More and more preschools, childcare centers, libraries, and community-based organizations that support the parents of children birth to five are turning to technology to enhance their engagement with families. A plethora of texting programs, video coaching tools, apps, and early literacy devices are now available to help families support their young children's development. But which are the best tools to use for your program? In this webinar, we share the latest research on the technology habits parents, discuss how program providers can incorporate technology tools and provide an overview of some early learning platforms. This webinar, presented by the Early Learning Lab, is the first in a series of four webinars on technology for the early childhood education field. The Early Learning Lab is partnering with the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, New America, Frontiers of Innovation, TechSoup and New Profit to produce this series.

1. Technology for Family Engagement in Early
Learning Settings
With: Sheetal Singh, Early Learning Lab
Elena Lopez, Harvard Family Research Project
Sandra Gutierrez, Abriendo Puertas / Opening Doors
Rebecca Parlakian, ZERO TO THREE
March 16, 2016

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Presenters
Assisting with chat: Becky Wiegand, TechSoup
Sheetal Singh
Director, Design and Innovation,
EARLY LEARNING LAB
Sandra Gutierrez,
Founder and National Director,
Abriendo Puertas/Opening Door
Elena Lopez,
Associate Director, Harvard
Family Research Project
Rebecca Parlakian,
Director of Parenting Resources,
ZERO TO THREE
Susan Hope Bard
Online Training Producer,
TechSoup

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Objectives
1. Share the latest research on the technology habits
of millennial parents
2. Discuss a framework to guide program providers in
using technology with modern families
3. Highlight lessons learned from families' use of
technology with young children

6. 6
About TechSoup

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The Need Is Global – And So Are We
TechSoup’s mission is to build a dynamic bridge that enables civil society
organizations and social change agents around the world to gain effective access to
the resources they need to design and implement solutions for a more equitable
planet.
Countries Served TechSoup Partner Location NetSquared Local Group

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www.TechSoup.Global

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Our Impact
Together, we build a stronger, more resilient civil society.
$5.2B
in technology products
and grants employed
by NGOs for the
greater good
35
languages used to
provide education
and support
100+
corporate and
foundation partners
connected with the
causes and
communities they
care about
6.2M
annual visits to
our websites
600,000
newsletter
subscribers
empowered with
actionable
knowledge
79%
of NGOs have improved
organizational efficiency
with TechSoup Global's
resource offering*
*Source: survey conducted among TechSoup members in 2013

10. All children deserve the chance to grow, learn, and fulfill
their potential to be creative thinkers and doers. Yet too
many young children aren’t exposed to the engaging and
enriching experiences they need from birth to age five that
help them thrive and learn. The only way to close this
opportunity gap is to invest in the adults that care for them.
10

11. What We Do
The Early Learning Lab supports the
early childhood education field by
identifying, developing and catalyzing
the use of innovative tools, program
design, and technologies to foster
great caregiving and teaching of
children from birth to age five. Our
vision is to drive smart practices,
solutions and systems to amplify early
childhood learning.
11

12. • Supply: Work with technologists to ensure products are research-
based and meet the needs of the field; define and test high-value
technology design elements.
• Demand: Help program implementers and families understand the
range of tools available and make smart decisions on what to use.
• Capacity Building: Guide the field in understanding how to
meaningfully and effectively integrate technology into programs.
12
Accelerating the use of innovative
technologies requires operating at
three levels:

13. Early Learning Technology Design
Elements
• Builds parent/teacher self-
efficacy
• Builds parent/teacher social
capital
• Puts data into the hands of
the users and uses data to
inspire improvement
• Personalized for greater
efficacy
• Accommodates and
promotes diversity
13

17. Polling Question
Which of the following do you use to communicate with families:
– Texting
– Email
– Social media
– Blogging
– Video sharing
– Photo sharing
– Apps

21. Wired: Digital Media in Family
Engagement
M. Elena Lopez
Associate Director
Harvard Family Research Project

22. Comienza en Casa
Program for migrant families in Milbridge, ME

23. http://s3.amazonaws.com/stories.shadowpuppet.co/C25A7C2A-CE62-46E7-9016-1C01A641F9E7/story.mp4

24. Just Say No
Random Acts

25. Office of Head Start Parent, Family, and
Community Engagement Framework

26. Program Foundations
Supporting
Connecting
Creating
Pathways
Leadership
Professional
Development
Assessment &
Improvement

27. Office of Head Start Parent, Family, and
Community Engagement Framework

28. Practices: Everyone is a Learner
PROGRAM ENVIRONMENT TEACHING & LEARNING
FAMILY PARTNERSHIP COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP

29. Office of Head Start Parent, Family, and
Community Engagement Framework

30. Comienza en Casa
Program for migrant families in Milbridge, ME

31. Points to Remember
• Avoid random acts
• Be intentional
• Create strong foundations
• Know and understand families
• Encourage families to be wise
consumers and avid creators
• Assess, improve, and innovate

32. M. Elena Lopez
elena_lopez@gse.harvard.edu

33. Resources
FINE Newsletter:
www.hfrp.org/FINEnewsletter
Share your ideas: @HFRP
www.twitter.com/hfrp
Mailing list:
www.hfrp.org/subscribe
Website:
www.hfrp.org

34. Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors
The AP Mobile App
Development Process
Desarrollando
un Futuro Mejor
a través del
Liderazgo de
los Padres
Building a
Better Future
Through Parent
Leadership

35. Why an Abriendo Puertas (AP) App?
• Latinos have the highest rate (71%)of Smartphone usage in the
U.S.
• Latinos tend to be “Smartphone dependent” for internet use.
• AP partnerships with:
– Vroom http://www.joinvroom.org/
– Common Sense Media https://www.commonsensemedia.org/
 Challenge: How to extend AP’s reach and impact with
maximum effectiveness.
 Solution: Develop a free, bilingual Smartphone App that
aims to improve the quality of life and future
opportunities for parents and children.

36. Parent Input
 Parent perception and concerns
• Deep concern about their children’s use of technology
• Another language they don’t speak
• Very familiar with Facebook and WhatsApp – 80% reported daily use
• “Quien adelante no mira, atrás se queda.”
“If you don’t look forward, you stay behind”
 Parent input
• Recommend the app be easy, useful, fun and enjoyable
• Mi familia – cradle to college
 Top 5 recommendations regarding content
1. Stress
2. Bullying
3. Dual Language Learner – bilingual
4. Literacy
5. Advocacy

37. Communication and Collaboration
 Reaching a common understanding
• Tech and family engagement speak different languages
 Rebooted assumptions and expectations
• Functional limitations
• Expertise matters
• Working in stages
• Staying true to AP values – welcoming environment

38. What’s Next?

39. Mil gracias!
www.ap-od.org

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