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Smart phones require smart communication strategies
In most cases, parents said, school leaders provided too little information, too late. While teachers fared slightly better in our study, parent expectations regarding classroom-home communications sometimes went unfulfilled.
Parents today seem to have an almost insatiable desire to stay connected to their children electronically, and as such, they greatly appreciate frequent updates about their children’s progress—as well as online access to homework assignments, grades, attendance, discipline reports, teacher notes, and student portfolios.
When parents perceive a communication void, they will work to fill it, by creating their own mobile apps, alternative social media sites, blogs, electronic newsletters, and distribution lists. The same is true for students.
Two students at Guilford County Schools’ Weaver Academy of Visual and Performing Arts created a mobile app last year to help promote the school and keep their peers, parents, and teachers in the loop about performances, events, and other news.
See also:
How to engage parents online more effectively
Originally designed to operate in a Microsoft Windows environment, the app has been adapted this fall for Android and Apple operating systems. The app includes a number of cool features, including:
- A locator button that provides directions to the school from the smart-phone user’s current (or any) location;
- The Buzz, a weekly newsletter with dates of important events and information;
- The names of Weaver staff members, along with contact information, so eMails can be sent from the phone to each person.
- A list of the courses offered at Weaver, which also serves as GCS’s countywide career and technical education center;
- An art gallery that allows art students to upload pictures of their creations; and
- A link for the phone number to the front office that dials it directly from the phone.
Excited by the initial response to their app, the students and Weaver administration already are planning to expand the content. Plans for future “buttons,” or links to high-interest student and parent content, include:
4 Responses to Smart phones require smart communication strategies
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Tomsmcdonald
October 10, 2012 at 5:01 pm
This is all fine and dandy for speeding up existing elements, but where are the deep learning, transfer and application benefits to individual advanced student learning outcomes?
We again try to find a use for technology rather than focusing in research driven pedagogy.
“Backing these new apps with sophisticated databases and other programs that make upkeep easier can go a long way in helping time-stressed school personnel manage communications more effectively and efficiently”.
What about the students and advancing their educational outcomes. This is where the priority should be.
jessica_ruby
October 11, 2012 at 4:26 am
Thanks for sharing this useful information with us. Ever since man invented technology, the use and dependency on it has been tremendous. The use of technology has been seen not only at work place but also in schools. I am sure many schools after reading this post may schools will think of using technology is a smarter sense for the success of the students.
nkcarr79
October 11, 2012 at 2:19 pm
Thank you for the feedback. Communications and parent outreach are the focus of my columns, not teaching and learning. My view? We need to focus on student learning and advancing outcomes for them, and keeping parents informed and engaged is an important part of making that happen.
alefiyabhatia
November 14, 2012 at 7:43 pm
Couldn’t agree more Nora. The huge communication gap and lack of parent involvement at schools where I taught is what led me to step out of the classroom and into the business world to create an easy solution for schools to connect with their communities and for parents to be excited and engaged, through Mobile. Do check out http://www.Crescerance.com – would love your thoughts, ideas and feedback, if you have a moment!