Leveraging CSCL to Support Parent Involvement and Increase Student Learning Outcomes in Communities That are Historically Excluded From STEM

Abstract

Parental involvement is a critical lever that can increase positive academic outcomes for K-12 students. Technology can increase access to parental involvement opportunities to broaden the participation of parents who are from backgrounds that have historically been excluded from STEM fields. Increasing their involvement has the possibility of increasing students’ STEM learning outcomes. This study focuses on middle school students and parents from groups that have been historically underrepresented in STEM. We work with teachers to leverage a technology enhanced social learning environment (SLE) to invite parents and students to share familial knowledge and everyday lived experiences that are relevant to the scientific content being covered in their classes. Our research findings show that on classroom based scientific content measures, students who participate in the SLE, outperform students who do not. In addition, students who participate in the SLE with a parent or family member outperform students who participate individually. These findings advance our understanding of the impacts of parent involvement and emphasize the need to create innovative ways to broaden the participation of parents from diverse backgrounds.