Towards a Framework to Support ICT-Based Processes in Early Care Settings

Early childhood education has evolved from simply taking care of children to being an integrated stage within the development process. ICT are playing a key role to improve this process and to let families and educators to cooperate. A set of specific requirements of childhood education prevent ICT from a so deep penetration as at other levels. Despite of that, some electronic devices and software tools have been already applied to this educational domain. However, they have been used in isolation, lacking integration mechanisms that would have improved their efficiency. This paper describes the main features of a holistic framework aimed at providing support to ICT-based educational processes in early childhood. The main requirements, actors and relationships involved are presented altogether with a state-of-the-art technological platform that, based upon standards and specifications for learning technologies, facilitates the development and integration of ICT tools supporting early childhood education.