Building Connectivity and Trust with Technology in the K-12 Face-to-Face Classroom

Due to the pandemic, my school structure has drastically changed from a self-paced, flexible model; to a fully remote delivery model; to a quarter system for accommodating cohort requirements; and finally, a semester system. There has been an incredible amount of change in two years with minimal transition time. As a result of these changes, teachers have been forced to experiment with using technology (mainly personal smartphones). Smartphones provide access to current knowledge and information, provide engaging activities and visuals, allow for fast communication and sharing of learning, and expose students to online platforms they will likely experience in post-secondary paths. Unfortunately, the level of technology acceptance and expectations of its use in the face-to-face pandemic school setting vary among administrators, teachers, students, and parents. My draft research question is this: How might stakeholders find common ground and build connectivity and trust with technology to ensure students prepare for a successful future?

Disseminating my research is a two-step process. The first step involves conversations with stakeholders about the varying levels of technology acceptance and expectations in the classroom. Hosting a parent/student information session on how students, teachers, and administrators currently use technology in our school seems reasonable to disseminate my research. Parents are familiar with how they were taught, not what goes on in schools now. Some are fearful of technology abuse yet recognize the benefits. Yet, all of my students have a cell phone and connect with their parents, siblings, other family members, and friends during the day.

The second step to disseminating my research involves helping parents and teachers deal with the minority of students who cannot use technology responsibly and require intervention. I plan to discuss my research with resource teachers and counsellors and brainstorm possible solutions for helping teachers and parents deal with problematic technology use in the classroom and at home.