The ECLS Lab is a dedicated research hub focused on advancing our understanding of how young children learn, grow, and interact with the world through innovative approaches to education and technology. Founded on the principles of interdisciplinary inquiry and the tradition of Constructionism, the lab brings together researchers, educators, and developers to explore the cognitive, social, and emotional dimensions of learning in early childhood—a period of profound neural and behavioral development.

Mission

To foster authentic learning and critical thinking in children during their formative early years.

Vision

The growth of new generations of creative thinkers who can thrive in an AI-driven world while excelling in their social, emotional, and collaborative lives with resilience.

The ECLS Lab strives to advance the sciences and practices of learning in early childhood.

Currently, it focuses on 3 research strands:

(1) Empowering children and teachers with digital technologies (e.g., robotics, AI) to enable their ethical and effective use of AI, 

(2) Innovation in early childhood curricula (e.g., STEM+C) that nurture children’s computational thinking, positive thinking, and design thinking for an AI-driven world, and 

(3) Design and evaluation of culturally and developmentally appropriate AI tools for early childhood education.

Related Research Topics

Core Focus

ECLS researchers investigate how emerging technologies, interactive media, and evidence-based pedagogies can foster foundational skills such as computational thinking, design thinking, AI literacy, problem-solving, and social-emotional competence. The lab recognizes early childhood as a critical window for cultivating curiosity, creativity, and resilience, and thus prioritizes research that bridges theoretical insights with practical applications. Projects often center on designing and evaluating curricula and tools that are developmentally appropriate, inclusive, and engaging—from coding play that teach computational thinking to creative learning environments that enhance engineering and design thinking.

Key Research Domains

1. Digital Empowerment: Studying how interactive tech tools like coding robots, educational apps, and phygital manipulatives support young children's optimal development and teachers' professional growth, with a focus on equity, inclusiveness, and sustainability.

2. Curriculum Innovation: Designing play-based curricula that integrate STEM, arts, and technology to nurture creativity and critical thinking/higher-order thinking skills.

3. Child Wellbeing: Exploring how creative learning environments and experiences, both plugged and unplugged, shape creativity, communication, collaboration, and social-emotional wellbeing in young children.

Approach & Methods

ECLS employs a mixed-methods approach, combining in-depth case studies, experimental designs, and design-based research to uncover how children engage with creative learning environments and experiences. The lab collaborates with preschools, families, and EdTech partners to conduct real-world trials, ensuring research is rooted in the complexities of everyday classrooms and homes. By partnering with diverse communities, ECLS aims to develop creative solutions that reflect the needs of all children, including those from underrepresented backgrounds.

Impact & Outreach

The lab's findings inform educational practices, policy, and tool design, with a mission to empower educators and families with evidence-based strategies. ECLS publishes in top-tier journals, presents at international conferences, and disseminates resources such as activity plans, professional recommendations, parent guides, and open-access toolkits. By fostering connections between academia, industry, and practice, the lab seeks to create a ripple effect: transforming research into actionable insights and accessible products that enhance early childhood education globally for the unpredictable future.

More details can be found in this opinion piece - Glocalisation, Digitalisation & Curriculum Hybridisation.