We are interested in gaining a better understanding of the ways in which, and the reasons that parents use technology. We hope to determine some of the processes that take place that impact parent learning online, and the outcomes from parents’ use of technology. This information will be used for the design, testing and implementation of educational applications for parents.

Based on information that exists about parents and about individuals’ use of digital and social media and the Internet, our goal is to inform our understanding about the ways that parents use the Internet and digital and social media for:

• Parenting (e.g., use web cameras to communicate with children long distance, monitor children’s online behavior and social relationships)
• Parent information gathering, advice seeking and sharing (e.g., use of web sites, participate in online discussion forums)
• Information seeking and sharing to support children’s learning, health and development
• Facilitating social connections and communication (e.g., participate in social networking, communicate with family members via cell phone)
• Sharing personal and family information (e.g., blog about parenting experiences, share children’s pictures with relatives)
• Offering and seeking social support (e.g., participate in parenting groups for special needs children)
  Entertainment (e.g., games with children)
• Family-oriented consumer behavior (e.g., online purchases; class registration)