AN EXPLORATION PROJECT: THE PROCESS OF BUILDING A TECHNOLOGY EMBEDDED STEAM LEARNING COMMUNITY THROUGH MOBILE GROUP APPLICATIONS

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Nikita Rajan Revankar (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Abstract: Early exposure to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) has a profound effect on long-term educational and societal outcomes (Brenneman, 2011; Dejarnette, 2012; Lamb, Akmal, & Petrie, 2015). Today, we are living in an era of rapid technological and digital innovation. Group messaging applications on smartphones have enabled increased social interaction and communication. In recent years, there has been widespread excitement around the potential for technology to transform learning (Escueta, 2017). New technologies offer exciting opportunities to enhance home-school explorations, family engagement, and a child"s learning in early childhood (Snell, 2018). As investments in educational technology continue to grow, the possibilities to explore and maximize the potential of digital learning platforms, are endless. There is an apparent gap in the availability of STEAM-based resources for parents living in more rural areas such as Pitt County. This is due to lack of time, infrastructure, and a platform on which a network of STEAM-based parent communication can be facilitated. Technological innovations, such as Microsoft Teams, the Band Application, or the GroupMe Application, can be utilized to strengthen the STEAM learning community amongst parents with children aged 2-5 years, in Pitt County.The goal of this project is to (1) identify and explore mobile group applications for parents who have participated in previous two Early Childhood STEAM workshops; (2) create a survey/questionnaire to explore the parents" perceptions and opinions toward the possibility of this technology-embedded learning community; (3) set the foundation for this technology based parent community to grow in the future. By utilizing this form of group messaging, parents will be able to share ideas and communicate updates with the research team, and one another. This will also serve as a means to evaluate and document parents" progress with STEAM implementation in their home. Today, group messaging applications on smartphones have enabled increased social interaction and communication. Findings from this study reveal that most parents find group-messaging applications, in particular, the Band Application, user-friendly and easily accessible. If managed properly, this innovation can be utilized to strengthen the STEAM learning community amongst parents with children aged 2-5 years, in Pitt County, North Carolina.

Additional Information

Publication

Thesis

Language: English

Date: 2020

Keywords

STEAM, STEM, Early Childhood, Technology, Parent Community, Group Applications

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