Reconceptualising early childhood literacies: an international conference

Manchester street evening setting

See the full programme (PDF, 1.5MB)

Slides from the keynote speeches are available via the links below.

Children as producers of digital text -Lisa Kervin, University of Wollongong, Australia.

The role of talk, the body, and digital tools in e-book composing (PDF, 3MB) Deborah Wells-Rowe, Vanderbilt University, USA.

Making noise! Toward a ‘sound’ theory of young children’s making (PDF, 41MB) Jon Wargo, Boston College, USA.

Tracing intertextual connections in multimodal composing: a case study of a young child’s filmmaking in the early childhood classroom (PDF, 60MB) Cassie Brownell, University of Toronto, Canada.

Play matters: entangled literacies in early childhood makerspaces (PDF, 89KB) Karen Wohlwend, Indiana University Bloomington, USA.

DigiLitEY Cost Action country reports (PDF, 280KB)

Sponsored by the Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, COST Action ‘DigiLitEY’ and H2020 Project ‘MakEY’.

Boy with VR headset
Mum and daughter using a laptop
Boy playing with remote control robot

This exciting conference brought together researchers from across the world who were interested in the ways in which early childhood literacies are being transformed in the twenty-first century. Keynote speakers presented creative approaches to today’s challenges that include rapid developments in digital technologies and increasing standardisation in early childhood curricula.

The DigiLitEY and MakEY programmes were at the forefront of research into the lives of young children and those who work, live and learn with them. Our third sponsor, the Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, was also associated with recognising creativity, diversity and social justice. Participants were equally welcome whether already connected in some way to any of our sponsors or otherwise interested in reconceptualising early childhood literacies.

The conference took place at the Manchester Conference Centre, perfectly situated in the centre of Manchester, only five minutes away from central theatres, galleries, bars and clubs, and easily reached from Manchester Airport by train.

The cost of registration, which included refreshments and lunch on 7–8 March, wine reception and buffet dinner on 7 March was £135 for attendees whose costs were not met as DigiLitEY COST management committee members.