ESL Parents Digital Barriers

Overview

Problem
English-second-language (ESL) parents with language barriers and low digital literacy may find it difficult to support their children’s use of digital learning tools, particularly when navigating platforms in a non-native language. This significantly disadvantages both the parents and their children's academic progress.

Objective
The objective of this research is to explore how parents with language barriers and low digital literacy navigate digital learning platforms. The study aims to understand their challenges in supporting their children's education, identify specific barriers they face with these tools, and examine how these difficulties impact both the parents' involvement and their children's academic progress.

TIME SPAN

August 2024 - December 2024

TOOLS

ROLE

UX Researcher

Figma

Process Overview

1. Research

GATHERING DATA

My method for research was to conduct interviews with photo elicitations. I conducted 5 interviews, each lasting around 20-30 minutes.

Interview Content

Digital Literacy & Language Barriers: Explore challenges parents face with foreign language digital platforms for education.
Parent-Child Dynamics: Examine how tech struggles impact parent-child relationships and educational support.
Academic Impact: Reveal how these barriers affect children's academic progress and identify needed support.

Photo Elicitation Content

Platform Navigation: Use photos of Google Classroom and Clever interfaces to explore parents' struggles with school platforms.
Virtual Communication: The Zoom meeting image highlights difficulties in engaging with teachers and school through online meetings.
Parent-Child Interaction: The mom and child on a laptop photo examines how tech challenges affect the parent-child dynamic and emotions during schoolwork.

PARTICIPANTS

I interviewed 5 participants which fit these characteristics:

Stay-at-home parent
Have children in school within the age range of 8-16
Speak English as their second language
Primary caretaker of their children

2. Findings

My research reveals key challenges and strategies among my target population, highlighting their resourcefulness, the impact of language and technology barriers, and the need for educational support programs. To organize my data, I coded and created an affinity diagram.

Coding

Through the coding of the 5 interview transcripts. I found two patterns in the responses which were balancing responsibilities and relational aspects of education.

Balancing Responsibilites

Relational Aspects of Education

Parents value their children’s education but may feel disconnected due to language or tech barriers.
Schools can promote family activities that don’t rely on technology to encourage involvement.
Peer support can help, with tech-savvy parents assisting others.
Schools can create parent support groups to share experiences and solutions.
A strong community can ease parents’ burdens and equip them to support their children.

Parents often rely on their children to navigate online platforms, which can lead to frustration when they feel inadequate in assisting.
Understanding this dynamic can help schools create supportive systems that empower parents rather than overwhelm them.
Many stay-at-home parents struggle to keep up with time demands alongside their responsibilities.
Schools can provide clearer instructions, user-friendly resources, and training sessions that accommodate varying levels of digital literacy, making it easier for parents to engage.

Affinity Diagram

My affinity diagram organized my coded interview statements into sub-themes and 4 major themes. These major these were adaptation to technology in education, language and technology navigation, emotional responses and challenges, and support and collaboration in education

Adaptation to Technology in Education

Support and Collaboration in Education

Emotional Responses and Challenges

Adaptation to Technology in Education

1/4

Based on my findings through coding and the affinity diagram, I organized some of the important key findings in my research.

KEY FINDINGS

Support and Resourcefulness

Need for
Educational Programs

Stay-at-home parents actively seek to help their children with education, often relying on their kids’ tech skills and community resources to overcome challenges.

There is a strong demand for programs that provide training and resources to help parents adapt to technology and enhance their involvement in their children’s education.

Language and Technology Barriers

Many parents face language barriers and feel more comfortable reading English than speaking it, using translation tools to assist their children with schoolwork.

3. Research Artifacts

JOURNEY MAP AND PERSONA

To illustrate my research findings, I created a journey map and persona that capture the experiences, challenges, and needs of stay-at-home parents navigating their children’s online education with limited digital literacy.

PERSONA

JOURNEY MAP

4. Artifact Insights

INSIGHTS

My research artifacts highlight key challenges and growth patterns among ESL parents navigating digital literacy. The insights reveal their struggles, motivation, and the importance of support systems, while the persona and journey map illustrate how these factors shape their learning experience.

Research Insights

Persona and Journey Map Relationship

Caring and attentive – Yasmine’s persistence despite challenges aligns with the journey map’s progression.
Eager to learn – Her shift from anxiety to confidence reflects her motivation to grow.
Language barrier – Struggles with her second language match early journey pain points.
Seeking independence – Her goal of mastering technology mirrors the journey’s final stage of confidence.
Growing self-sufficiency – She moves from relying on others to navigating technology on her own.

Language barriers worsen digital literacy challenges – ESL parents struggle with both technology and understanding instructions.
Parents stay motivated despite obstacles – They remain committed to supporting their children’s education.
Support systems ease the learning curve – Help shifts parents from feeling overwhelmed to empowered.
Multi-platform access is key – Both computer and mobile options accommodate different comfort levels.

5. Conclusion

LESSONS LEARNED

My lessons learned highlights gaps in my research such as what was not covered, users who weren't represented, potential biases, and how to improve future research

What wasn't Covered

Potential Biases

Single parents who might face unique time management challenges
Parents with disabilities who might need additional accessibility considerations
Fathers or male guardians who might approach the learning process differently

Assumption Bias
- Not all ESL parents face the same language barriers.
- Some may lack basic smartphone experience.
- Internet access may not be consistent for all families.
Sampling Bias
- The study may over-represent parents already engaged with school systems.
- Parents facing the greatest struggles might be underrepresented.

