Join us for a panel discussion with International expert Professor Kristiina Kumpulainen (UBC), exploring what quality digital engagement looks like in early childhood settings.

Kristiina will share her expertise working with children, adults and technology in a range of learning environments. These insights will be further unpacked by drawing on innovative work from the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child through the UOW Children’s Technology Play Space and the DigIQ and STEAM modules designed from research findings for educators. The expert panel will use these resources to engage participants in practical examples and strategies to consider for meaningful, developmentally appropriate digital experiences for young learners. This session will highlight how technology can support creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking in the early years—when used with intention and care.

Panel:

Professor Lisa Kervin AM University of Wollongong

Professor Lisa Kervin AM is a researcher in literacy education. Lisa has been researching in literacy education, play and digital technologies using qualitative and mixed methods for over 20 years. She is a CI with the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child and is academic lead of the UOW Children’s Technology Play Space, guiding how technologies may be used to support and promote meaningful experiences and quality interactions. In 2024 Lisa was appointed a member to the Order of Australia in the King’s birthday honours; recognition of her research excellence in early childhood and digital literacies. In 2025 Lisa began her Future Fellowship program of work “Intergenerational Play: A right for all generations”.

International Expert:

Professor Kristiina Kumpulainen, University of British Columbia

Professor Kristiina Kumpulainen’s research expertise is in the fields of digital mediation of children’s interactions, digital and maker contexts to support young children learning through play-based pedagogies. Kristiina works on projects related to digital and print tools and their use in maker activities, as well as investigating the conceptualisation of ‘play’ as context for learning.

Panel: 

Professor Steven Howard, University of Wollongong

Professor Steven J. Howard is a leading expert in early childhood self-regulation and development. Steven studies the interaction between children's self-regulation and digital choices and activities. He has also been involved in research into characteristics of quality in ECEC- and most recently quality when digital technologies is in use.

For further enquiries please contact: ASSH-Events@uow.edu.au  

Panel Chair:

Associate Professor Dylan Cliff, University of Wollongong

Associate Professor Dylan Cliff is the University of Wollongong Node Lead for the Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child, and the Healthy Child CO-LEad. His research focuses on supporting children’s development and health through investigating digital technology contexts, such as the types of technology and content children engage with, whether children engage alone or with others, and how long children engage for.

Panel:

Professor Jessica Mantei, University of Notre Dame

Professor Jessica Mantei has expertise in understanding early literacy teaching and learning across a range of educational settings, during transitions between and within those settings, and with a range of resources. Jessica’s research examines the development of proficiency in reading, writing, talking and listening, in digital and paper-based environments and looks to identify pedagogies for improved outcomes for learners.

QUESTIONS?

For questions on the seminar, please email Dylan Cliff (dylanc@uow.edu.au)