<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><xml><records><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Thuthukile Jita</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Mamontsuoe Lintle Maraisane</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESERVICE TEACHERS’ EXPERIENCES OF TEACHING SCIENCE USING DIGITAL TOOLS</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">digital tools</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Early childhood education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">preservice teachers</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">technology integration</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">TPACK</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2026</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">June 2026</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://journals.indexcopernicus.com/search/article?articleId=4913729</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">25</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The integration of digital tools into early childhood science education creates new possibilities for interactive and engaging learning experiences, enabling young children to understand abstract scientific concepts better and stimulate their curiosity. These technologies have the potential to reshape how children explore scientific ideas by engaging with concepts through digital tools. However, despite these promising opportunities, their use also presents several challenges for educators. Framed by the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework, this qualitative case study examined the experiences and educational practices of preservice teachers as they integrated digital tools during their teaching practicum. Data were generated through semi-structured interviews and classroom observations involving ten preservice teachers, and were analyzed thematically. The findings reveal that participants mainly selected digital tools based on pedagogical considerations, including learner engagement, conceptual understanding, and alignment with the curriculum. While participants reported positive effects on learners, they also identified several constraints related to the use of digital tools and emphasized the need for professional training. This study concludes that meaningful technology integration in early childhood science education is driven by pedagogy rather than technology itself. Such integration is strengthened through coherent, practice-oriented preservice teacher preparation that aligns theoretical knowledge with scaffolded opportunities for classroom enactment and reflection.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">3</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">475-488</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Delfi Eliza</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Trisna Mulyeni</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Yulsyofriend</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Nenny Mahyuddin</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Yeni Erita</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Muhammad Dhanil</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECT-BASED LEARNING IN IMPROVING SCIENTIFIC LITERACY IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Early childhood education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">literature review</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Project-based learning</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">scientific literacy</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2025</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">February/2025</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2023/987-1740921275.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">24</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Improving scientific literacy is crucial for early childhood development, yet limited studies necessitate a thorough analysis to identify effective solutions. This study aims to analyze the implementation of project-based learning in early childhood education to improve scientific literacy. The study followed the identification, screening, eligibility assessment, and inclusion stages using a systematic literature review based on the PRISMA framework. Sources were accessed from databases such as Google Scholar, ERIC, Springer, JSTOR, Dimensions, and ScienceDirect, totalling 2085 articles. After screening articles published between 2014 and 2024, written in English, and relevant to the topic, 55 articles were selected for further analysis. The findings categorize approaches, trends, subjects, effects, and learning media used in adopting project-based learning to develop scientific literacy in early childhood. Two main approaches were identified: 1) narrative and dialogue and 2) project-based learning. Project-based learning is widely applied in 16 countries in Asia, America, Australia, and Europe. The review indicates that project-based learning improves early childhood scientific literacy in physics, biology, astronomy, and technology through learning media such as experimental tools, toys, robots, AR, VR, and AI. Therefore, implementing project-based learning supported by innovative learning media is an effective solution for improving scientific literacy in early childhood.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">71-91</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Pi-Hun Yang</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Chung-Yuan Hsu</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Gwo-Jen Hwang</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Gwo-Haur Hwang</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Min-Ai Yang</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">THE IMPACT OF THE PREDICTION-OBSERVATION-EXPLANATION MODEL ON PRESCHOOLERS’ UNDERSTANDING OF GEAR CONCEPTS THROUGH BLOCK PLAY</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">alternative conceptions</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">building blocks</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Early childhood education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">gear concepts</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science education</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2024</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">October/2024</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2023/987-1729494292.