Dalal Aldhayan
- Email: ktsn6751@leeds.ac.uk
- Thesis title: Kindergarten Teachers' Experiences of STEAM Education in Early Childhood Classrooms in Saudi Arabia: An Ethnographic Study
- Supervisors: Prof Louise Tracey, Dr Delyth Edwards
Profile
I am a PhD researcher in Education focusing on early childhood and the integration of STEAM in the early years. I hold a BEd in Early Childhood from the University of Dammam (2013), in Saudi Arabia, and an MA in Childhood Studies from the University of Leeds (2019). I have worked as a Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, contributing to teaching, research, and community engagement.
My doctoral research adopts an ethnographic design to examine how kindergarten teachers in Saudi Arabia enact STEAM pedagogy in their daily classroom practice. The study is grounded in Vygotsky’s social constructivist theory, viewing learning as a socially mediated process shaped by cultural and institutional contexts.
Research interests
- Early childhood education and development.
- STEAM education in early years settings.
- Play-based and inquiry-based learning.
- Teacher beliefs and classroom practices.
- Educational policy and curriculum reform in early childhood contexts.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood, University of Dammam (2013)
- Master of Arts in Childhood Studies, University of Leeds (2019)