family engagement in the digital age · family engagement in the digital age lisa guernsey, new...

Family Engagement in the Digital Age

Lisa Guernsey, New America

Family Engagement Summit 2017

Linthicum Heights, MD

The Case for Strengthening Families

Stresses families face today:

• Changing role of women and men in

workplace

• Rise of single parenthood

• Rising cost of living

• Generational downward mobility

• Decline in number and quality of

jobs

• Decline in family businesses

• Pressure of modern technology

Bronfenbrenner (1979); Takeuchi (2011)

Government

Agencies

Digital

Media

Market

Local

School

System

Church, Library,

After-school

Spaces

School,

Teachers,

Peers

Digital

Media Spaces

The

Neighborhood

Dominant

Beliefs Cultural

Values

Mass

Media

Parents’ Work

Home,

Parents,

Siblings

Attitudes & Ideologies

National & State

Policy

Ecological Perspectives on Development

Macrosystem

Exosystem

Mesosystem

Microsystem

Why?

The Quiet Crisis

How Do We Address This?

• How do we ensure that all children and

families have opportunities and access?

• How do we ensure that technology is not

used as a replacement for engagement?

• How do we help to set the conditions for

social interaction and lifelong learning

among children and parents every year of

their lives?

• How do we empower?

Comienza en Casa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AlCSa88BBc

Guidance from National Organizations

Stresses the importance of parents and

educators in young children’s lives

Sesame Street photo used with permission. Photo of Gov

Patrick used under Creative Commons license.

The AAP’s online worksheet to help families consider their needs and values

tech.ed.gov/ea

rlylearning/

Deeper Dives into STEM & Literacy

Applying Findings and Lessons from the

Learning Sciences on How Children Develop

Skills and Knowledge

Research Is Becoming More Sophisticated

Addressing questions of content and context

while examining the implementation of

particular tools in particular settings for

subgroups of children

New Volume on Scientific Findings

Implications for:

•Parenting programs

•Library design

•School budgets and

purchasing choices

•Teacher training

Early Learning Lab Technology Strategy Preview

June 13, 2017

Early Learning Lab’s Interviews

What are we learning about parents’ needs, motivators, barriers and tech use?

Mobile First Peer-to-peer learning

Parents have high aspirations for their kids’ education but….

Parents don’t know what they don’t know

Source:

Now in Focus: The Importance of Mentoring

Parents and Educators

Recognizing the Need for New Systems and

Models for Reaching Families, Empowering

Parents, and Upskilling Librarians and

Teachers

Family Engagement & media mentor book here

Communities Taking Action

Integrating Technology in Early Literacy (InTEL)

http://atlas.newamerica.org/tech-early-literacy

Community guides on TapClickRead.orgources for

Taking Action at Home

TapClickRead.org TapClickRead.org

4 Interlocking Steps

1. Take stock with eye toward equity

2. Build professional learning system for

media mentors

3. Expand physical infrastructure &

connectivity

4. Set up cycle for continuous

improvement

Written to be useful in concert with…

• Building Blocks for Success report from

the Center for Study of Social Policy &

National League of Cities

• Collective impact models underway with

the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading

• Guidance from Next Century Cities and

the National Broadband Report

• As well as …

4 STEPS

1. Take stock with eye toward equity

2. Build professional learning system for

media mentors

3. Expand physical infrastructure &

connectivity

4. Set up cycle for continuous

improvement

Where does

Maryland stand?

• Getting started

–For example, conducting a community needs

assessment

• Making progress

–For example, piloting an approach and

collecting evidence

• Sharing with others and scaling up

–For example, advocating for new PD policies

Actions on the ground

• Baltimore County Public Schools

• Pittsburgh – Remake Learning Network

• Public libraries in Addison, IL

• Public media in Jackson, MS

• Alexandria City Public Schools, VA

• Utilities build-out in Santa Monica, CA

• Parent & teacher surveys in 3 counties in

Silicon Valley

What is on your to-do list?

A. Taking stock of family engagement offerings with an

eye towards equity?

B. Developing professional development

opportunities to build a corps of media mentors and

family engagement specialists?

C. Creating a continuous cycle of improvement with

family engagement programs?

D. Investing in physical infrastructure that promotes

digital connectivity?

E. Providing training, support, and peer-to-peer learning

opportunities for users of digital technology?

The Goal: Families Thriving

Lisa Guernsey, New America

guernsey@newamerica.org