The Importance of Future Kindergarten Teachers' Beliefs about the Usefulness of Games Based Learning

Abstract

This paper examines the importance of future kindergarten teachers' beliefs about the usefulness of Games Based Learning in Early Childhood Education. Data were collected by using questionnaires which were given to the participants at the end of an introductory level, Information and Communication Technologies course. The sample of this study was 200 students attending a Bachelor in Education degree at the faculty of Early Childhood Education, University of Athens, in Greece. Results indicated that the majority of the sample had very positive beliefs about the use of Games Based Learning in pre-school education. Most of the students agreed that educational digital games are a useful way to enhance young children's learning. Beliefs were significantly affected by: year of study, frequency of computer usage, experience in a pre-school classroom, previous experience in playing computer games, and previous courses about the use/integration of educational technologies in kindergarten classroom. © 2014, IGI Global. All rights reserved