Susan Danby is a Professor within the School of Early Childhood and Inclusive Education at Queensland University of Technology, and Director of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child. Susan’s experiences as early years educator and teacher in Australia and the USA in government and social service agencies provided strong foundations for understanding and working with families, early childhood services and partners. Susan leads a collective of national researchers from 6 Australian universities and partners across government, industry and community to enable the Centre’s vision –young children are healthy, connected and educated in a rapidly changing digital age. Her cross-disciplinary research explores children’s everyday social and interactional practices with peers, teachers, family, helpline counsellors and medical clinicians.
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Cunningham Lectures2023 Cunningham Lecture | Distinguished Professor Susan Danby FASSA
Risks and opportunities: Building social contexts for young children’s digital interactions
Exploring the complex intersection between young children and digital technologies begins with understanding children’s participation within social contexts involving their digital interactions. With the rapid advancement of technology, young children are increasingly engaging with digital devices and platforms. Concerns over passive consumption often override opportunities for young children to actively participate in their digital worlds. Creating collaborative social contexts can support children’s digital experiences to be educational, and encourage critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving. We delve into the importance of providing young children with digital tools that enhance their social worlds, promote collaboration, and enable meaningful connections with peers, families and others. We will explore various strategies and best practices for creating safe and supportive social contexts for children’s digital interactions, encompassing considerations such as digital citizenship education, parental involvement, and data and privacy. In unravelling the world of young children and digital technologies, we consider how we can proactively shape social contexts in which they navigate the digital landscape. We have the potential to empower a future generation of digitally literate global citizens.
