The Politics of Technology in Early Childhood in Aotearoa/New Zealand: Fitting Early Childhood Educators in the ICT Grid

Abstract

This article identifies contemporary issues for educators regarding the integration of new technologies in the early childhood education centre, through critical analysis of discourse associated with the integration of new technologies in early childhood services in Aotearoa/New Zealand. A culture of critique is revealed as an early childhood curriculum objective in Aotearoa/New Zealand, supported by the Ministry of Education. However, engaging in such critique reveals tensions between expectations regarding educators and the vested interests of policy-makers and technology industries. The characterisation of the educator as technologically deficient marginalises opportunities for educators to critically consider the role of technology in society. This paper argues for a problematisation of negative characterisations of educators in order to promote meaningful critique that is articulated as a requisite of effective integration of technology in early childhood curricula.