Diana Smith Critique #2

You’ve Got Mail: Using Technology to Communicate with Parents : 

You’ve Got Mail: Using Technology to Communicate with Parents Rogers, R. & Wright, V. (2007). You’ve got mail: Using technology to communicate with parents. Paper presented at the National Education Computing Conference, June 25, 2007, Atlanta Georgia Diana F. Smith AEET/EDET 780 University of South Carolina Dr. Tom Smyth, Instructor May 25, 2008

INTRODUCTION : 

INTRODUCTION Purposes: To evaluate the roles of two interpersonal communications technologies and one mass communication technology in facilitating parental involvement in middle schools. Identify barriers that hinder communication efforts. Research Question: What roles are cell phones, emails, and websites playing in communication with middle school parents to facilitate parental involvement ?

INTRODUCTION : 

INTRODUCTION Overview of the Research Five types of parental involvement (Epstein, 1988): Type 1: Basic Obligation of Parents Type 2: Obligation of Schools Type 3: Involvement at School Type 4: Involvement at Home Type 5: Involvement in Decision Making 6th Type (Epstein, 1992) : Collaboration with Community Organizations

INTRODUCTION : 

INTRODUCTION Methods: Participants: 3 middle schools in the University of Alabama West Alabama in-service area (one with low SES, one with mid-level SES, and one with high SES) Data Collection: One survey instrument per student Reminder sent to encourage return of survey Distribution of teacher surveys Random selection for focus group Instrumentation: survey instrument for parents survey instrument for teachers

INTRODUCTION : 

INTRODUCTION Findings: Many parents still rely on traditional forms of communication Teachers reported using newsletters and websites to inform parents, though parents reported being uninformed Many parents reported that they do not use technology because of lack of resources, lack of time, frustration with lack of website updates, and lack of teacher response Teachers prefer using email, while parents prefer a phone call or note

INTRODUCTION : 

INTRODUCTION Implications: Study supports the importance of comprehensive communication efforts to reach as many parents as possible. Technology provides promising avenues for disseminating information to parents. Lack of parent resources and technology skills is a societal problem that must be addressed

CRITIQUE : 

CRITIQUE Research Question: as previously stated the researchers sought to answer what roles cell phones, emails, and websites played in facilitating parental involvement in schools Review of Literature The literary review was thorough and concise, as it guided the research of this study. Theoretical Framework The researchers drew from the theories on parental involvement of Epstein, who created a framework for creating parent-school partnerships and described 6 types of involvement Writing This study was well written, as any educator would be able to relate to the need for better communication with parents. My Research Study This study related somewhat to my study, which is the impact of professional development on the teacher integration of technology in the classroom. If teachers become more comfortable using technology to guide instruction, they will also become more comfortable to use it as a tool for communication. Knowledge Acquired The knowledge I acquired was not surprising, but rather, served as a reminder that if we are to keep up in this fast paced, technological savvy society, we must not only seek resources and training for ourselves, but we must also seek to educate, train, and provide resources for those families in which we seek to communicate.

CONCLUSION : 

CONCLUSION Technology provides a means of quick and frequent communication Programs must be developed that fund all aspects of technological development Support for such endeavors must come from all stakeholders

REFERENCES : 

REFERENCES Rogers, R. & Wright, V. (2007). You’ve got mail: Using technology to communicate with parents. Paper presented at the National Education Computing Conference, June 25, 2007, Atlanta Georgia Epstein, J. (1992). School and family partnerships. In encyclopedia of Educational Research (pp. 1139-1151). New York: MacMillan.