Partnerships for Community Resources to Support the Learning

National school reform efforts are grounded in the development of close partnerships among families, communities and schools. Several initiatives have demonstrated that such partnerships can help provide community resources that support the educational achievement of at-risk students. However, many parents and teachers lack an understanding of the potential of this new movement and have not been trained in how to work collaboratively. To fill this need, a CD-ROM-based multimedia program is proposed. The CD-ROM format not only allows the use of print, sound, pictures and video, but also permits users to test their skills in simulations of actual situations and to view the same situation from the perspective of another person. Thus, important collaborative skills such as communication, negotiation and conflict resolution can be taught. To develop the proposed multimedia product, the literature of collaborative partnerships will be reviewed and interviews conducted with parents, teachers and service providers who have participated in collaboratives. An expert Advisory Panel will make recommendations about the content of the product, including the primary partnership skills to be emphasized. A prototype consisting of storyboards and script will be created. It will be evaluated in four focus groups and through review by the Advisory Panel experts.