Metro-Atlanta Parents' Roles in Technology Education and Their Advantages

Abstract

In this study, 15 interviews with parents from low-income areas were evaluated to understand the roles these parents fulfilled in their child’s technology education. Of the 15 parents initially interviewed, three parents were contacted and interviewed within a year after an education and computer workshop to understand if this intervention impacted their roles. From the initial interviews, the parents stated that they have not aided in the development of their child’s technology education. However, parents did indicate they were involved in various other aspects of their children’s education and they express interest in being more involved. Although the parents participation in the workshop did not drastically alter their roles in their children’s education, the workshop is a starting point for how to further involve parents in the technology education of their children. Expanding the role of parents in low-income areas could prove pivotal in the field of computer science education to both increase interest in computing and to help prepare students better for future course work in computing.