Developing the home-school relationship using digital ... - Futurelab

1.5 HOW THISHANDBOOK WASDEVELOPEDThis handbook draws together a range ofrelevant resources and evidence, synthesisingbackground policy and research with originalempirical research findings to produce specificguidance for educators.The study therefore aimed to:_ explore the role of the learner in mediatinghome-school relationships, how this couldenhance their learning and how digitaltechnologies may support learners inthis role,_ explore and understand children’s, parents’and teachers’ perceptions about theboundaries and relationships betweenin-school and out-of-school learning,INTRODUCTION1.5 HOW THIS HANDBOOK WAS DEVELOPED1Relevant policy initiatives were reviewed andresearch into home-school relationships,digital technologies and parental engagementwas analysed to provide a guiding context forthe study, informing the focus and approachestaken. This review of published material wassupplemented by interviews with severalexperts in the field, including a headteacher,researchers and policy-makers to ensure thatrecent developments in research, practice andpolicy were also able to inform the study.Original research was conducted with twosecondary schools in Bristol, working withchildren, parents and teachers during thesummer and autumn of 2009. A review ofprevious research identified that the learner’srole was significant in parental engagementand that young people actively navigate theirown transitions between home and school.However, the role of young people in homeschoolrelationships has been given relativelylittle attention in research, so this study aimedto foreground their role and experience in thehome-school relationship. Given the increasinguse of digital technologies in both educationand home life, this study was particularlyconcerned with exploring the ways in whichdigital technologies open up new opportunities,but may also provide new challenges, forschools, children and their families indeveloping home-school relationships._ explore the opportunities and challengespresented by the use of digital technologiesto support home-school relationships.In-depth qualitative focus group interviewsand idea development workshops were heldwith groups of children, parents and teachersboth separately and together, identifying whatparticipants wanted to achieve from the homeschoolrelationship and their challenges, needsand ideas for using technologies to support therelationship between home and school. Theapproach taken was intended to allow teachers,children and parents to all be able to have theirvoices heard, and to begin to negotiate thedifferent views and opinions that arose betweenthem. Transcripts and outputs from these focusgroup interviews and workshops were analysedto obtain themes significant in the context ofthe aims of the research.Finally, a number of schools engaging inleading practice using technologies to supporthome-school relationships or parentalengagement were identified. Descriptions ofthese schools’ practice, and any benefits theyhave experienced are included as short casestudies in order to detail the current state ofpractice and provide inspiration on practicalmeasures for using technologies to support thehome-school relationship.10