Teachers’ perceptions on the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in teaching young children (3-6 years) in classroom

Abstract

This study investigates teacher educators’ perception of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in teaching 3-6 years young children in Bangladesh, against the backdrop of the government’s National ICT policy of 2022. The policies emphasize the integration of ICT across pre-primary sectors. Including teacher training. Ten educators from two different pre-primary schools were selected for IDI and FGD. During their interview they revealed that the view ICT as more than just a teaching tool, recognizing its potentials to enhance education quality and facilitate professional learning. However, they also acknowledge that simply providing ICT tool is insufficient for ensuring quality education; teachers need technological knowledge, pedagogical strategies for ICT integration and cross-curriculum experiences. Therefore, ICT courses in teacher education should go beyond operational skills to include social communication, knowledge construction and dissemination. Successful ICT integration requires a supportive professional culture and administrative support. Overall, the study underscores the importance of comprehensive ICT training for teachers and the need for a holistic approach to ICT integration in Bangladeshi education.