Parent Square and Google Classroom Case Study's

 Case Study 1: Google Classroom 

  • Overview: Google Classroom is a platform that is used across many different schools and classrooms. Google classroom gives teachers the ability to post announcements, class content, and assignments. Google Classroom allows students to access work that they missed when they were absent, as well as directions to the assignments. Google Classroom also allows teachers to upload grades, create a grading scale, and insert dates to separate grades by quarter. 



  • User Engagement: This classroom allows for multiple modes of engagement. After any lessons, I always upload the class slideshow into Google Classroom. Students know that at any point, they can refer back to class slides found under our classroom “stream” for help on an assignment and to review for a quiz or test. Students are also able to access any of our classroom assignments using Google Classroom, and for some assignments they have the access of completing the assignment digitally or on paper. 


  • Influence on Communication: Teachers can post announcements on Google Classroom as well as updates that are accessible instantly to students and parents. This allows for effective communication, especially for students that may have been absent. It also provides a way for students to look back at important reminders and updates that were discussed in class. 

  • Information Consumption: Google Classroom is a great resource for providing information to students. Announcements and class material can be posted under the Google Classroom stream, and assignments and activities can be posted under “Classwork”. My classwork section of Google Classroom is broken down into categories. Each topic has its own session, “Do Nows” have their own section, and “assessments” have their own section. Even if I am not posting the assessment or the classwork in Google Classroom, I will still make a post for it to import grades. 

  • Impact on Learning: Google Classroom has a very positive impact on learning because it allows students to take charge of their learning. They are able to always see their grades, see what work is missing, and see what is due and when it is due. 

  • Privacy and Safety: Information posted in Google Classroom is protected by “world-class security” (How Classroom protects your privacy & keeps you in control - Classroom Help. (n.d.). In order for anyone to access a classroom in Google Classroom, they need the class code, so it can not just be accessed by anyone. In addition, “Your Google Account comes with built-in security designed to detect and block threats like spam, phishing and malware. Your activity is stored using strong industry standards and practices” (How Classroom protects your privacy & keeps you in control - Classroom Help. (n.d.). 

Required Literacies: Google Classroom requires several different forms of literacies. Users must understand how to login and navigate Google Classroom, as well as access and upload assignments. This is important for students because it helps them complete assignments and access learning materials. This is important for teachers because it allows us to view assignments instantly, as well as student progress in real time, and also allows for prompt feedback. Users must also possess information literacy in order to find information within Google Classroom and access it. This teaches students the importance of accessing information, and looking back for it when they need assistance with an assignment. In addition, Google Classroom teaches students time management strategies. Each assignment has a due date, and students can see exactly what is due for each class as soon as they sign into Google Classroom. 

Reflection on Implications: Google Classroom has many implications for K-12 education, which align well with many of our educational goals. Google Classroom makes learning accessible even from home, if a student is going to be absent. In my district, students are provided with chromebooks so that they can work from home if necessary. Google Classroom also allows for group work and collaboration, enhancing collaboration skills. Google Classroom also allows for personalized learning, as assignments can be modified and shared with certain students only. Finally, Google Classroom allows for and encourages parental support. All of my students' parents or guardians have been invited to my Google Classrooms, and are encouraged to sit down with their children at least once a week to review assignments and grades in Google Classroom. Overall, Google Classroom supports educational goals because it enhances accessibility and engagement, and gives parents a way of being involved in their child's learning.

References

How Classroom protects your privacy & keeps you in control - Classroom  Help. (n.d.). https://support.google.com/edu/classroom/answer/10467843?hl=en


Case Study 2: Parent Square 

  • Overview: Parent square is a platform that my district uses along with many others as a method of communication between school staff and families. Parent square allows users to send private messages or group messages, as well as post mass announcements, classroom announcements, or send forms or documents to certain groups. This platform is great in my district because it allows for easy translation from one language to another, and we have a lot of non-English speaking families within my district. 

  • User Engagement: This platform allows for many different forms of engagement. You can easily communicate with any student's parents in a private chat, or even a group chat. Being a middle school teacher, oftentimes my team of teachers will create a group chat between all of us teachers, and a parent so that the parent can just message the group chat any time they have a question or concern, and everyone is on the same page. You also have the ability to post announcements on this platform, and you are able to control the audience. You can post it to all of your classes, just one class, and choose whether or not to include other staff. 

  • Influence on Communication: This platform creates an easy, accessible space to keep parents engaged and updated. It allows for quick, easy and consistent communication with parents. 

  • Information Consumption: Parent square provides us teachers with a very easy way to provide information to families and parents. Every year at the start of the year, I use this platform as another space to post my syllabus, supply list, and introduce myself.  Each quarter, I use this platform to remind parents that the quarter is coming to a close, and to review students' grades and missing work on Google Classroom. My team and I also use this platform to post permission slips for field trips as well as information pertaining to upcoming events. 

  • Impact on Learning: In my experience, parent square has only had a positive impact on learning. It allows me to keep parents in the loop, and when parents are involved student engagement increases. “Although digital tools can help document the world in newly nuanced ways and demonstrate new perspectives, digital literacies often primarily heighten the analog demands we have in our learning goals” (Garcia, 2017). By having this resource to communicate and connect with parents, we are only strengthening our connections in the classroom. 

  • Privacy and Safety: “Parent Square safeguards the confidentiality of all information collected by adhering to industry-leading security protocols for data transfer and storage. It is fully compliant with FERPA and COPPA, and Parent Square is a proud signatory of the Student Privacy Pledge.” (Parent Square Is the Premier Unified School-to-home Communications Platform for K-12 Education — the Learning Counsel, n.d.).

Required Literacies: Users must understand how to use digital literacies and the internet when utilizing Parent Square. This includes accessing the website or app, and navigating between posts and messaging. Users must also be able to effectively communicate through written posts, and messages. The ideal thing about this platform is that it can all be translated into any language necessary. This provides an instant way to communicate when a translator is not immediately available. Users must also have technical literacy, to be able to turn on notifications and receive alerts. Users may choose to be notified via the app, email, or text. 

Reflection on Implications: Parent Square has many implications for K-12 education that align with education goals. Parent square allows for direct communication between parents, teachers, staff, and students. This aligns with the goal of fostering effective communication between school and home, keeping everyone informed. Parent square also fosters the goal of resource sharing. Teachers can utilize Parent Square to share important announcements, upcoming events, and assignments. Overall, Parent Square helps to maintain a sense of community among parents, staff, and students. Parents are able to stay in the loop with all school events including sports; practices and games. It provides a platform for sharing positive news, and fostering a supportive educational environment. 

References

Garcia, A. (2017). NONDIGITAL SKILLS. Literacy Today, 35(3), 24-25. https://sunyempire.idm.oclc.org/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Ftrade-journals%2Fnondigital-skills%2Fdocview%2F1966005428%2Fse-2%3Faccountid%3D8067

ParentSquare. (n.d). ParentSquare. Retrieved November 23, 2024, from https://www.parentsquare.com/school-services/

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