Resources for early educators
Making connections checklist
Checklist
Points for discussion and reflection:
- How do the digital communication tools impact the way we relate to each other?
- How does the use of apps or digital communications change the way educators and families communicate?
- What are the expectations placed on educators and families? (what are they expected to do and/or engage with the app?)
- Who might be included and excluded?
- What are the benefits of using digital communication tools in our ECC? What are the disadvantages?
- What types of interpersonal communication should be prioritised? What types of digital communication should be prioritised?
Actions:
- Review the current uses of apps and digital communications in alignment with relevant centre policies to identify gaps or misalignment.
- Engage in policy consultation with families with a focus on the purpose, benefits and challenges of digital and non-digital communications.
- Identify opportunities to enhance policy and develop clear procedure (see checklist item 3).
Actions:
- State the purpose of the using the app (Why was it chosen? How will it be used? What are the intended outcomes?)
- Who is the intended audience? The ECC should also have a strategy to identify families who do not or choose not to access the app.
- How will educators and families communicate via the apps?
- What information will be shared by the ECC and how? (What, when, how often)
- How will families be expected to engage with communications on the app?
- How will the use of the app be balanced with in-person communications?
Review family engagement with the app at regular intervals. For example, ECC’s could review engagement annually at the mid-year point to get a check on the ways communications are contributing to collaborative relationships with families and communities, as well as where adjustments can be made.
