Tech Time in Action: A kindergarten student independently engaging in structured digital math practice.
This literature review represents a key component of my action research journey within the Applied Digital Learning program at Lamar University. Building on my innovation plan, Tech Time: My Time in Kindergarten, this review synthesizes research related to intentional technology integration, developmentally appropriate measurement strategies, and student independence in early childhood classrooms.
The purpose of this literature review is to examine how technology initiatives have been designed, implemented, and measured in educational settings, with a particular focus on kindergarten contexts. Rather than emphasizing technology access alone, the literature highlights the importance of structured digital routines, clear expectations, and observation-based data to evaluate meaningful instructional impact. This work directly informs the measurement framework for my action research plan and supports my goal of creating learning environments that foster independence, engagement, and instructional efficiency.
This page serves as both a scholarly artifact and a practical resource for educators interested in measuring the impact of technology integration in early childhood classrooms. The insights gained through this review will guide the implementation and evaluation of my innovation while contributing to ongoing conversations about effective digital learning practices in early elementary education.
Formal Literature Review Document
Research Implications for Tech Time
This literature review establishes the theoretical and empirical foundation for evaluating structured digital routines in kindergarten. The research synthesis directly informs the mixed-methods measurement framework of my action research study, including the use of observational checklists, time-on-task indicators, and student work artifacts.
By grounding instructional innovation in systematic measurement, this work supports intentional technology integration that prioritizes independence, engagement, and instructional efficiency in early childhood classrooms.
Supporting Research Planning Document
The structured planning framework used to organize the themes and subtopics for this literature review is available below.
Synthesis of Research to Practice
The following presentation provides a synthesis of the research, planning framework, and measurement strategies that guided the implementation of structured digital routines in my kindergarten classroom. It illustrates how theoretical foundations from the literature review were translated into intentional classroom systems designed to measure and support student independence.
Measurement Instrument: Observation Checklist
As part of the mixed-methods measurement framework, I developed a structured classroom observation instrument to document student independence during digital rotations. This tool was used to record time-on-task behaviors, frequency of teacher assistance, and independent task completion.