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ERIC Number: ED632685
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 289
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-3744-2396-9
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Family Engagement within an Inclusive Technology Ecosystem
Morgan, Angelica Lynn
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, North Carolina State University
An inclusive technology ecosystem includes leadership, design, support, maintenance, and continuous improvement of technology infrastructure that supports the teaching, learning, and assessment of all students. The Center on Inclusive Technology in Education Systems (CITES) is a project led by CAST, a nonprofit education research and development organization. CITES team members are creating a framework to provide school districts with evidence-based practices to establish and sustain inclusive technology systems. Outcomes from this study inform family engagement practices within the CITES framework. This study used a mixed-methods explanatory sequential design to elicit input from family members of K-12 public school students with an IEP or 504 plan in the United States about practices employed by education leaders and K-12 classroom educators for equitably engaging families in technology selection, implementation, and use. After pilot testing, 326 family members responded to a study-specific online survey about education leader and classroom educator family engagement practices and communication methods related to technology in their student's district, school, and classroom. Second, ten focus group participants discussed the same topics' impacts on family engagement practices. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and revealed that education leaders engage families less than half of the time for feedback about leadership, infrastructure, and large-scale assessment topics. Classroom leaders engage families between 60% and 85% of the time for teaching, learning, and classroom assessment topics. The top five family engagement communication methods preferred by families and used by education leaders were: email, virtual meeting or conference, face-to-face meeting or conference, online survey, and phone call. The top five family engagement communication methods preferred by families and used by classroom educators were: face-to-face meeting or conference, virtual meeting or conference, email, phone call, and direct text message. Two researchers thematically coded focus group transcripts. First, researchers assigned focus group statements one of eight themes: Leadership, Infrastructure, Large-Scale Assessment Accessibility, Large-Scale Assessment Data Use, Teaching, Learning, Classroom Assessment Accessibility, or Classroom Assessment Data Use. Next, researchers inductively assigned subthemes to statements within each theme. Sixteen total subthemes emerged. Communication and Collaboration, the most common subtheme, was identified within five of the eight themes. In the final data analysis phase, researchers created an interaction matrix to determine how focus group subthemes help to explain survey findings. Within the context of Bronfenbrenner's (1977) Ecological Systems Theory and Crenshaw's (1991) intersectionality theoretical frameworks, the discussion offers practical recommendations for education leaders and classroom educators to effectively engage families in technology discussions. The CITES team will work with six school districts over the 2022-23 school year to evaluate these practices. The discussion also includes policy and future research recommendations to help ensure equitable access now and in the future for all students, including those with disabilities, to technologies that support and facilitate learning opportunities. The dissertation concludes with study limitations. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A