[Webinar] Involving Parents in their Children’s English Language Writing Using Digital Learning

 Involving parents in their children’s school-based English language learning is beneficial to learners’ academic achievement as well as their language and literacy development. However, involving parents can be difficult. This talk reports on one teacher’s use of a digital learning platform, Seesaw, with his third-grade (7 to 8 year-olds) English language writing class in Hong Kong to address the lack of parental involvement over one academic year. Data were collected by way of teacher observations, parents’ activities on the platform, and informal feedback from parents and students. The platform became a space for parents to be involved in their child’s school-based writing. It enabled them to view, like and comment in response to their child and other children’s English work. Although parents were seen to be involved on the platform, it was observed they mainly viewed and liked rather than commented. Future pedagogical and research directions will be presented with suggestions provided on how parents can be encouraged to take a more active role in students’ school-based writing to the benefit of their children’s English language learning. 

 Benjamin Luke Moorhouse is a lecturer in English Language Education at the Faculty of Education, the University of Hong Kong where he teaches on initial teacher education programmes. He received his EdD in TESOL from the University of Exeter, UK. He has extensive experience teaching in primary schools and as a teacher educator in Hong Kong. His research interests include initial teacher education, teaching abroad experiences, and primary English language education. His works have appeared in international journals such as Journal of Education for Teaching, Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, Asia-Pacific Educational Researcher, RELC Journal and TESOL Journal. 

Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/984959467

(Meeting ID: 984   959 467)

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