Parents and Technology

"Using Parent-Student Pairs for Internet Instruction"
by Micki M. Caskey
Journal of Research in Technology in Education Vol 34 (3)
2003

In this article it discussed many issues parents have with incorporation of technology into education as well as ways to help parents overcome those issues. The tops concerns of parents seem to be what their child will be exposed to as well as their own lack of experience they may have with the subject.

Parents are fearful that when students sign up for a class website or post comments in a blog, it opens a door for students to obtain emails they may not have had access to before, or just another avenue for them to harass other students. While teachers can control this the same way they do in the classroom, all school personnell have to have the same policies in order for parents to feel their children can truly benefit from increased technology use in the classroom. Which I have seen a lack of in some districts.

While this may be more of a demographic issue now, homes are still without internet access and regular computer use. Knowing this, another concern parents have is how much their child is at a disadvantage since they do not have these tools to work with at home. Also, how can a parent take the active role, which some may value, in their child's education if the technology is beyond their knowledge? While the MLTI tried to solve this problem, I think it fell short and frustrated more people than it helped. I think that programs such as these are so rushed to be put into place it results in not only costly monetary mistakes, but costly to the eagerness for educators and tax-payers to make technology more available in the classroom and household. So until we can find a way for parents to take time out to learn about the technology, and we have a sound tried and true system for incorporating technology into our school system as well as at student's homes- the support for this incorporation will always fall short.

Interview questions

Do you have internet/computer acess at home? Explain the level of access.

Can your son/daughter stay after school often to use the resources this school has to complete assignments? About how often a week would this be possible?

What are your concerns about increased technology use in schools?

Do you have any ideas of how you would want to see technology incorporated?

What experience have to had with MLTI? Would you say it was a positive or negative experience and why?

How would you describe your level of expertise with technology?

Do you have time, or would you be interested in workshops that gave you experience with the type of technology that your son/daughter is using? Why or why not?

Has your child been victim to bullying or harassment through the internet from someone that would not have had your child's information without a teacher incorporating technology in the classroom?

Do you feel increased technology would make your child's education experience enhanced or hindered? Why?

Has increased use of technology helped you stay informed as a parent or do you feel it is an overload of information? Has new technology in the school district made your life as a parent harder or less difficult?