Parents of Online Charter School Students:

Notable Practices and Support

By: Lisa Hasler Waters, Ph.D.iNACOL, Blending and Online Learning Symposium,

Orlando, FL: 2013

BackgroundWhat do we knowWhat I learnedNotable PracticesChallengesWhat can we do?

traditional virtual home

What do we knowParent Role Description

Organizer Plan daily schedules, lessons, activities; collect materials

Instructor Provide 1-1 instruction, tutor, share educational experiences, construct knowledge with student

Motivator Motivate children to progress and persist through problems

Manager Keep track of student progress, manage time, discipline, monitor

Encourage - Reinforce - Model - Instruct

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

instruction academic outcomes

“I try to mirror them as much as possible”

“We try to relate things they were learning with real life things”

“It [learning] doesn’t have to be s e p a r a t e d

from daily life”

“It took some adjustment

on my part”

“…first we’ll try online searches”

“Teachers are the go-to person”

Learning permeates the dayLearning is relevant

Learning is not separated from daily life!

“I often feel overwhelmed! ”

“It’s challenging wearing two hats”

“Training is remedial”

“It’s frustrating when they (teachers)

aren’t available ”

What can we do?

Reduce & simplify administrative duties

Provide student guidance and motivation strategies

Differentiate training and support

Embed teacher experts and go mobile

There is more we can doStudy roles of

teachers and learning coaches

Investigate more deeply the quality of support they provide to their students

Investigate student voices