The Difference between Digital Technology Use and Teaching Experience in Kindergartens

Abstract

Since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the whole world in March 2020, digital technology was rapidly adopted in all sectors. The education sector faced no exception, including early childhood education institutions, especially private kindergartens.  During the pandemic, the use of digital technology seemed to be crucial to enable private kindergartens to continuously provide educational services and operate during the movement control orders. Additionally, digital technology can enhance children's learning and teachers’ professional development. This study looked at the differences in digital technology usage in teaching and learning based on teaching experience in kindergarten. This study could help the private kindergarten management, teachers, and the Private Education Division of the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE) to make private kindergartens the institution of choice and contribute to the development of education and the national economy. This is a quantitative study using a set of questionnaires involving 84 teachers working in private kindergartens in Selangor. The study was analyzed in terms of working experience as kindergarten teachers and the digital technology usage level by the teachers in teaching and learning. The results showed that there was a significant difference in the mean score of the digital technology usage level in the teaching and learning based on teachers' teaching experience. In conclusion, teaching experience influences the usage level of digital technology in teaching and learning. This study implied that the private kindergartens' management and the MOE should further enhance digital technology use in early childhood education.