Journal article
Supporting educator agency in decisions about digital technologies: a pedagogical decision-making matrix for early childhood education
European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, Vol.First online, pp.1-17
04/08/2026
Appears in Recent Faculty of Education Publications
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Abstract
The increasing integration of digital technology (DT) in early childhood education and care (ECEC) has intensified expectations for educators to make confident, informed and context-sensitive pedagogical decisions despite limited guidance. This paper examines how educators make decisions about DT use and introduces a pedagogical decision-making matrix to strengthen educator agency and professional judgement. Grounded in sociocultural and ecological systems theory, the study draws on qualitative findings from an Australian research project involving sixteen educators. Analysis suggests decisions are guided largely by informal heuristics, including familiarity with technologies, personal and professional beliefs, observations of children's engagement and access to resources. While these support flexible, locally responsive practice, participants reported uncertainty and a desire for more structured, evidence-based guidance. The findings highlight the interaction of experience, professional knowledge, contextual expectations and material conditions. In response, the paper proposes a research-informed decision-making matrix to support reflection, strengthen confidence and promote high-quality pedagogical decision-making across diverse ECEC contexts.
Details
- Title
- Supporting educator agency in decisions about digital technologies: a pedagogical decision-making matrix for early childhood education
- Creators
- Jubilee Smith - Southern Cross University
- Publication Details
- European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, Vol.First online, pp.1-17
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis Group
- Identifiers
- 991013395051002368
- Copyright
- © 2026 The Author(s).
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Education
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article