The role of technology in family and school partnerships

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how educators and parents perceived the usage of technology for creating active family and school partnerships. This study also explored how parents and educators used technology applications to create family and school partnerships. Educators and families from a 4-A school district in North Central Texas were recruited to participate in the study. A sample size of eleven educators participated in an interview and/or a focus group session. Eleven parents participated in an interview and/or a focus group session. Parents and educators both perceived that technology played an active and positive role with regards to keeping families informed of grades, school events, and other general information. Technology was also considered a useful tool for parent and teacher communication. However, both families and educators articulated the need for effective technology training programs. Educators indicated that current training methods did not always yield positive outcomes. Parents voiced the need for training that would provide the knowledge needed to utilize tools provided by the schools. Parents also voiced concerns regarding assumptions made by schools regarding technology access in the home and a lack of support by schools regarding how to properly use technology applications.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Family Studies

Grantor

Texas Woman's University

Year dc:date.issued

2011

Author dc:creator

• Evans-Jackson, Irene Denise

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Armstrong, Joyce

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Buckley, Rhonda R.
• Gillum, Nerissa

• Education
• Social sciences
• Family-school partnership
• Parent-teacher communication
• Technology

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11274/10109

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:twu-ir.tdl.org:11274/10109