Synopsis of the importance of the track and a list of possible areas
 
This track will explore the role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in efforts to promote global sustainability through education of young children, including infants and toddlers birth to 3 years old, preschoolers 3 to 5 years old, and early elementary children ages 5 to 8. With global attention directed toward the challenges of sustainability, it has become increasingly apparent that the eradication of poverty and illiteracy are critical goals for establishing a worldwide capacity to confront environmental degradation, economic insolvency, and climate changes. Initiatives have been implemented to harness the power of ICT to address socio-economic inequities in developing countries so that individuals who have been most disenfranchised and impoverished may participate in an inclusive discourse. Building on the economic premise of resource productivity (i.e., "doing more with less"), ICT have been framed as a potential means for socio-economic transformation that may simultaneously protect the sustainability of the environment and break the cycle of marginalization, leading to educational and economic prosperity. However, ICT often represents both a progressive and disruptive innovation, and presenters in the track will highlight the juxtaposition of altruistic versus contested perspectives on ICT and global community development, using examples of early learning initiatives in diverse socio-cultural contexts.
 
Possible areas of focus include:
1. Technology Access
2  Capacity-Building for Educators and Communities
3. Developmentally Appropriate Early Childhood Applications
4. Measuring Outcomes and Impact
5. Safe and Ethical Use
6. Family and Community Engagement
7. Use of Culturally Relevant and Local Resources

For paper format and submission guidelines please refer to the main conference website.