View in EDS

Designing Digital Learning Tools to Foster Preschoolers' Understanding of Data Science Concepts

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Designing Digital Learning Tools to Foster Preschoolers' Understanding of Data Science Concepts
Language: English
Authors: Ashley E. Lewis Presser (ORCID 0000-0001-7265-9208), Jillian Orr Daglilar, Jessica Mercer Young (ORCID 0000-0002-1904-5431), Anessa Roth
Source: International Journal of Designs for Learning. 2026 17(1):54-70.
Availability: Indiana University. 107 South Indiana Avenue, Bryan Hall 203B, Bloomington, IN 47405. Tel: 317-274-5647; Fax: 317-278-2360; e-mail: ijdl@indiana.edu; Web site: https://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/ijdl
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 17
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Preschool Education
Descriptors: Data Science, Preschool Children, Concept Formation, Electronic Learning, Design, Computer Oriented Programs, Tablet Computers, Computer Software, Preschool Education, Preschool Teachers, Teacher Student Relationship, Data Collection, Data Use, Visual Aids, Story Telling, Technology Uses in Education
DOI: 10.14434/ijdl.v17i1.41420
ISSN: 2159-449X
Abstract: This design case presents the development of a digital tool to foster young children's data science learning in preschool classrooms. Recognizing the growing importance of data literacy, our cross-disciplinary team sought to integrate the affordances of digital, mobile, touchscreen technology, and best practices in digital app development with developmentally appropriate approaches to data science. As part of this effort, we designed the Preschool Data Toolbox, a tablet app that, with teacher support, allows children to complete data investigations by providing meaningful, kid-friendly questions they can answer with data. The app was designed to be used by teachers while also being developmentally appropriate for preschool children to both view and use directly. It supports the collection, organization, visualization, and analysis of data to help children answer questions, complete investigations, and create their own data stories to share findings. We share the development of the Preschool Data Toolbox as a design case that documents our attempt to create a demonstration project: a data science digital tool usable for young, preliterate preschool children with teacher support and adaptable to common preschool classroom practices. The goal of this design case is to document the design decisions and the team's approach to developing a tool that is developmentally appropriate, instructionally meaningful, and technically feasible for teachers and children to use together in preschool classrooms. The case does not claim proof of effectiveness; rather, it examines the design goals we set, the constraints we encountered, and the extent to which the final product reflects those intentions.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1506051
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1506051
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Designing Digital Learning Tools to Foster Preschoolers' Understanding of Data Science Concepts
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ashley+E%2E+Lewis+Presser%22">Ashley E. Lewis Presser</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7265-9208">0000-0001-7265-9208</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jillian+Orr+Daglilar%22">Jillian Orr Daglilar</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jessica+Mercer+Young%22">Jessica Mercer Young</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1904-5431">0000-0002-1904-5431</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Anessa+Roth%22">Anessa Roth</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22International+Journal+of+Designs+for+Learning%22"><i>International Journal of Designs for Learning</i></searchLink>. 2026 17(1):54-70.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Indiana University. 107 South Indiana Avenue, Bryan Hall 203B, Bloomington, IN 47405. Tel: 317-274-5647; Fax: 317-278-2360; e-mail: ijdl@indiana.edu; Web site: https://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/ijdl
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 17
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Descriptive
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Early+Childhood+Education%22">Early Childhood Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Preschool+Education%22">Preschool Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+Science%22">Data Science</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preschool+Children%22">Preschool Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Concept+Formation%22">Concept Formation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Electronic+Learning%22">Electronic Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Design%22">Design</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+Oriented+Programs%22">Computer Oriented Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Tablet+Computers%22">Tablet Computers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+Software%22">Computer Software</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preschool+Education%22">Preschool Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preschool+Teachers%22">Preschool Teachers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Student+Relationship%22">Teacher Student Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+Collection%22">Data Collection</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+Use%22">Data Use</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Visual+Aids%22">Visual Aids</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Story+Telling%22">Story Telling</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Technology+Uses+in+Education%22">Technology Uses in Education</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.14434/ijdl.v17i1.41420
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 2159-449X
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This design case presents the development of a digital tool to foster young children's data science learning in preschool classrooms. Recognizing the growing importance of data literacy, our cross-disciplinary team sought to integrate the affordances of digital, mobile, touchscreen technology, and best practices in digital app development with developmentally appropriate approaches to data science. As part of this effort, we designed the Preschool Data Toolbox, a tablet app that, with teacher support, allows children to complete data investigations by providing meaningful, kid-friendly questions they can answer with data. The app was designed to be used by teachers while also being developmentally appropriate for preschool children to both view and use directly. It supports the collection, organization, visualization, and analysis of data to help children answer questions, complete investigations, and create their own data stories to share findings. We share the development of the Preschool Data Toolbox as a design case that documents our attempt to create a demonstration project: a data science digital tool usable for young, preliterate preschool children with teacher support and adaptable to common preschool classroom practices. The goal of this design case is to document the design decisions and the team's approach to developing a tool that is developmentally appropriate, instructionally meaningful, and technically feasible for teachers and children to use together in preschool classrooms. The case does not claim proof of effectiveness; rather, it examines the design goals we set, the constraints we encountered, and the extent to which the final product reflects those intentions.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1506051
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1506051
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.14434/ijdl.v17i1.41420
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 17
        StartPage: 54
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Data Science
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Preschool Children
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Concept Formation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Electronic Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Design
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Computer Oriented Programs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Tablet Computers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Computer Software
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Preschool Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Preschool Teachers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Student Relationship
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data Collection
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data Use
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Visual Aids
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Story Telling
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Technology Uses in Education
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Designing Digital Learning Tools to Foster Preschoolers' Understanding of Data Science Concepts
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ashley E. Lewis Presser
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Jillian Orr Daglilar
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Jessica Mercer Young
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Anessa Roth
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 2159-449X
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 17
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: International Journal of Designs for Learning
              Type: main
ResultId 1