{"id":6887,"date":"2021-01-26T00:26:32","date_gmt":"2021-01-26T05:26:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/?p=6887"},"modified":"2021-01-26T00:26:34","modified_gmt":"2021-01-26T05:26:34","slug":"how-families-can-use-technology-to-juggle-childcare-and-remote-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/index.php\/2021\/01\/26\/how-families-can-use-technology-to-juggle-childcare-and-remote-life\/","title":{"rendered":"How families can use technology to juggle childcare and remote life"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By: Sarah McQuate<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Published in the University of Washinton News<\/p>\n\n\n\n

April 14, 2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With thousands of schools and preschools closed and many states under \u201cstay-at-home\u201d orders to try to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus, families are facing a tough situation: trying to work \u2014 possibly remotely \u2014 while simultaneously being responsible for their children\u2019s education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

University of Washington researchers are beginning a national study to help families discover technology that helps them both successfully navigate home-based learning and combat social isolation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think some parents had idealized scenarios where they said \u2018Oh, I\u2019ll just put my kid in front of a computer for a few hours and while I work, they\u2019ll do math and reading,’\u201d said co-lead researcher Julie Kientz<\/a>, a UW professor of human centered design and engineering. \u201cIt all sounded great, but then after one day it\u2019s like, \u2018Oh gosh, this is not going to work.’\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One major issue, the researchers said, is that it\u2019s overwhelming trying to sort through seemingly endless technology options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople want to help parents manage this, and one easy way is to share resources. But in reality there are almost too many options,\u201d Kientz said. \u201cAs a parent, I was added instantly to about five or six different Facebook groups all about trying to navigate this situation. Everyone was posting a million different resources, such as brightly colored schedules for homeschool.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are interested in participating in this project, please fill out the team\u2019s screener survey<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For their project, Kientz and team plan to recruit 30 diverse families with children ages 3 to 13 across the country. Participating families will be organized into three groups based on common family characteristics, such as children\u2019s ages or work situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe definitely want to include many different types of families, including parents who are still physically going to their jobs, parents who are in quarantine, intergenerational households and single parents,\u201d Kientz said. \u201cBut we want to make sure the study itself isn\u2019t creating more extra work for people who are already burdened.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each family is expected to participate for about 30 minutes a week during the 10-week study. Families will reflect on how the technology they use helps or hinders their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat we\u2019re proposing to do here is find real stories from different types of families about what is helpful and what are the roadblocks,\u201d Kientz said. \u201cThen we plan to immediately share that information back out using social media and regular Medium posts. We\u2019ll also provide a direct channel into some of the tools that support online learning, exercise and staying in touch at home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the later part of the study, families will design new or redesign existing technologies \u2014 such as a new educational skill for Amazon Echo. Then the families will test simple prototypes of these designs. Most of these activities will be completed as a family, though there may be some caretaker- or child-only activities as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important to see things in terms of equity, too,\u201d Kientz said. \u201cSome people don\u2019t have time to homeschool their kids, and a lot of these tools require high-speed internet access, iPads or other expensive equipment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The study will look at how families in different situations are finding tools that they are able to access and use successfully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kientz, who studies families and technology and is also the parent of two children ages 7 and 4, suggests the following reputable websites\/apps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n