Online learning through generations; The new parental role in K12 Education

Concurrent Session 9

Session Materials

Brief Abstract

 Due to the COVID pandemic and online learning for K-12 students, parents and caregivers have found themselves co-educating their children. This session will provide educators with a variety of strategies to engage and support those in the parental role for the purpose of developing a collaborative relationship for student success. 

 

Presenters

Lead Presenter: Julie Hernandez, Western Governors University

Dr. Hernandez is the Educational and Professional Programming manager at Western Governors University (WGU). In her role, Dr. Hernandez is responsible for managing professional programming and outreach for the United States’ largest private, non-profit university. Dr. Hernandez is a seasoned classroom veteran with more than 25 years' experience as a STEM educator and K12 department chair. Dr. Hernandez has a doctorate in educational leadership with a specialization in Curriculum and Instruction & Virtual Education, a MBA, and is a California-credentialed teacher in cross-cultural and science education.

Extended Abstract

 In the age of COVID, parents and caregivers have suddenly found themselves co-educating their children. This session will focus on preparing teachers and administrators to equip caregivers for their new role as co-educators in a virtual or hybrid learning environment.  Building collaborative relationships, developing parent and caregiver resource groups, and identifying ways to keep the lines of communication open will be addressed. Participants are encouraged to brainstorm and create meaningful resource takeaways to support parents in the online format. 

Parents and caregivers need tools to successfully navigate technology issues that may arise, to access and utilize various learning platforms their students may encounter, as well as helping their student stay engaged and up to date in their virtual classes. Parents and caregivers often find their assistance needed out of necessity for their student to succeed in navigating online materials and coordinating class meetings.  This, along with the disparate learning platforms students utilize each day, suddenly requires caregivers to be experts in virtual classroom technology. Additionally, caregivers must also be problem solvers who are able to tackle diverse technical issues and understand various changes that have taken place with their students’ education. Teachers and administrators play a vital role in helping caregivers bridge the gap between the traditional parental/caregiver role and the paradigm shift needed to rise to the new co-educator role.  Participants will establish expectations for caregiver engagement and support in virtual classroom settings, will cultivate caregivers in their role as co-educators and create a blueprint for caregivers to help in their role of providing academic support for students.