On this page we describe how Vaasa’s Early Childhood Education and Care strengthened digital skills and multiliteracy in 2022–2024. You will quickly get an overview of the objectives, implementation and practical tips for your work.
Promoting innovative learning environments in Early Childhood Education and Care – Multiliteracy in the digital world
What we did and why
In autumn 2022 we launched a development project funded by the Finnish National Agency for Education. The aims were:
- to build a bilingual model for practising multiliteracy in digital learning environments
- to standardise digital practices and strengthen the basic skills of staff and children
- to improve the quality of digital learning and increase diverse use of tools
The project is based on the Early Childhood Education and Care plan and the New Literacies programme.
How we proceeded
- Autumn 2022: planning and support materials
- Spring 2023: digital stories in teaching
- Autumn 2023: multimedia productions
- Spring 2024: augmented reality in everyday practice
Digital plan and support for everyday practice
We updated the Early Childhood Education and Care digital plan and implemented it with training for all staff.
Each unit has a digital tutor who helps with everyday problems. For the digital tutors we created an annual schedule that gathers the year’s tasks together.
We mapped skills and organised basic iPad trainings. We also practised QR codes:
- guidance to e- and audiobooks (e.g. Lukulumo, Yle Areena)
- links guiding information searches
- QR codes that play audio (ChirpQR)
Digital stories in learning
In 2023 we adopted Lukulumo and Polyglutt. Units chose the service based on their language.
Lukulumo and Polyglutt help to:
- strengthen language and vocabulary
- support multilingual children
- increase inclusion and equality
- connect stories and play
You can find tips for use in the Finnish National Agency for Education’s materials:
- Listening to an audiobook
- I listen, therefore I read
In addition, the Vaasa Library’s reading passes support reading in everyday life.
Create together: multimedia
In autumn 2023 we focused on production. Staff received training on various apps.
Examples include:
- iMovie and GarageBand
- Stop Motion Studio Pro
- Book Creator
Groups combined e- and audiobooks into projects. Children assessed activities by taking photographs – an easy way to participate.
We also published an open advent calendar on Instagram.
Augmented reality
In spring 2024 we experimented with augmented reality. We chose apps that meet data protection and security requirements.
The Magic Floor brought movement and gamified tasks into learning. It suited children of different ages and skill levels.
Experiences:
- easy to adopt
- encouraged participation
- also suitable for the smallest children
- increased movement and collaborative activity
Areas for improvement included, for example, the language options of devices and the functionality of apps.
Taikalattia was made available for loan to Early Childhood Education and Care in autumn 2024.
Materials (in finnish)
- digital annual schedule
- QR code packages
- multiliteracy learning modules
- task cards
- game board for 3–5-year-olds
- instruction: children assess by photographing