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">23</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The complexity of gear concepts, often misunderstood by young children, highlights the need for educational frameworks beyond simple play. To examine the effects of using the prediction, observation, and explanation (POE) model in building block activities, a true experimental design was implemented. A total of 49 preschoolers were randomly assigned to either an experimental group, which engaged with building blocks embedded with the POE model, or a control group, which followed a building instruction guide. Data were gathered through pretests, posttests, and two-week delayed tests administered to all participants. The theoretical framework for this study was based on the POE model, emphasizing the importance of prediction, observation, and explanation in the learning process. The results revealed that the POE model had positive impacts on fostering young children’s acquisition of gear concepts. Specifically, gear speed and gear direction were identified as the most challenging concepts for preschoolers to grasp. The results highlight the critical role of children's reflection in learning these concepts. The participants’ common naive conceptions about gear function, gear speed, and gear direction were identified. The implications of these results highlight the importance of incorporating reflective practices in early childhood education to enhance concept acquisition and address misconceptions.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">5</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">867-881</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Shin-Cheng Yeh</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Hsin-Ya Li</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT-ORIENTED PICTURE BOOK SELECTION SYSTEM THROUGH EMPLOYING THE MODIFIED DELPHI METHOD</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Delphi method</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Early childhood education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">education for sustainable development</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">picture book</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2022</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">December/2022</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2022/987-1671187734.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">21</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The concept of &quot;sustainable development&quot; was proposed to re-examine the human development model. Initiated by the United Nations, education for sustainable development (ESD) has become an important tool for educators to achieve sustainable development. Although &quot;Early Childhood Education&quot; (ECE) is often taken as a starting point of ESD, the concept of sustainable development is difficult to integrate into ECE because of its unfamiliarity among teachers. Therefore, picture books can be used to bolster ESD in ECE. This research aims to construct an appropriate book selection guide system that can assist them in selecting picture books independently, objectively, and efficiently through a focus group and modified Delphi method. The guide system is based on three major aspects, covering 8 main guidelines and 21 sub-guidelines. A sustainable development-oriented picture book is defined as “a book that includes the core, values, and concept of sustainable development which can make readers aware of the balance between the environment, society and economy and that attempts to systematically explore problems, generate actions, and solve problems in relation to these three dimensions from a critical and global viewpoint.&quot;  in this study. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">6</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">967-988</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Ainara Achurra</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Teresa Zamalloa</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Araitz Uskola</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">EARLY CHILDHOOD PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS’ READINESS FOR USING DRAWING AS A SCIENCE TEACHING STRATEGY</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">drawing science</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Early childhood education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">teachers’ readiness</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2022</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">December/2022</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://oaji.net/articles/2022/987-1671187481.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">21</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The use of drawings for science learning helps students to develop communication, modelling, and reasoning skills. Teachers should be trained to use them. This study addresses the readiness (knowledge, confidence and awareness of the importance and usefulness of drawings) of 120 preservice teachers (PSTs) for using teacher-made drawings as a strategy for teaching science, after participating in activities in which they used drawing as a way to represent scientific knowledge. The knowledge of how to draw was analysed by evaluating the presence of interrelated components, mechanisms and phenomena in drawings of the digestive system. Open questions were used to examine three aspects: confidence, awareness of the importance and awareness of the usefulness. Exploratory cluster analyses were also conducted. 69% scored low in knowledge, more than 90% scored high in awareness of the importance and of the usefulness. 28% showed high confidence. No PSTs with high knowledge and low confidence were found. All PSTs with high knowledge showed high awareness of the importance. It is concluded that in order to prepare teachers for using drawings in science teaching, teacher education programs should include the development of drawing skills that could enhance their confidence and awareness of its importance. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">6</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">911-927</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Jon-Chao Hong</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Jian-Hong Ye</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Ya-Jiuan Ho</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Huei-Ying Ho</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">DEVELOPING AN INQUIRY AND HANDS-ON TEACHING MODEL TO GUIDE STEAM LESSON PLANNING FOR KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Early childhood education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">hands-on learning</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">inquiry teaching</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">lesson plan design</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">STEAM</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2020</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">December/2020</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2020/987-1606572458.