Lionella Sirainen
The aim of this thesis was to design a pilot workshop for 4 to 6 years old children with the purp... more The aim of this thesis was to design a pilot workshop for 4 to 6 years old children with the purpose of supporting their development of multiliteracy and ICT competencies within the framework of the Finnish National Core Curriculum for Early Childhood Education and Care. The Pedagogy of Multiliteracy and the European Framework for the Digital Competence of Educators were merged with the theoretical framework of the National Curriculum, complementing each other. Additionally, this thesis aimed to evaluate the overall response to this workshop and its suitability for children and teachers. The pilot workshop was designed using the Narrative Learning in the Fifth-Dimension method. It provided imaginative and playful contexts in which educators and children applied their existing media and technological knowledge, skills, resources and experiences on an equal level. The pilot workshop was implemented in a daycare with children aged 6. Data was collected by assessment forms filled out by the children and teacher. Pedagogical documentation and researcher´s participant observation provided additional data. Results showed that the imaginative and playful context of the workshop sustained chil-dren´s engagement. It also enabled them to apply and enhance their existent skills, while utilizing diverse forms of communication. The results revealed the workshop as a suitable, innovative approach to enhance children´s multiliteracy and ICT skills. Moreover, it can be adapted to the group´s needs, the available technological resources and the teachers' personal skills. Designing an application for supporting teachers and enabling children to work more interactively and autonomously, was suggested for future development.
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Papers by Lionella Sirainen