Date of Degree
2025
Degree Name
Ed.D. (Doctor of Education)
Department
Department of Curriculum and Instruction (CI)
Director
Manderino Michael
Committee Members
York Cindy; Jung Myoungwhon
Keywords
Teachers’ epistemological and pedagogical beliefs, interactive media integration practices, early literacy. TPACK
Abstract
This study examined early childhood teachers’ epistemological and pedagogical beliefs regarding integrating interactive media in the context of their decision-making. Such an investigation also provided a better understanding of the contexts (macro, meso, and micro) surrounding teaching-learning environments. The study was grounded in the Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework to understand how early childhood teachers integrate interactive media to transform their literacy teaching. This study employed a qualitative multiple-case study research design. Participants were selected through purposeful sampling. A closed-ended questionnaire, semi-structured interviews, and classroom observations were used to glean the meaning from three early childhood teachers' technology integration practices in a school district west of Chicago. The audiotaped interviews were transcribed, and data were triangulated within-case and cross-case using all data sources. The findings revealed that teachers’ beliefs about learning influence their views on effective teaching, ultimately shaping their opinions on integrating interactive media. Thus, while available resources support the potential of technology in the classroom, its true significance is determined by teachers who skillfully employ these tools to enhance instruction.
Publisher
Northern Illinois University
Rights Statement
In Copyright
Rights Statement 2
NIU theses and dissertations are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors, unless otherwise indicated.
Recommended Citation
Qamar, Sadia, "Early Childhood Teachers’ Epistemological and Pedagogical Beliefs on Interactive Media Integration for Teaching Literacy: A Qualitative Multiple Case Study" (2025). Dissertations of Practice. 78.
https://huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu/allgraduate-disspractice/78
