Profiling TPACK in early childhood education: A multilevel latent profile analysis of teachers and preschools
Authors:
Open Access
- 14 October 2025
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Nature in Education and Information Technologies
- Vol. 30 (18) , 26827-26855
Abstract
Existing research has primarily focused on individual dimensions of technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK), but few studies have explored the connections between self-regulated learning (SRL) and TPACK at both the teacher and school levels, particularly in preschool contexts. This study used multilevel latent profile analysis (MLPA) to examine data from 2,995 teachers across 249 preschools and identified three teacher-level profiles (Beginner, Skilled and Master) and four school-level profiles (Lagging, Emerging, Supporting and Empowering). Most teachers and schools showed moderate TPACK development, but the profiles were strongly associated with technological self-efficacy and continuous usage intention. The teachers in the Master profile exhibited the highest levels of technological self-efficacy and usage intention, while the Empowering schools, with a higher proportion of the Master teachers' profile, achieved better outcomes. SRL emerged as a key predictor, with goal setting, monitoring and self-evaluation in SRL influencing teachers' profiles, but only monitoring predicting school profiles. These findings highlight the need for tailored professional development and systematic support to comprehensively enhance TPACK and SRL, bridging developmental gaps at both the teacher and school levels in early childhood education (ECE).Keywords
This publication has 56 references indexed in Scilit:
- A systematic review and meta-analysis on TPACK-based interventions from a perspective of knowledge integrationComputers and Education Open, 2024
- More than high, medium, and low: Pre-service teacher TPACK profiles and intentions to teach with technologyEducation and Information Technologies, 2024
- Understanding K–12 teachers’ technological pedagogical content knowledge readiness and attitudes toward artificial intelligence educationEducation and Information Technologies, 2024
- Hybrid Learning System: Analysis, Opportunities, Challenges, and Prospects2023
- Multimodal learning analytics for assessing teachers’ self-regulated learning in planning technology-integrated lessons in a computer-based environmentEducation and Information Technologies, 2023
- Preschool teachers’ perceptions about TPACK in Greek educational contextJournal of Computers in Education, 2021
- Self-reported technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) of pre-service teachers in relation to digital technology use in lesson plansComputers in Human Behavior, 2021
- Are early childhood teachers ready for digital transformation of instruction in Mainland China? A systematic literature reviewChildren and Youth Services Review, 2021
- The effectiveness of self-regulated learning scaffolds on academic performance in computer-based learning environments: a meta-analysisAsia Pacific Education Review, 2016
- Addressing first- and second-order barriers to change: Strategies for technology integrationEducational Technology Research and Development, 1999