Summary
During this session, participants will discover how the use of technology can assist students and their families in preparing for a postsecondary education or career. Participants will be given the opportunity to walk through the stages of creating an account and will explore the benefits and functions of the QUEST mobile web page. In closing, participants will leave the QUEST session, feeling excited and confident that the QUEST mobile web page will aid students and families in their preparation for their Postsecondary Education or career journey.
Essential Question
How can the QUEST mobile web page assist schools and families when it comes to supporting students in their postsecondary education or career?
Learning Goals
Participants will discover how the use of technology can assist in family engagement and prepare students and families for a postsecondary education or career.
Participants will create and explore the GEAR-UP QUEST mobile web page.
Participants will evaluate and discuss the benefits of using and recommending the QUEST mobile web page to families.
Materials List
Presentation Slides (attached)
Promo Flyer (attached; 1 per participant)
Sticky Easel Pad Paper
Regular post-its
Pens
Engage
Welcome participants and briefly introduce yourself and the professional development session using the attached Presentation Slides.
Show slides 3 and 4 and introduce the essential question and lesson objectives.
Go to slide 5. Have participants find an individual in the room who is wearing footwear that is most like theirs and sit down next to their sole-mate.
Give participants about 5 minutes to introduce themselves to their partner and discuss the following questions.
Partner’s name and profession
What is something you’re looking forward to seeing or doing over the holiday season?
What are two items they can’t live without?
Have participants record their partner's responses and be prepared to share out with the group.
Explore
Go to slide 6 and have participants open Mentimeter. Read aloud the following statistical questions pertaining to the use of mobile devices and have participants utilize Mentimeter to respond.
What percent of Americans have access to a smartphone?
45%
65%
95% (Answer)
The typical smartphone user checks their smartphone every _____ minutes from when they wake up until they go to sleep (So by the time this session is over you will have checked your phones approximately 5 times).
15 minutes
20 minutes
12 minutes (Answer)
Students with smartphones study ____ more minutes each week because they can study on the go.
25 more minutes
30 more minutes
40 more minutes (Answer)
Students with smartphones are _____x more likely to track their academic progress.
2x
3x (Answer)
4x
Who here would like to have immediate access to PSE (Postsecondary Education) information and resources that focus on supporting students and their families while they transition through high school?
Yes
No
Do you know of any mobile resources that foster family engagement by highlighting resources to help families support their student's PSE journey?
Yes
No
Explain
Show slide 7 and introduce Dr. Joyce Epstein’s Framework for Family Involvement. After a brief explanation, progress through slides 8-13 and explain the 6 different types of family involvement.
Show slide 14 and introduce the QUEST mobile web page, then move to slide 15 and explain the following benefits of using QUEST:
Families
QUEST gives families the opportunity to support their students in their PSE journey, by supplying them with informational resources and next steps.
As students progress through high school, so does QUEST. Each school year, families will have new QUEST tasks to complete and focus on.
QUEST is an easy and convenient way to track student’s progress.
Students
QUEST can assist students by providing them with next step tasks and access to educational resources.
Students can review QUEST to determine which task and objectives they need assistance with and share that information with their support systems.
School Staff
School personnel can send important information directly to families through QUEST
Postsecondary education information and resources are easily accessible with QUEST.
Extend
Show slide 16 and walk participants through the process of setting up a QUEST account at https://quest.k20center.ou.edu/.
Progress through slides 17-19 and explain to participants how to use the dashboard, add a student, and access content on the QUEST mobile web page.
After participants create their QUEST accounts, show slide 20 and introduce the Gallery Walk strategy. Divide participants into six groups, and have each group spend 2 minutes at each of the following six objective stations placed throughout the room:
Ask groups to use their phone to visit the QUEST mobile web page and the explore the content associated with each of the objectives. Then, have each group leave a question or comment on a sticky note next to that particular objective.
Have participants cycle through to each objective section with their group until they’ve reviewed and commented on each one. After groups have visited each station, show slide 21 and have groups return to their original objective station and select and share out one comment that stands out to them.
Evaluate
Show slide 22 and introduce the POMS strategy. Have students reflect on the most significant learning or idea they gained from the session and share it out with their sole mate from the beginning of the session.
Before closing the session, provide each participant with the attached QUEST Promo Flyer.
Research Rationale
Research has consistently reinforced that parental involvement in education has a positive impact on the educational achievement of the student. Increasing parental involvement, particularly with parents of diverse communities, is often a challenge for educators. The implementation of information and communication technology can be an effective vehicle to engage more families in their students’ education (Hohlfeld, 2010; Wilder, 2014).
Resources
Hohlfeld, T. N., Ritzhaupt, A. D., & Barron, A. E. (2010). Connecting schools, community, and family with ICT: Four-year trends related to school level and SES of public schools in Florida. Computers & Education, 55(1), 391-405. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2010-06388-031
K20 Center. (n.d.). Gallery Walk/Carousel. Strategies.https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/118
K20 Center. (n.d.). POMS. Strategies.https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/101
Wilder, S. (2014). Effects of parental involvement on academic achievement: a meta-synthesis, Educational Review, 66:3, 377-397, DOI:10.1080/00131911.2013.780009