With the rise of online learning during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping K-12 students engaged in their studies has become a significant challenge. A recent study delves into how parents play a vital role in fostering student engagement in online learning environments and explores the diverse ways they provide support.
Methodology
Researchers conducted interviews with 21 parents whose children were enrolled in eight different online programs. These programs offered a mix of asynchronous, synchronous, and bichronous courses, reflecting the diverse instructional models adopted in the post-COVID landscape. Parents shared their experiences, revealing the roles they played to help their children succeed in virtual classrooms.
Key Findings
- Affective Support: Parents offered emotional encouragement to boost their children’s confidence and motivation.
- Behavioral Support: Parents helped establish routines, monitored progress, and ensured students stayed on task.
- Cognitive Support: Parents actively participated in explaining concepts, guiding problem-solving, and assisting with assignments.
- Flexible Roles: Depending on the learning model (asynchronous, synchronous, or bichronous), parental involvement adjusted to fit the course demands.
Implications
This research highlights the growing importance of parental involvement in online education and provides actionable insights for both parents and educators:
- For Parents: Understand your child’s needs and adapt your involvement to their learning style and the course format.
- For Educators: Provide resources and clear guidance to empower parents as partners in their child’s learning journey.
- For Policymakers: Develop training and support systems to help parents navigate their roles effectively, ensuring equitable engagement support across diverse families.
Related Books
The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey – Insights into the value of parental involvement in fostering student independence.
- How Children Succeed by Paul Tough – A deeper look at character-building and perseverance in education.
- The Distance Learning Playbook for Parents by Rosalind Wiseman et al. – A practical guide for parents supporting online learners.
Further Readings
- “Parent Engagement in the Digital Age” – A blog on modern strategies for parental involvement.
- “Online Learning Post-Pandemic: Opportunities and Challenges” – Research examining trends in virtual education.
- “Supporting Student Engagement in Virtual Classrooms” – Practical tools for teachers and parents alike.
About this Study
Sandberg, B. T., Graham, C. R., Borup, J., West, R. E., & Velasquez, R. Q. (2025). Behind the screen: Exploring parental roles in K-12 online education. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/15391523.2024.2447729
Abstract
Independent engagement can be challenging for K-12 online students. Parents’ physical presence makes them an important source of engagement support. Previous research on parental support in online courses is limited and focused on asynchronous learning within a single program. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, online enrollments have grown and instructional modalities have evolved. To better understand parental support post-Covid, we interviewed 21 parents across eight online programs with asynchronous, synchronous, and bichronous course offerings. Parents identified their affective, behavioral, cognitive, and other support roles. Implications for parental roles in addressing the academic engagement gap are provided to both researchers and practitioners.
Reflection: How do you think parents can balance providing support while fostering independence in their children’s online education? Have you experienced or observed any successful strategies?