Users not Represented

Socioeconomic differences
- It focused on stay-at-home parents, not working parents with tighter schedules.
Education systems
- Different school platforms may affect parental experiences.
Location
- Resource access can vary between rural and urban areas.

How to Improve Future Research

To improve future research, several key areas should be addressed:

Expand participant diversity – Include parents from different backgrounds, family structures, and caregiving roles.
Conduct research in multiple languages – Ensure better accessibility for ESL parents.
Consider family structures – Include single parents and male guardians to capture varied experiences.
Explore technology access levels – Understand disparities in digital literacy and device availability.
Study different school districts – Compare how various systems impact parental engagement.

ESL Parents Digital Barriers

TIME SPAN

TOOLS

ROLE

Process Overview

1. Research

GATHERING DATA

My method for research was to conduct interviews with photo elicitations. I conducted 5 interviews, each lasting around 20-30 minutes. Interview Content

Digital Literacy & Language Barriers: Explore challenges parents face with foreign language digital platforms for education.

Parent-Child Dynamics: Examine how tech struggles impact parent-child relationships and educational support.

Academic Impact: Reveal how these barriers affect children's academic progress and identify needed support.

Photo Elicitation Content

Platform Navigation: Use photos of Google Classroom and Clever interfaces to explore parents' struggles with school platforms.

Virtual Communication: The Zoom meeting image highlights difficulties in engaging with teachers and school through online meetings.

Parent-Child Interaction: The mom and child on a laptop photo examines how tech challenges affect the parent-child dynamic and emotions during schoolwork.

PARTICIPANTS

I interviewed 5 participants which fit these characteristics:

Stay-at-home parent

Have children in school within the age range of 8-16

Speak English as their second language

Primary caretaker of their children

2. Findings

My research reveals key challenges and strategies among my target population, highlighting their resourcefulness, the impact of language and technology barriers, and the need for educational support programs. To organize my data, I coded and created an affinity diagram.

Coding

Through the coding of the 5 interview transcripts. I found two patterns in the responses which were balancing responsibilities and relational aspects of education.

Balancing Responsibilites

Relational Aspects of Education

Parents often rely on their children to navigate online platforms, which can lead to frustration when they feel inadequate in assisting.

Understanding this dynamic can help schools create supportive systems that empower parents rather than overwhelm them.

Many stay-at-home parents struggle to keep up with time demands alongside their responsibilities.

Schools can provide clearer instructions, user-friendly resources, and training sessions that accommodate varying levels of digital literacy, making it easier for parents to engage.

Affinity Diagram

My affinity diagram organized my coded interview statements into sub-themes and 4 major themes. These major these were adaptation to technology in education, language and technology navigation, emotional responses and challenges, and support and collaboration in education

Based on my findings through coding and the affinity diagram, I organized some of the important key findings in my research.

KEY FINDINGS

Support and Resourcefulness

Need for Educational Programs

​Stay-at-home parents actively seek to help their children with education, often relying on their kids’ tech skills and community resources to overcome challenges.

There is a strong demand for programs that provide training and resources to help parents adapt to technology and enhance their involvement in their children’s education.

Language and Technology Barriers

Many parents face language barriers and feel more comfortable reading English than speaking it, using translation tools to assist their children with schoolwork.

3. Research Artifacts

JOURNEY MAP AND PERSONA

To illustrate my research findings, I created a journey map and persona that capture the experiences, challenges, and needs of stay-at-home parents navigating their children’s online education with limited digital literacy.

PERSONA

JOURNEY MAP

4. Artifact Insights

INSIGHTS

My research artifacts highlight key challenges and growth patterns among ESL parents navigating digital literacy. The insights reveal their struggles, motivation, and the importance of support systems, while the persona and journey map illustrate how these factors shape their learning experience.

Research Insights

Persona and Journey Map Relationship

Language barriers worsen digital literacy challenges – ESL parents struggle with both technology and understanding instructions.

Parents stay motivated despite obstacles – They remain committed to supporting their children’s education.

Support systems ease the learning curve – Help shifts parents from feeling overwhelmed to empowered.

Multi-platform access is key – Both computer and mobile options accommodate different comfort levels.

5. Conclusion

LESSONS LEARNED

My lessons learned highlights gaps in my research such as what was not covered, users who weren't represented, potential biases, and how to improve future research

What wasn't Covered

Potential Biases

Assumption Bias

Sampling Bias

Users not Represented

How to Improve Future Research

To improve future research, several key areas should be addressed:

Expand participant diversity – Include parents from different backgrounds, family structures, and caregiving roles.

Conduct research in multiple languages – Ensure better accessibility for ESL parents.

Consider family structures – Include single parents and male guardians to capture varied experiences.

Explore technology access levels – Understand disparities in digital literacy and device availability.

Study different school districts – Compare how various systems impact parental engagement.

These improvements will create a more comprehensive understanding of parents’ needs and challenges.

My method for research was to conduct interviews with photo elicitations. I conducted 5 interviews, each lasting around 20-30 minutes.

Interview Content

Need for
Educational Programs

Stay-at-home parents actively seek to help their children with education, often relying on their kids’ tech skills and community resources to overcome challenges.