By Jeremy Vidito, Chief Financial Officer at Detroit Public Schools
Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, mentors and caregivers: thank you for all of the endless hours of support you provide the young people in your lives. As a teacher, school leader, and former AmeriCorps tutor, as well as mentor to countless youth, I see the impact of your efforts every day. Our students need supportive adults in their lives who can challenge, mentor, and push them to meet and exceed their potential.
My goal is to provide you with Do’s and Don’ts regarding online learning programs that will help guide you in how to best assist the students in your life. I hope you find it helpful.
Do: Find out if the school has any digital learning programs. At the beginning of each year, ask for a summary of your child’s curriculum and any instructional resources. It is important that your school has a clearly defined instructional program, and if it's using digital learning programs. The school should be able to clearly define how those programs support student learning.
Don’t: Assume that because your child is getting good grades, they’re on grade level. Students may not always be completing work that is aligned with the grade-level standards. Request a copy of your child’s proficiency results from state or district benchmark assessments. These results can help you select additional digital learning programs to support your child.
Do: Get regular reports on your child’s progress with digital learning programs. If it is important enough for your child to spend class time working on digital learning programs, then it is important enough for you to get a report on your child’s progress. Many reports will have the following information:
Don’t: Assume that just because your child is using a digital learning program that they’re learning. Some digital learning programs just review material that your child has already mastered. Other programs may be difficult and your child might need help or additional support to guide them through the material.
Do: Use digital learning programs as another opportunity for you and your child to work together. Sit with your child and ask them facilitating questions. Have them explain the problems and their thinking. As appropriate, support your child with challenging material while ensuring they they’re doing the heavy lifting. For example, ask questions such as:
Don’t: Assume that the programs selected by your school are the only ones suitable for your child. There are hundreds — even thousands — of instructional programs, games, and apps available. Effective programs are engaging, are aligned to content standards, differentiate materials so that your child is working at their instructional level, and provide easy-to-read reports. Here are three questions to ask when reviewing ed-tech programs.
Do: Allow your child to select instructional programs that fit their interests. My nephew loves rockets and outer space, while my niece is currently in love with “Frozen.” They were both able to find apps on the iPad that were designed to meet content standards as well as aligned with their current interests. My nephew solved addition problems as he launched rockets, while my niece worked on one-to-one correspondence as she picked outfits for the princess to wear. Neither app was used by their school, nor as a school leader would I endorse schools to purchase those apps, but for free choice, they were a great addition.
Do: Limit the time your child spends on the computer. Online instructional programs are great; they can expand your child's skills and reinforce concepts, but they do not replace social peer interactions. As a school leader, I know that interpersonal skills and the ability to work and play with others are just as important to your child’s academic progress as their content knowledge.
For more, check out these related blogs:
Jeremy Vidito is Chief Financial Officer at Detroit Public Schools and was previously Executive Director of Strategic Planning & New Schools at Starr Commonwealth Educational Services.
This blog was originally posted September 9, 2014 and has been updated with more resources for parents.
MIND Research Institute welcomes guest blogs that highlight best practices in math education, blended learning and innovative learning strategies that inspire students at all ages.
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