Some of my classmates, who teach in classrooms of their own, spoke of their experience with online grade books, with overzealous parents demanding their children's grades.
I don't have much experience with parents myself, but I have to believe that, as annoying as they can be, involving parents in the education of their children only benefits everyone involved.
School administrators and education professionals seem to agree. Lorna Costantini, a co-host of the Parents As Partners webcast on EdTechTalk.com, addressed the matter in her presentation to the 2010 K12 Online Conference.
In her presentation, called "Digital Parent Engagement," Constantini reviewed the efforts of schools and districts across the globe that are using blogs, podcasts and social media not only to keep parents up to date on what's going on in their children's classes, but to welcome parents into the learning process.
In Toronto, district administrators are using blogs, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to communicate with parents. In Hamilton, Ontario, first grade teacher Aviva Dunsiger uses Voicethread to allow her parents to take part in the students' lessons, and at the Twynham School in England, teachers use an online portal called "Pathways" to allow parents to access their children's grades.
These programs allow parents to continue their children's classroom lessons at home, administrators said. And, in the words of one professor, they draw the line between parent involvement and engagement.
"When we involve parents in school ... we're rolling them into the agenda that's already set by the school," said Debbie Pushor, a professor in the University of Saskatchewan's School of Education. "The school sets the agenda. they decide how they want the parents to be involved.
"When we're engaging parents, we're making a pledge to one another," Pushor said. "We're in a relationship that matters about something really important, and that's the children in our lives."
Hey Jake,
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting topic. I feel that unfortunately we will never completely satisfy everyone, all of the time. That said, I think it's smart to incorporate these technologies to some point. Again, if it gives parents an option in which to better communicate with the school & respective teachers...then great! However, I am sure that there will come a time that some parents may either abuse or attempt to derail the positive spin that's trying to be created. I think this is one of those "make it happen & then see what happens" scenarios. Regardless, I am in full agreement to at least try to give all parents another creative option. Heck...I would surely want to know what's going on with my children; and if this helps me in helping them, then I am all for it!
Hey Jake,
ReplyDeleteI agree that parents who are highly involved in their children's academics aren't an issue. Even the most aggravatingly overzealous parent is simply concerned for their child's academic well-being. By being attentive, parents are demonstrating tot heir children that they care about education and what happens in the classroom. That in turn results in increased performance from students, or so I believe.