Course | HarvardX: Introduction to Family Engagement in Education

Provider: edX

Facilitator

Karen L. Mapp
Professor of Practice at Harvard University

Karen L. Mapp, EdD, is a Professor of Practice at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE). Dr. Mapp’s research and practice focus has been on the cultivation of partnerships among families, community members and educators that support success for all students as well as school and district improvement.

Dr. Mapp holds a Doctorate and Master’s in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, a Master’s in Counselor Education from Southern Connecticut State University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Trinity College in Hartford, CT.

Dr. Mapp is a founding member of the District Leaders Network on Family and Community Engagement and serves on the board of the National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement (NAFSCE) and The Hyams Foundation. From 2011 to 2013, she served as a consultant on family and community engagement to the United States Department of Education in the Office of Innovation and Improvement.

Description

In this education course, you will learn what family engagement is and why it matters to the success of students and schools. We will explore the research linking family engagement to better educational outcomes and speak directly with researchers, educators, students, and families about promising practices in the field.

Family engagement describes what families do at home and in the community to support their children’s learning and development. It also encompasses the shared partnership and responsibility between home and school.

Such engagement is essential for school improvement. It is also increasingly recognized as an integral element for proficient practice as an educator.

What You'll Learn

- The relationship between family engagement and improved school/student outcomes from birth through high school.
- The additional benefits family engagement brings to parents, educators, and communities.
- What the research shows about the importance of engaging families.