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Technology and digital media are now embedded in children's daily lives and can have significant impact on children's early development and learning. Preparing early childhood teachers to integrate a variety of technologies into classroom practices can be challenging. This study explores perceptions of preservice teachers about technology integration into their educational programs and assesses their satisfaction with such preparation. A total of 192 preservice teachers participated in this study. Data were collected through questionnaires and in-depth interviews. Results indicated that preservice teachers held positive perceptions of the importance of technology and digital media integration in early childhood classrooms. However, their satisfaction with their preparation for technology integration into classrooms was less positive. Knowledge needs indicated by the preservice included learning more about technology integration in practice, and how to engage children in activities using technology and digital media. Based on the overall findings, it seems that teacher education programs need to develop stronger curricula that address these concerns so that future teachers are more confident and able to support children's learning through integration of technologies into their teaching practice.

In Jordan less than 1% of preschool teachers are male. This study investigated a sample of mothers and female preschool teachers about their perceptions of male preschool teachers. A survey was developed to collect data from the participants. Results showed that participants perceive the work of men in preschools as being acceptable, yet they were of the opinion that preschool teaching is the work of females. Mothers agreed that children gain diverse experiences when taught by males or females. Female schoolteachers disagreed that male teachers have more control over their student during field trips. Most notably, female schoolteachers ages 19 to 29 were more accepting of the idea of male preschool teachers than other age groups. Keywords female preschool teachers, male preschool teachers, preschool education, early childhood education, teaching, recruitment, Jordan Globally, females have long dominated the preschool education field because it requires the nurturing of very small children, which is often regarded as an extension of what mothers do (