Digital Village: Using Technology to Increase Parent Involvement
If it takes a village to raise a child, then this digital generation calls for a digital village. Studies increasingly show that parent involvement is directly correlated to student achievement, behavior and high school graduation rates. By using digital collaboration tools, parents can become an integral part of their child’s education, sharing from their knowledge, careers, and life experience. For students, their friends and family are the best place to establish their Personal Learning Network, preparing for a lifetime of communication, collaboration and digital citizenship. In this engaging session, attendees will examine pertinent research, explore best practices for implementation, engage live demonstrations of collaborative web environments, view diverse examples, and delve into free, effective Web 2.0 tools like blogs, wikis, Voicethread, video-conferencing, collaborative applications and workspaces, and communication tools. Creating an innovative, connected classroom was never easier than when using these parent-friendly ideas. Whether for individual lessons or yearlong initiatives, educators and educational stakeholders will leave feeling inspired to expand the educational experience with a digital village!