Developing number sense in preschoolers through multi-touch technology: the case of TouchCounts

Abstract

This article contributes to the growing body of research investigating the potential of multi-touch technology to support the development of number sense in early childhood. The study focuses on four-year-old children’s interactions with the iPad app TouchCounts, designed to promote the intentional use of fingers in the creation and manipulation of numerical quantities. Particular attention is paid to specific components of number sense, especially the management of ordinal and recursive structure, as well as finger gnosis.
Through a qualitative analysis of the schemes adopted by children when engaging with purposefully designed tasks, and by comparing these findings with an a priori analysis of the tasks’ potential, the study explores how particular number sense abilities are mobilized during interaction with the app. The findings suggest that, when supported by carefully designed tasks and competent adult mediation, multi-touch environments may provide a meaningful context for fostering specific aspects of number sense in pre-primary education.