Classroom visits provide firsthand look into technology | Education

When parents step into their child’s school for an open house or classroom visit, they’re not just seeing bulletin boards and lesson plans – they’re getting a firsthand look at how today’s classrooms use technology to shape learning.

Educators say those experiences help bridge the gap between parents’ own schooling and the digital environment their children navigate every day.

“Our open houses provide families with opportunities to observe instructional practices, including the integration of educational technology,” said Laura Jones, director of marketing and development at Lawrence School in Sagamore Hills. “Parents frequently observe the implementation of assistive reading software, speech-to-text applications and collaborative online platforms within classroom instruction.”

Jones said the goal is to show parents how technology supports different ways that students learn and process information.

“By engaging directly with educational technologies, parents gain a comprehensive under-standing of how students utilize digital tools to access curriculum, demonstrate comprehension and develop autonomy,” she said.

Those observations often help families better support their children at home.

“Parents become more proficient in interpreting feedback and progress reports,” Jones said. “Increased parental involvement in these experiential learning opportunities strengthens the partnership between home and school, fostering student confidence and a stronger sense of educational engagement.”

At the Joseph and Florence Mandel Jewish Day School in Beachwood, open houses take the form of what Principal Adam Levine calls “curriculum night.” Parents follow a student’s schedule, walking the halls and visiting each classroom.

“They’ll actually go through what school is going to look like for each student,” Levine said. “In the older grades, we put parents through a mock student schedule where they hear short presentations from all of their child’s teachers.”

Teachers outline the curriculum, introduce themselves, and describe key lessons, assessments and goals for the year. They also explain social and emotional expectations.

“If you have a sixth-grader, we talk about what’s happening in the brain of a typical sixth-grader,” Levine said. “It helps parents better understand what their kids are going through and what to expect at each stage.”

Levine said the evenings are well received.

“It starts that relationship between teachers and parents, which is really important,” he said. “They feel like they get to know them and know what they’re about. It’s eye-opening for them, especially when they see how the curriculum builds from grade to grade.”

While many parents are comfortable with technology, Levine said some are curious about newer tools students are encountering.

“We do get a lot of questions about how we’re approaching artificial intelligence, especially with the older kids,” he said.

Across Cleveland-area schools, educators agree that when parents take time to walk the halls, meet teachers and see technology in action, they leave with a better understanding of their child’s education – and a stronger connection to the people shaping it.

“As educators, we know that when parents and teachers work together, students benefit most,” Levine said. “That shared understanding creates the trust and support every child needs to thrive.”

Ellen Braunstein is a freelance journalist.