Prof. Dr. Michelle Neumann
Professor of Early Childhood Education University of Sheffield (UK)
Professional Summary
Dr. Michelle M. Neumann is a distinguished academic specializing in early childhood education, emergent literacy, and digital learning technologies. Her research focuses on how young children engage with digital tools such as tablets, YouTube, and social robots to develop literacy and cognitive skills. With extensive expertise in early childhood literacy, she examines the role of parents, teachers, and digital environments in fostering young learners’ development
Dr. Neumann is recognized as a Top Australian Researcher (2022) in Early Childhood Education by The Australian and has made significant contributions to the field through interdisciplinary research combining education, psychology, and technology.
Current Roles
- Professor of Education – University of Sheffield (UK)
- Member, UK Literacy Association (UKLA)
- Registered Teacher – Education Queensland and Queensland College of Teachers
Research & Key Projects
- Social Robots in Early Literacy – Investigating the impact of social robots on young children’s early language and literacy development.
- Digital Literacy in Preschoolers – Exploring how touch-screen tablets, YouTube, and digital resources influence emergent literacy and reading motivation.
- Parental Scaffolding and Home Literacy – Studying the role of parents in shaping young children’s writing, reading, and language skills within digital home environments.
- Mindful Digital Technology Use – Researching strategies to create a balanced, educational approach to children’s screen time.
- Evaluation of Children’s Digital Media – Assessing the quality of YouTube content and educational apps for young learners.
Education
- Ph.D. in Early Childhood Education – Griffith University
- B.Ed., PGDip Ed., B.Sc. (Hons) – University of Queensland, Griffith University
Awards & Recognitions
- Top Australian Researcher in Early Childhood Education (The Australian, 2022)
- Research Excellence Award, University of Sheffield (UK)
- Highly Cited Researcher in Digital Literacy & Early Learning
Teaching & Academic Contributions
- Develops early childhood education curricula integrating digital literacy strategies.
- Supervises Ph.D. and postgraduate research students in emergent literacy and digital education.
- Conducts professional development workshops for educators on digital technology use in preschool learning environments.
Publications & Thought Leadership
Dr. Neumann has authored numerous high-impact journal articles in early childhood education, digital literacy, and technology-enhanced learning. Her recent work focuses on digital media’s influence on young learners. Here are some examples
-  The opportunities and challenges of online learning in middle level education: Perspectives of students, parents, and school staff in the post-pandemic era. Middle School Journal, 57(1), 8-23.
-  Exploring how primary school children from a low-SES community engage and verbally communicate with a social robot. Journal of Research in Childhood Education. View this article in WRRO
-  A scoping literature review of generative artificial intelligence for supporting neurodivergent school students. Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, 9, 100437-100437.
-  A guide for fostering parent–child math talk and play during shared book-reading across diverse genres. Education Sciences, 15(7). View this article in WRRO
-  Teaching phonics and vocabulary through children’s literature in early childhood initial teacher education: trial of the non-scripted intentional teaching (N-SIT) tool. Education Sciences, 15(6), 684-684. View this article in WRRO
-  Individual differences and young children’s engagement with a social robot. Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans, 4, 100139-100139.
For a full list of publications:Â Google Scholar Profile
Consultancy & Advisory Roles
- Advises early childhood educators on integrating digital tools into teaching practices.
- Collaborates with educational organizations on literacy development programs.
- Contributes to policy discussions on children’s digital media use and online safety.