Comments on: #PTLA – what does a twitter hash tag mean to parents? http://www.ourschool.ca/ptla-what-does-a-twitter-hash-tag-mean-to-parents.html Connecting parents and teachers using technology Mon, 14 Jun 2010 06:37:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Lorna http://www.ourschool.ca/ptla-what-does-a-twitter-hash-tag-mean-to-parents.html/comment-page-1#comment-21570 Lorna Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:00:11 +0000 http://www.ourschool.ca/?p=2801#comment-21570 Patrick - Are you using streaming to communicate your meetings? What two - way communications do you recommend? use? Patrick – Are you using streaming to communicate your meetings? What two – way communications do you recommend? use?

]]> By: Patrick Larkin http://www.ourschool.ca/ptla-what-does-a-twitter-hash-tag-mean-to-parents.html/comment-page-1#comment-21516 Patrick Larkin Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:50:41 +0000 http://www.ourschool.ca/?p=2801#comment-21516 Lorna I think we need to share best practices where true engagement is taking place. Just asking for parent input one or two times will not accomplish much. We have to build some trust first and show them that we mean what we say. I would like to say that we are there at my school, but I think we are moving in the right direction. Having a blog helps, but I am thinking that I would like to really change the way we do business when it comes to decision-making. I think when we hold meetings with groups making decisions that will impact students and parents we should start streaming video and setting up back-channel conversations so that people can get more engaged. We don't have to rely on parents being physically present in our building to move the agenda. Of course, I don't want to cut out the face-to-face meetings because I think personal interaction is also very important. I just think that it all comes down to communication (two-way communication) and showing parents that there are a lot of tools out there that will allow a meaningful two-way conversation will help a great deal. Lorna I think we need to share best practices where true engagement is taking place. Just asking for parent input one or two times will not accomplish much. We have to build some trust first and show them that we mean what we say. I would like to say that we are there at my school, but I think we are moving in the right direction. Having a blog helps, but I am thinking that I would like to really change the way we do business when it comes to decision-making.

I think when we hold meetings with groups making decisions that will impact students and parents we should start streaming video and setting up back-channel conversations so that people can get more engaged. We don’t have to rely on parents being physically present in our building to move the agenda. Of course, I don’t want to cut out the face-to-face meetings because I think personal interaction is also very important.

I just think that it all comes down to communication (two-way communication) and showing parents that there are a lot of tools out there that will allow a meaningful two-way conversation will help a great deal.

]]> By: Lorna http://www.ourschool.ca/ptla-what-does-a-twitter-hash-tag-mean-to-parents.html/comment-page-1#comment-21512 Lorna Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:54:45 +0000 http://www.ourschool.ca/?p=2801#comment-21512 Patrick, I agree with your comment but I wonder how to make that happen. Can you tell us how you bring parents into the conversation? What does a seat at the planning table look like? I have been watching global conversations on this topic and it seems there are few places that this happens. Parents tell me all the time how it may be advertised as shared decision making when it is not. Schools need good working models to follow. Please share. Patrick, I agree with your comment but I wonder how to make that happen. Can you tell us how you bring parents into the conversation? What does a seat at the planning table look like? I have been watching global conversations on this topic and it seems there are few places that this happens. Parents tell me all the time how it may be advertised as shared decision making when it is not. Schools need good working models to follow. Please share.

]]> By: Patrick Larkin http://www.ourschool.ca/ptla-what-does-a-twitter-hash-tag-mean-to-parents.html/comment-page-1#comment-21508 Patrick Larkin Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:19:25 +0000 http://www.ourschool.ca/?p=2801#comment-21508 The only way we will truly get the changes in education that we need is by getting more parents engaged in a meaningful conversation. We have had parent support in schools for quite a while which is when parents answer our call for volunteers or support an initiative. However, we have not had significant parent engagement which is when parents have a seat at the table and are part of the decision-making process. In this new model of engagement parents know that their voice counts and that they are trusted and valued members of the change process. The only way we will truly get the changes in education that we need is by getting more parents engaged in a meaningful conversation. We have had parent support in schools for quite a while which is when parents answer our call for volunteers or support an initiative. However, we have not had significant parent engagement which is when parents have a seat at the table and are part of the decision-making process. In this new model of engagement parents know that their voice counts and that they are trusted and valued members of the change process.

]]> By: Lorna http://www.ourschool.ca/ptla-what-does-a-twitter-hash-tag-mean-to-parents.html/comment-page-1#comment-21499 Lorna Thu, 21 Jan 2010 04:23:47 +0000 http://www.ourschool.ca/?p=2801#comment-21499 We have to thank www.parantella.com for the great idea to get this going. Very pleased to see you supporting this. We have to thank http://www.parantella.com for the great idea to get this going. Very pleased to see you supporting this.

]]> By: Kevin Creutz http://www.ourschool.ca/ptla-what-does-a-twitter-hash-tag-mean-to-parents.html/comment-page-1#comment-21498 Kevin Creutz Thu, 21 Jan 2010 04:05:35 +0000 http://www.ourschool.ca/?p=2801#comment-21498 I wish you the best in this endeavor. I have seen the success of #edchat over the last few months. I hope that a good number of educators and parents take advantage of this opportunity to converse and that you see the same success as #edchat. I wish you the best in this endeavor. I have seen the success of #edchat over the last few months. I hope that a good number of educators and parents take advantage of this opportunity to converse and that you see the same success as #edchat.

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