Investigation of 3- to 4-Year-Old Children’s Interaction with Literacy Teaching Apps

Abstract

This study investigated use of iPad apps in young children’s literacy learning. This study has two phases: app appraisal phase, and the child play phase. In the app appraisal phase, this study chose five available apps from the iTune recommended website. A GIARS rating scale was used to appraise the chosen apps in 10 areas in GIARS: age appropriateness, contextual environment, spatial design, seamlessness, scaffolding, non-violence, process orientation, real world model, and the anatomy of a gesture. In the child play phase, five 3-4 year old young children were observed while playing the apps to learn literacy. Early childhood educators and technician app developers will find this paper useful in conceptualising appropriate apps in young children’s literacy learning.