As the world has become a global village through technological advancement in form of Internet connectivity, it has placed a vast learning ground for learners to explore. Consequently, researchers have advocated the incorporation of e-learning into the classroom setting at various educational level to compliment traditional pedagogies.
However there are divergent opinions among scholars and other professionals in respect of exposing early childhood learners to e-learning. Some are of the opinion that learning will be facilitated in children at their exposure to e-learning. (NAEYC 1996, Maynard 2005) based on constructivist theories which emphasise hands on experience. Some others rebuff the claim on the basis that it is not developmentally appropriate for children at this level. (Hohmann 1998, Wardle 1999, Cordes & Miller 2000).
African parents are somewhat skeptical and reserved regarding early exposure of their children and wards to moving technology for moral reasons. If e-learning will be integrated into early childhood classrooms, opinions of teachers who would serve as facilitators and catalysts of this innovation in the classroom on developmentally appropriateness of e-learning constitute a major issue. A developmentally appropriate programme or strategy for early childhood learners is to be socially, physically, intellectually, creatively emotionally and morally suitable which is simply classified into the acronym SPICE-M representing the six learning needs in children.
Hence, this study is conceived to assess teachers’ perception on how developmentally appropriate it is to incorporate e learning in the early childhood classroom. Other moderating variable such as knowledge of teachers themselves on e-learning, year of experience, qualification, class taught and e-learning training received will be examined.
A survey design will be adopted for this study. Three hundred early childhood teachers will be randomly selected while Teachers’ Perception Questionnaire (TQP) will be used for data collection.
Descriptive and Inferential Statistics will be used in analyzing the data collected. Recommendations such that will assist the curriculum planners shall be offered.