How to Involve All Families (Using Your Phones!)

Sometimes it is the most basic technology that is the most effective. The same goes for the services of the Family Engagement Lab, whose mission is to “catalyze equitable family engagement and student learning by bridging classroom curriculum and at-home learning. As a national nonprofit organization, our work builds partnerships between teachers and historically underserved families by facilitating ongoing communication and collaboration about learning.”

Their exclusive tool, FASTalk, shares at-home learning activities via text messages in each family's native language. Current partnerships include districts such as the Oakland Unified School District and collaborations with the Louisiana Department of Education. In this conversation, Vidya covers the gamut: discussing the evolution of education, especially in the context of social-emotional learning, parent-teacher communication, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. She emphasizes the importance of family engagement in learning and how technology, specifically texting, can be a powerful tool to improve communication between teachers and parents.

Vidya presents her program called “Fast Talk”, which uses prescriptive text messages to positively engage parents in supporting their children's learning. The conversation delves into the dynamics of communication between school and home, focusing on the need for positive interactions and the potential of technology to strengthen relationships between teachers, students, and families.

Conclusions:

• Evolution in education: The interview explores changes in education, particularly in the areas of social-emotional learning, parent-teacher communication, and diversity, equity and inclusion, influenced by the pandemic and broader cultural shifts.
• Focus on family involvement: Vidya highlights the increasing focus on family engagement in education, citing the importance of collaborating and partnering with families to support student learning.
• Role of technology: The conversation emphasizes the role of technology, specifically texting, in improving communication between schools and families. The use of technology is seen as a tool to close gaps and make communication more accessible.
• Positive communication between school and home: Vidya emphasizes the importance of maintaining positive interactions in school-home communication, with the aim of creating a bank of positive interactions to address challenges effectively.
• District level implementation: The technology and services discussed are primarily implemented at the district level, with the goal of making family engagement tools more accessible and customizable for teachers.
• Future vision: Vidya expresses excitement about the potential of technology to further connect students, teachers, and families. The vision involves creating a more holistic understanding of students and incorporating their cultural backgrounds and experiences into the learning process for a richer educational experience.

Kevin is a forward-thinking media executive with over 25 years of experience building brands and audiences online, in print and face-to-face. He is an acclaimed writer, editor, and commentator covering the intersection of society and technology, especially educational technology. You can contact Kevin at [email protected]

Latest messages from Kevin Hogan (see everything)