“Everybody has to get a Chance to Learn”: Democratic Aspects of Digitalisation in Preschool.

The study investigates how curriculum objectives on digitalisation are viewed in relation to the general, democratic mission of Swedish kindergartens. The research questions are: 1. How do kindergarten employees discuss democracy in kindergarten? 2. How do kindergarten employees discuss the democratic aspects of digital tools in kindergartens?

The results show that the staff in the three kindergartens had different views on the use of digital tools and the development of the children's digital skills, and these views corresponded with their general view on democracy. Some saw digital tools as unimportant in kindergartens, while others regarded them as an important part of democratic education. The groups that valued digital tools also discussed their own learning and role as teachers more openly. The kindergarten teachers' and assistants’/skilled workers' own the group that used them least cited lack of digital skills as a reason not to use digital devices.

A total of 24 kindergarten teachers and assistants/skilled workers from three kindergartens in Sweden participated in the study. These were divided into four different groups, each consisting of four to eight participants. Focus group interviews, including audio recordings, of the groups were conducted to identify how democracy and the democratic aspects of digital tools in kindergartens were discussed.

Enochsson, A. B., & Ribaeus, K. (2021). ““Everybody has to get a Chance to Learn”: Democratic Aspects of Digitalisation in Preschool”. Early Childhood Education Journal, 49(6):1087-1098.