Parent use of and beliefs about technology for education and parenting: Year 1 results from the HCS EdConnect study

AbstractIn May 2021, a survey was conducted with a random sample of 416 households stratified across levels of community broadband participation. Results show racialized/ethnic categorization and program enrollment had a small significant relationship with parents’ use of technology and a more nuanced relationship with parents’ beliefs about educational technology. Results suggest that participating in the community broadband initiative is associated positively with parents’ practices and attitudes. Moreover, practices were similar across households regardless of racialized/ethnic categorization, suggesting that household participation in the broadband program may be beginning to correct for racialized inequities in parents’ access, use, and attitudes.Keywords: Educational technologyparentscommunity broadbanddigital equityhousehold survey Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Data availability statementThe data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author Damian Bebell at bebell@bc.edu. A data dashboard using the same data supporting the findings of this study is publicly available at https://edconnect.bc.edu/#/.Additional informationFundingThis work was supported by the Enterprise Center under Grant number 5111961.Notes on contributorsDamian BebellDamian Bebell is an Assistant Research Professor at Boston College’s Lynch School of Education and Human Development. Damian designs and conducts research on the implementation and impacts of educational technology around the world and is interested in furthering technology to improve educational research, measurement, and reflection.Zhexun (Cinna) XinZhexun (Cinna) Xin is a doctoral student in the Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment (MESA) program at Boston College. She is also a Research Assistant in the EdConnect evaluation study. She collects and builds a database of literature related to educational technology and the digital divide. She also assists with instrument development and data analysis. Her research interests focus on innovative measurement via technology, instrument development for psychological constructs, and program evaluation.Gareth ClevelandGareth Cleveland is a Research Associate in the Lynch School of Education and Human Development at Boston College. In his work on the EdConnect evaluation, he has focused on data management and analysis, including describing and modeling the way that parents think about and use technology. Gareth’s interests include leveraging education data to support local decision makers and improving processes for collecting and sharing data.Michael RussellMichael Russell is a Professor of Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics and Assessment in the Lynch School of Education and Human Development at Boston College. His current work focuses on the intersection of systemic racism and educational assessment.