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">19</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">When contextualizing educational methods, teachers can focus on constructivism to develop inquiry materials as STEAM subject matter for use in schools. However, there is little research concerning what STEAM teaching resources teachers view as inquiry with hands-on STEAM instructional material for use in kindergartens. Therefore, this research used a spiral developmental course design with action research to apply a teaching inquiry and hands-on STEAM model focusing on lesson development for kindergarten children via a one-year workshop. The lesson development process of this research included a total of six stages, allowing 24 participating teachers to analyse the STEAM elements from their original lesson plans, then make revisions according to a model, including: prediction, do/observation, quiz/discussion, and explanation/ transfer (PD/OQ/DE/T). After the initial lesson plan was completed, teaching experiments were conducted, and the lesson plan was adjusted through reflection and revisions based on the suggestions of domain experts during the implementation process. Finally, 48 PDOQDET inquiry and hands-on based STEAM lesson plans were developed. Thus, it is proposed that the inquiry and hands-on i-STEAM modules developed using the PDOQDET approach can represent exemplars illustrative of an enriched design constructivist paradigm to support students’ i-STEAM learning in kindergartens.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">6</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">908-922</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Glykeria Fragkiadaki</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Konstantinos  Ravanis</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">PRESCHOOL CHILDREN’S MENTAL REPRESENTATIONS OF CLOUDS</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Early childhood education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">pre-school education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">pupils’ representations</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science education</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2015</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">April/2015</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2016/987-1473431297.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">14</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Children construct representations of concepts and physical phenomena and these representations are critical to education. The natural phenomenon of clouds is perceivable and also observable by young children in everyday life. Moreover, it is a subject approached by the early childhood science education curriculums. However, in several studies it is noticed that the related children’s representations are often incompatible with the scientific model, mainly because of its character, which is macroscopic and not immediately observable. In this research, clouds representations framed by children aged 4.5-6 years old are studied. The sample consisted of sixteen (16) children (7 boys and 9 girls) from one public kindergarten in an urban area of Greece. Data were collected through expanded, open type conversations between children pairs and one of the researchers. The results of the qualitative analysis of the conversations show that these children use different types of representations, the majority dominated by the nature of the substance under study. The outcome of the research results indicates the potentials of preschool children to perceive clouds as autonomous natural entities.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">267–274</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Vasilia Christidou</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Anastasia Dimitriou</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Nikos Barkas</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Maria Papadopoulou</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Stergios Grammenos</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">“YOUNG NOISE RESEARCHERS”: AN INTERVENTION TO PROMOTE NOISE AWARENESS IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Baltic Science Education</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Early childhood education</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">pupils’ noise awareness</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">science education</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2015</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">October/2015</style></date></pub-dates></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">http://oaji.net/articles/2016/987-1479542288.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">14</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Continuous</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">While little is known about how young children understand noise and its environmental aspects, this topic is suggested to be included in science curricula from early years on. To investigate if and to what extent preschool children’s level of noise awareness could be improved the ‘Young Noise Researchers’ educational scenario was designed, implemented and evaluated. Research design involved a pretest-posttest procedure. Participants were 52 Greek preschool children, who attended public kindergarten classes. The scenario involved 9 activities following the principles of context-based, socio-cognitive and multimodal teaching and learning, which were implemented by the teachers of the classes in a 4-week period. Prior to and after the intervention participants engaged in individual, semi-structured interviews. The results indicated improvement in children’s noise awareness in regard to acknowledging everyday noises, understanding annoyance and subjectivity of noise, adopting negative attitudes towards noise and acknowledging its health effects. Nevertheless, their noise awareness did not significantly improve in other crucial respects. Implications for teaching involve a more systematic focus on the distinction between sound and noise, noise subjectivity, the annoyance caused by noise in daily life and the possibility of more active and preventive protection measures.</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">5</style></issue><work-type><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Original article</style></work-type><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">569–585 </style></section></record></records></xml>