Early childhood mathematics is in the international spotlight. The recent release of the PISA study has forced many countries to reconsider their curricula and pedagogical approaches as results have either stagnated or declined. This leads to an international systematisation in education, a global standards movement with a shift in policy focus from educational inputs to learning outcomes, and an increase in educational measurement, which can result in the ‘schoolification’ of preschool education and moves away from play-based pedagogies. Early childhood professionals meet this tendency with scepticism. They prefer a play-based approach rooted in children’s everyday life experiences. ViduKids is contributing to this discussion with innovative pedagogical methods that are taken from the ideas within the rich technology ecosystem that surrounds video production. Video is a very motivating tool and brings in many different facets compared to conventional tools. The moving images can help to illustrate mathematical concepts like space, numbers and shapes and can easily connect them with the real world. However, video production by kindergarten children is a very new approach and was never before tried in the field of mathematics. The core idea of ViduKids is that children themselves become the active part of the video production process. In this process, using creative thinking, mathematical content will be re-worked and visualised. In this approach: • Children will playfully discover mathematical concepts like space, numbers and shapes • Children will document their ideas and discoveries themselves on video • Other children will be engaged as viewers of the videos • Children will be given ample opportunities for self-reflection • Early childhood educators will support the children appropriately; in particular provide ideas and examples, and technical support • The ideas will be developed further with early childhood educators from other EU countries Early childhood educators will be the interface to reach the learners and the project will take great care to address and include them appropriately. The project's target groups are • Preschool children age 3-6 years • Early childhood educators • Preschool children’s parents • The general public The project ViduKids has four core objectives: 1. Foster play-based pedagogy and a dynamic learning concept 2. Develop video-based methods for early mathematics education 3. Offer clear pedagogical frameworks 4. Work across Europe The five project partners are experts in early mathematics education and early arts education (Dronning Mauds Minne Høgskolen), media education and video production (Kulturring in Berlin), teacher education (Universidade de Coimbra), project management (Eurek@), and early childhood pedagogy and practice (Vrtec Mavrica Brežice). They will reach at least 250 local early childhood educators, 500 kindergarten teacher students and a multitude of young children. Furthermore, the project will reach several thousand educators online. The method of the project is Action Design Research. A first version of the new pedagogical approach is developed in co-operation between researchers and practitioners and then further developed in co-operation with a broader audience of educators. The process has four stages: Stage 1: Problem Formulation Stage 2: Building, Intervention, and Evaluation (BIE) We will undertake at least three consecutive BIE-cycles: The first at Vrtec Mavrica Brežice, the second in local preschools in all partner countries, and the third in preschools from all over Europe that use the pedagogical materials produced in the first two cycles. Stage 3: Reflection and Learning studies, which will highlight and investigate different issues and possibilities of the new approach. Stage 4: Formalisation of Learning into a training course that will help early childhood practitioners to utilise our achievements. The project will produce new knowledge about how video production in the preschool can foster play-based pedagogy and children’s mathematical understanding and motivation. The project will produce written documents like pedagogical guidelines, tutorial videos and a multitude of example videos produced by children, as well as online and face-to-face training courses for early childhood educators. The project will work on a cross-platform promotion campaign and rely on Facebook pages, YouTube playlists and channels, Twitter, LinkedIn and additional social platforms. The integration of the outcomes on open platforms will make sure that ViduKids will have a long-running and sustainable home (The project will, of course, take appropriate care that privacies are respected. The children’s work and not the children themselves will be represented). We are excited about this project’s potential and are anticipating triggering a wider movement of interest in and for early mathematics education around Europe.
The ViduKids project sought to achieve four core objectives: 1. Foster play-based pedagogy in line with early childhood education principles, enabling children to explore their "Zone of Proximal Development" (ZPD) through play. 2. Develop video-based methods to enhance early mathematics education, using video as a dynamic, creative, and multi-sensory tool to bridge abstract mathematical ideas with children's concrete experiences. 3. Offer clear pedagogical frameworks that address prejudices against technology and mathematics in preschool, providing guidance on employing video effectively, and handling related challenges. 4. Work across Europe, emphasizing visual videos that facilitate exchange and collaboration across regions, respecting privacy and enabling free online sharing. These objectives aimed to innovate early childhood mathematics education, aligning with children's intrinsic play-based learning while employing modern video technology.
We applied for the ViduKids project to address the global concern of stagnating or declining PISA results in early childhood mathematics. The project’s innovation lies in using video production to visualise mathematical concepts and foster a play-based approach. The need arose from the shift towards standardised learning outcomes and an increased focus on measurement, which has led to scepticism and a move away from play-based pedagogies. ViduKids aimed to reconcile these aspects, making mathematics more engaging and tangible for young children, educators, parents, and the general public and promoting collaboration across Europe.