Technology Helps Schools Engage and Inform Families

by Jan Ellis, Michigan Department of Education, Office of School Improvement

Marty is a sixth grade middle school student. Every day he attends math class, contributes as a student, and completes his homework. On his first report card, Marty received a D in math. His parents were stunned. Why? Because Marty’s mom and dad regularly check his math and other homework. What they did not know was that on most days, Marty’s math homework was being mysteriously consumed by a black hole located in the far reaches of his locker. Marty’s parents did not know there was a problem until it was too late to improve his grade.

The following marking period, Marty’s math teacher, Mr. Anderson, with the help of his district’s technology department, began using an online homework and grading system. Mr. Anderson also made sure parents knew about the system by pub-licizing it in newsletters and emails. In addition, during parent-teacher conferences, parents actually logged into the new system to look at their son’s or daughter’s homework assignments and grades. Both Marty and his parents became frequent users of the system to ensure homework was turned in and to quickly identify any problems they needed to address. By the end of the second marking period, Marty’s grade improved from a D to a B.

Just down the road, Amy attends second grade at a district elementary school. Amy earned good grades during first grade. However, by the end of second grade, Amy’s teacher was concerned about her reading comprehension skills. Amy’s teacher, Mrs. Hill, emailed Amy’s parents about her concerns. Using the Michigan Literacy Progress Profile (MLPP) and other assessment tools, Mrs. Hill identified the specific skills Amy needed to be able to understand more of what she reads. The teacher also selected a variety of first- and second- grade Family FUNdamentals reading comprehension activities that could be completed at home to strengthen Amy’s skills. She obtained the activities for free from the Michigan Department of Education’s Web site. Each day during the summer, Amy and her Grandma Rose selected a few fun activities to complete. When Amy entered third grade, she was ready.

While technology by itself is not a silver bullet, these examples show it does provide educators and families with a wide range of tools to accomplish a variety of tasks.

Technology Links Parents and Teachers

For parents, technology expands opportunities to communicate more easily with schools and learn more about their children’s education, along with activities and events at school. Many times, technology provides the tools needed to seamlessly link classroom instruction with home learning. Technology can make it easier for families to get and stay involved when limited time, energy, or financial resources make face-to-face interaction difficult.

For technology to be useful, all families, regardless of income or other circumstances, need equal access to computers. Some schools have partnered with local businesses to create computer-lending programs for families. Others have created family resource centers complete with computers within a school or local library. Some communities even offer training and support to parents and others who are new technology users (see related articles).

Technology Links Educators to One Another

For teachers, technology has made communicating with parents, other educators, and administrators just a mouse click or voice message away. In addition, computer networking has created a stronger bond between teachers and administrators. In the past, many classroom teachers worked in isolation, with limited contact with other teachers, even within the same school.

Today, computer networking is breaking down classroom “silos” and is allowing teachers to exchange student learning information, develop lesson plans, discuss teaching methods, and seek advice from peers around the globe. Technology has forever changed the way and the ease with which we communicate. Because technology is constantly evolving, it provides us with an infinite number of resources and opportunities, bound only by our imagination, knowledge, and training.

Technology Training Is Key to Success

Just like families, educators need training and support to use technology effectively in the classroom. This need presents a continual challenge, since telecommunications and technology advances continue to outpace the availability of training. Nevertheless, studies show steady increases in the percentage of schools and teachers using technology. Schools are also able to choose from a growing variety of technology to find those that better meet everyone’s needs. This is especially important as teachers, schools, and districts look for ways to increase student achievement and ensure no child—or parent—is left behind.

For more information, contact: Jan Ellis, Michigan Department of Education, Office of School Improvement, P.O. Box 30008, Lansing, MI 48909, (517) 373-9391, ellisjan@michigan.gov.

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