The two remaining free webinars in the Parent U pilot program will take place next week.
The next webinar is 7-7:45 p.m. Feb. 17. The topic is “Supporting Your Child’s Learning in Mathematics.”
The final webinar of the pilot program is 7-8 p.m. Feb. 18. The topic is “Everyday Learning Moments: An Introduction for Parents to the Washington State Early Learning and Development Benchmarks.”
Visit http://www.parentu.net for more information or to register for a session.
The two remaining free webinars in the Parent U pilot program will take place next week.
The next webinar is 7-7:45 p.m. Feb. 17. The topic is "Supporting Your Child's Learning in Mathematics."
The final webinar of the pilot program is 7-8 p.m. Feb. 18. The topic is "Everyday Learning Moments: An Introduction for Parents to the Washington State Early Learning and Development Benchmarks."
Visit http://www.parentu.net for more information or to register for a session.
Within an hour, parent Jeremy Colwell received an overview about sexting, cyberbullying and digital footprints. He learned how easy it is to track down personal information using a few details from a child’s MySpace page. He discovered ways to protect his two children while they surf the Internet.
And he did it all from the comfort of his own home.
Colwell was one of about 25 people who participated in the first of three webinars through a pilot program aimed at parents. Following the test run, Educational Service District 112 will roll out a regular series of webinars for parents in Southwest Washington. The goal, organizers said, is to provide parents with information and skills to improve their child’s learning experience in school and keep kids safe and healthy.
“I was very impressed,” Colwell said. “I really hope the program continues and grows. I think it’s going to be a huge resource for parents.”
The first webinar, “The Changing Landscape of Online Technologies: Keeping Kids Safe Online,” took place Tuesday. ESD has two more free sessions planned next week; registration for those sessions is still open. Participants in the pilot program are asked to fill out a 15-question survey once they complete the webinar. Once the pilot ends, organizers will review feedback and begin planning the spring launch of the Parent U program.
Mike Stromme, an associate superintendent at ESD, expects to have a program schedule ready by April. The webinars could cover a range of topics, such as drug and alcohol prevention, reading improvement and preparation for SAT exams, he said. The pilot webinar topics are intentionally vague because organizers hope to receive suggestions from parents and educators, Stromme said. Each regular session will cost participants about $10.
“We see this as an opportunity to support school districts and help school districts connect with their parents on relevant topics that support their children’s education,” Stromme said.
Colwell, whose children attend Evergreen Public Schools, said the online safety webinar touched on one of many areas he hopes to learn more about. Colwell said his family, which includes a 10-year-old and a 5-year-old, is very plugged-in, yet he was surprised by some of the information he learned Tuesday. He was shocked by a demonstration that showed how potential predators could track down details about a child, such as his or her address and likely route to school, by using a few details found on a MySpace page.
Suzanne Burgess, another Evergreen school district parent who participated in the webinar, was also surprised by the demonstration.
“Within 30 seconds, he had the kid’s bus route,” she said. “I didn’t realize how quickly you could find someone’s information.”
The presenter led the interactive session from Spokane, and has provided Internet safety training throughout the state. All of the Parent U sessions will be taught be ESD employees or other specialists to ensure quality, credible content is shared, said Debbie Tschirgi, director of education technology programs at ESD 112. Throughout the session, participants had the opportunity to anonymously submit questions, which were then answered by the presenter.
“We now have the technology to provide a program like this for parents, whereas five years ago, we might not have been able to do it,” Tschirgi said.
The technology also makes attending the sessions convenient. The webinars take place in the evenings, with parents participating from their homes. The webinars will also be recorded and stored online for two weeks for parents who miss the live versions. Burgess said she was grateful she wouldn’t need to hire a baby-sitter in order to join the live sessions.
Colwell agreed and said he believes many parents will benefit from the program.
“I’m excited for me, and I’m excited for what it can do for other parents,” he said.
Marissa Harshman: 360-735-4546 or marissa.harshman@columbian.com
