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HarvardX: GSE4x Introduction to Family Engagement in Education

Syllabus & Acknowledgements

About This Course

In this 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.

About Karen Mapp

Karen L. Mapp, Ed.D, is a Senior Lecturer on Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) and the Faculty Director of the Education Policy and Management Master’s Program. Over the past twenty years, Karen’s research and practice focus has been on the cultivation of partnerships among families, community members and educators that support student achievement and school improvement. She served as the co-coordinator with Professor Mark Warren of the Community Organizing and School Reform Research Project and as a core faculty member in the Doctorate in Educational Leadership (EDLD) program at HGSE. She is a founding member of the District Leaders Network on Family and Community Engagement, is a trustee of the Hyams Foundation in Boston, MA, and is on the board of the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) in Washington, DC. From 2011 to 2013, Karen served as a consultant on family engagement to the United States Department of Education in the Office of Innovation and Improvement. She currently serves as a consultant to the Family and Community Engagement (FACE) division of Scholastic, Inc.

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

How to Earn a Certificate & Succeed in This Course

To receive a Verified Certificate, you must receive a passing score of 70%. You will be graded on the multiple choice "Check for Understanding" questions that appear after most videos, as well as the self-reflections. Certificates do not indicate your score, only that you have passed. Your certificate will be issued by edX under the name HarvardX. To succeed in this course you are expected to:

  • Watch all videos
  • Complete all self-reflections and Check for Understanding questions
  • Develop your own personal theory of learning
  • Think! Reflect on what you’re learning. Question your assumptions and those of your fellow learners (respectfully, of course)
  • Share! Participate in discussions and office hours. We want to hear your ideas

Overview of course content

Introduction to Family Engagement in Education is organized into the following sections:

1: Introduction
  • Welcome
  • Does Family Engagement Matter?
2: What Do We Mean By Research
  • Overview
  • Defining Research in Family Engagement
  • Foundational Research in Family Engagement
  • Reflect and Discuss
3: Research Implications & Practice - Age 0 through Elementary
  • Overview
  • Children Ages 0-5
  • Elementary School
  • Reflect and Discuss
4: Research Implications & Practice - Middle & High School
  • Overview
  • Middle School
  • High School
  • Reflect and Discuss
5: What We Mean by Effective Practice in Family Engagement
  • Overview
  • The Dual Capacity Framework
  • Goal-Linked Partnerships
  • Constructs of Family Engagement
  • Community Organizing & Effective Practice
  • Reflect and Discuss
6: Research Implications & Practice - Parents & Educators
  • Overview
  • Impact on Parents
  • Impact on Educators
  • Reflect and Discuss
7: Research Implications & Practice - Schools & Communities
  • Overview
  • Impact on Schools & Districts
  • Impact on Communities
  • Reflect and Discuss
8: Final Steps, Next Steps (will be available in August)
  • Overview
  • What’s Next for You
  • Advice & Reflections
9: Biographies & Full Interviews (optional)

Why Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)?

Because we have a global audience, this course uses UTC. The current UTC date and time can be found here: 

Acknowledgements 

Karen L. Mapp, Faculty
Stephany Cuevas, Content Developer
Jillian Rubman, Content Developer
Steve Sofronas, Content Developer
Beth Schueler, Cause & Effect in Education Research

Sarah Grafman, HarvardX Manager, Instructional Development
Christopher Engles, HarvardX Video Editor
Rachel D’Erminio, Graphics Designer
Alex Nones, Copyright Asset Tracking
Shilpa Idnani, Lead Instructional Development Assistant
Kenneth Hagberg, Instructional Development Assistant

Thanks to

Harvard Graduate School of Education
Bill Wisser, Director of the Teaching and Learning Lab
Bonnie Anderson, HGSE Manager, Instructional Design
Matt Weber, Director, Digital Communications Strategy
Deepa Vasudevan, Content Advising & Test Shoot
Janine de Novais, Content Advising
Keith Collar, Associate Dean for Planning and Outreach
Jack Jennings, Dean for Administration

HarvardX
Annie Valva, Associate Director, Instructional Development
Ana Trandafir, Production Coordinator
Mark Steele, Post-Production Manager
Mary Godfrey, Production Manager
Bradlee Edmondson, Copyright Administrator
Kyle K. Courtney, Copyright Advisor, Office of Scholarly Communications
Sophia Snyder, Senior Manager, Program Operations
Meghan McCormack, Administrative Coordinator
Cassandra Ranno, Finance and Administration Coordinator
Patti Grip, Senior Financial Partner
Rob Lue, Faculty Director
Samantha Earp, Executive Director

Interviewees
Kristin Ehrgood
Joyce Epstein
Ron Ferguson
Kaya Henderson
Nancy Hill
Soo Hong
Kathleen Hoover-Dempsey
Todd Rogers
Steve Sheldon
Mark Warren
Heather Weiss

Stanton Elementary School
Rena Johnson
Christie Atlee
Melissa Bryant
Ana Garcia
BreeAnna Haynes
Grinette McDuffie
Kerri McKay
Jerome Watkins

East Boston High School
Phillip R. Brangiforte
Liorette Alcontara
Kristen Cacciatore
Carmen Estrada-Carrau
Pat Frangolini
Nina Gaeta-Coletta
Joe Giardina
Nick Giardina
Jason Harris
Lori Lockhead
John Lockhead
John Sepulveda
Pamela Sepulveda
Rafael
Sydney Viloria