The bachelor’s thesis titled The Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Slovenian Kindergartens consists of a theoretical and a research part.
The purpose of the diploma thesis is to investigate the extent and manner in which information and communication technologies are used in Slovenian kindergartens. The emphasis is on identifying their role in the educational process, the frequency of their use, the types of tools employed, and the attitudes of educators towards their integration into work with children.
Data were collected using a questionnaire prepared on the 1KA website. The study included 42 pedagogical workers: 20 assistant educators and 22 educators. The questionnaire contained 26 closed and open-ended questions. The first set of questions addressed demographic data: the age of participants, their job position, level of education, region of employment, the age group of children they currently work with, and the number of years of work experience. This was followed by questions about the use of information and communication technologies and multimedia content. The results were analyzed using a descriptive method and presented in figures for easier visualization.
The research results indicate that information and communication technologies and multimedia content are gradually gaining their place in preschool education. Among the 42 educators and assistant educators who participated in the study, the majority expressed a positive attitude towards the use of technology. Respondents highlighted better access to educational content as the most significant positive effect of using information and communication technologies, followed by increased motivation in children and the promotion of creativity. However, the research also reveals numerous challenges and reservations faced by professional staff. Regarding the connection between information and communication technologies and children’s motivation, it was found that 59% of respondents believe they observe greater motivation in children when technology is used in activities. It was also established that the majority of educators believe that multimedia content positively impacts the learning process and that professional staff recognize both the advantages and disadvantages of these technologies.
|