G8 Education is leading the way in preparing children as digital citizens through its Digital Literacies @ Play program.
Designed to integrate digital literacies into early childhood education in a safe, engaging, and purposeful way, the program equips children with essential skills that will support their lifelong learning journey.
The recent phase of the program was implemented across 37 G8 Education centres in New South Wales and Victoria with support from Apple Professional Learning Specialists, and provided 4–5-year-old children with opportunities to explore digital technologies as part of the educational program led by qualified Early Childhood Teachers and Educators.
The initiative ensured that digital tools were used to enhance creativity, communication, critical thinking skills and well-being through specially chosen educational apps. The programs are used as educational tools and focus on supporting children to represent their thinking and ideas rather than consuming content.
Apple Professional Learning Specialist Terese Griffith highlighted the importance of technology in early learning.
“In a world where technology is integral, purposeful integration of technology in early education bridges traditional learning with modern innovations, sparking curiosity and engagement in young minds,” Ms Griffith said.
G8 Education has made a significant investment in professional learning to ensure that teachers and educators can effectively support children’s engagement with digital tools aligned to the national curriculum.
This approach ensures that technology enhances the human connection at the heart of early childhood education.
“It’s not the technology itself or the environment that’s crucial, it’s the teacher’s presence and their actions that make a meaningful difference in using digital tools with children,” Griffith said.
“Importantly, this initiative also helps bridge the digital divide, ensuring all children, regardless of background, have the opportunity to develop foundational digital skills before transitioning to school.
“Empowering early learners with technology not only equips them with essential digital skills, but also lays the foundation for closing the digital divide, fostering a more inclusive future for all,” Griffith added.
According to a G8 Education family survey, more than 70 per cent of families involved in the pilot program believe that safe and purposeful digital literacy learning will support their child’s transition to school.
Assistant Centre Manager at Community Kids Ingleburn Kylie Stephens said families at the centre have expressed positive feedback regarding the impacts the program has had on their children.
“We’ve received numerous comments highlighting that children are now bringing their learnings home, using personal devices for more educational and exploratory purposes than they did before,” she explained.
“One of our families even recently went on a school tour and asked about the school’s digital literacy programs, which shows just how significant an impact the program is having.”
Within the Australian Curriculum, followed by teachers in Australian schools, ‘Digital Literacy’ is outlined as a key General Capability. By equipping children with these skills early, G8 Education is not only supporting their current learning but also laying the foundation for future success in an increasingly digital world.
For any families who have 4–5-year-old children and are wanting to improve their digital literacy at home, the apps used in the program can be downloaded and used on an iPad at home, including: AR Makr, Chatterpix, Draw & Tell, Kaleidacam, Sketches School and WWF Forests.”
The Digital Literacies @ Play program demonstrates how technology, when used with intention and care, can be a powerful tool for learning, exploration, and self-expression. As G8 Education continues to invest in digital learning, the organisation remains at the forefront of innovation in early childhood education and care.