Critical Categorization of Android and IOS Applications Available for STEAM Education in Early Childhood

Abstract

Nowadays, children have their first experience of using a mobile device very early in their life (even under their 2nd year). Furthermore, STEAM in Early Childhood Education (ECE) draws more attention lately, while a lot of discussion is being made regarding the integration of mobile applications in educational settings, formal and informal. A very common concern of both educators and parents of children aged 4–6 years old is “what mobile applications are appropriate for the children?”. Especially focusing in STEAM education questions are raised regarding the corresponding competences’ cultivation for these ages and the availability of applications that can facilitate this process. Although the issue of examining available mobile applications is being dealt with for several years for older ages and other disciplinary areas (e.g. mathematics, language), there is not much work regarding STEAM mobile applications for 4–6 ages. A survey in both Android and IOS environments was carried out in order to record and attempt to categorize the existing mobile applications which fall under the STEAM umbrella, in order to gain perspective on what is available for in-classroom utilization in this regard.