There are many issues that come into play when students are expected to continue learning outside of the classroom with their technology. The school creates a process on how students can access homework, extra learning and communication with parents from online sources, but do not know how to access them. Students can log in during school hours because they are provided with a one way login and can access their learning apps easily. Whereas at home, they may be logging in from home computers that are not setup the same way and students and families are unfamiliar on how to access the same things.
There needs to be a some way for parents and other members of the community to be able to understand how to access these helpful tools. There should be and online workshop or videos for stakeholders to be able to easily access things for their children’s education. Often times if people do not know how to use it they just won’t do it. We need to make sure things are easily assessible for all members who should require it. If we are requiring any type of formal education it should be accessible. It would be helpful if the technology department could hold parent classes that would teach parents how to access these materials for their students. Often times parents feel that their students are struggling and do not know how to help their child. Showing these members of the community what they have access to can change a student’s life! Parent feel that they can only rely on expensive tutors to help their child when the district has plenty of resources available to them.
Principals should be active in helping students at their school with these technology issues. The principals have access to budgets that can provide students with materials that are needed. If their attending a school with Title I funding this can also be used to help these students. There are also programs that principals can give to their students and families so that they can get these materials. Not only is this a principals job, but it should also be the teacher’s job to help students succeed. Communication about these needs should be discussed with the appropriate school members to help. Often times parents are unwilling to share this information about their needs- feeling embarrassed asking for help or support. Teachers should communicate these things with parents and families throughout the year to make sure students are progressing and can discuss specific options with each family. Communication about these conditions are important or nothing can be done to solve these problems from the school side.
In addition to accessing the material, members of the community do not have at home access to the internet and the district can play a role in this. We are expecting things but not providing it to the members who require it. More recently, districts are giving out laptops and hotspots for students-during the pandemic. Are they still going to give out these materials after the pandemic or is it too expensive? We should provide these items and if not we need to figure out how students can still access the materials needed for learning. School districts could work with local libraries or create programs that can give free access to these. Currently, there is nothing like this. Most of these families have just had students come to school and complete it there and learning is done for the day. This even occurs if students do not have pencils as home! The district needs to come up with a plan to help all students as well as principals, parents, teachers and community members.