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MEDU207
Engaging Families and the Community within Schools

MQF Level: 7

ECTS Value: 3 ECTS

Self Study Hours: 36

Contact Hours: 15

Assessment Hours: 24

 

Overall Objectives and Outcomes

This module equips learners with knowledge, skills and competences to create effective school-family-community links. Educators and school management teams have to respect the social and emotional needs of students when engaging with communities and families within the educational structure. These three components (school, family, community) are critical in the shaping and influencing the students’ education journey. As professionals, educators need to acknowledge that parents, as well as other members of the community, have knowledge and experiences that can help and equip the child with further resources.

By the end of this programme, participants should be able to:

Competences

a. Demonstrate an understanding that families and communities are the first and continuing educators of the students.

b. Propose class-based and school-based activities which strengthen school-family-community links.

Knowledge 

a. Systematically understand key aspects of engaging the family and the community within schools as well as the need for continuous parental involvement.

b. Comprehend the diversity of families and use this as a resource to build stronger partnerships.

c. Appreciate school-family-community partnerships which are based on mutual responsibility, respect and trust.

Skills

a. Initiate effective school-family-community communication.

b. Manage projects which involve school-family-community engagement and recognize the role of every member in building the school’s as well as the student’s identity.

c. Assess communication channels with families-community as well as ways in which the school interacts with families-community and address any gaps.

Assessment Methods

This module will be assessed through: Reflective Tasks and Assignment.

Suggested Readings

Core Reading List
  1. School Learning Support Program (2010), Positively engaging parents
  2. Hanover Research (2014), Effective Family and Community Engagement Strategies Prepared (2014)
  3. Advancing Partnerships – Parent and Community Engagement Framework
Supplementary Reading List
  1. Epstein, J. (2016). School, family, and community partnerships. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
  2. Cox-Petersen, A. (2011). Educational Partnerships: Connecting Schools, Families and the Community. SAGE.
  3. Hornby, G. (2011). Parental Involvement in childhood education. New York: Springer.
  4. Kelty, N. E., & Wakabashi, T. (2020). Family Engagement in Schools: Parent, Educator, and Community Perspectives. Sage Open.
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