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Every teacher who has attempted to integrate technology into the classroom knows that getting parents on board can sometimes be a challenge. It's not uncommon for the parent of a struggling child to be on the phone with you asking questions like: "Why do you need to use technology to teach math/social studies/English/biology?" or "This is an AP history class  - not computer science!" Your efforts to engage students and develop important 21st century skills can become the scapegoat explanation for problems that have nothing to do with tech. So, how do we as educators get these parents into our corner? Here are some strategies I've used successfully to gain parent buy-in.

Key points: -There is a generation gap in how youth and adults view the value of online activity. -Youth are navigating complex social and technical worlds by participating online. -Young people are motivated to learn from their peers online. (this is a key finding in the study and very relevant to educators) -Most youth are not taking full advantage of the learning opportunities of the Internet. (another finding that could impact the way teachers engage students in online learning) "The research demonstrates that, although many young people are developing a broad range of sophisticated new literacy and technical skills, they are also facing new challenges in how to manage their visibility and social relationships online."

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