Life_Skills_Development.ppt
- 1. Positive Youth Development & Life Skill Development Presented by Steve McKinley mckinles@purdue.edu; 765-494-8435
- 2. Objectives: 1. Discuss characteristics of youth development. 2. Identify life skills developed by 4-H members. 3. Explain the components of the Experiential Learning Model. 4. Discuss methods to help youth develop life skills. 5. Identify characteristics of successful youth and adult partnerships.
- 3. Objective 1 Discuss characteristics of youth development.
- 4. Youth Development Approach • Focus on positive outcomes desired for youth, not on negative outcomes to prevent. • Provide programs that are available to all young people. • Youth are seen as “central actors in their own development.” • Develop the whole person – not just a single characteristic or problem.
- 5. Youth Development Approach • Mastery of competencies for productive adult life. • Not something done TO youth, but results from programming WITH youth. • Guided by caring, knowledgeable adults – dependent on family and other adults in community. • Programs offered in safe, nurturing, healthy environments.
- 6. To master skills young people need… • Safety and structure • Sense of belonging and membership • Closeness and several good relationships • Experience of gaining competence and mastering skills
- 7. To master skills young people need… • Independence and control over some part of their lives • Self-awareness and ability and opportunities to act on that understanding • Sense of self-worth and ability and opportunities to contribute
- 8. Positive Youth Development • Is an intentional process • Promotes positive outcomes for young people • Provides opportunities, relationships and the support to fully participate. • Takes place in families, peer groups, schools, neighborhoods and communities. • Source: National 4-H Leadership Trust
- 9. 4-H Youth Development • Non-formal, youth education program • Housed in the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) • Part of land grant university system • Access to most current knowledge and research • Located in each county in the nation
- 10. 4-H Program Strengths • Nationally-recognized • Strong local, state, and national infrastructure • Outreach opportunities support community efforts • Research-based curriculum • Professionals trained in adult education and youth programming • Record of successful partnerships with youth-serving organizations
- 11. Approaches to 4-H Youth Development PREVENTION YOUTH DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION Focus: Risks & Risk Factors Focus: Skills & Knowledge Focus: Developmental Needs Target: Social Norms Target: Individual Learners Target: Opportunities for Youth Goal: Fewer Problems Goal: Competency in knowledge or skill Goal: Maturity & Potential
- 12. Understanding the Different Approaches Developed by Cathann A. Kress, Ph.D. EDUCATION FOCUS YOUTH DEVELOPMENT Biological & Physical Changes Cognitive Changes Psychosocial Changes Competencies 1. Health/Physical 3. Cognitive/Creative 2. Personal/Social 4. Vocational/Citizenship Needs 1. Physiological 6. Independence/Control 2. Safety and Structure over one’s life 3. Belonging/Membership 7. Self Worth/Contribution 4. Closeness/Relationships 8. Capacity to enjoy life 5. Competency/Mastery Contextual Influences Community, Family, Peers, School, Work, Leisure
- 13. Objective 2 Identify life skills developed by 4-H members.
- 14. Life Skill Development • Life Skills – competencies that help people function well in their environments. • Learned in sequential steps related to their age and developmental stage. • Acquired through “learn-by-doing” activities.
- 15. Targeting Life Skills Model Source: Pat Hendricks, Iowa State
- 16. HEAD
- 17. HEART
- 18. HANDS
- 19. HEALTH
- 20. Objective 3 Explain the components of the Experiential Learning Model
- 21. Experiential Learning Model • Process for youth to learn through a carefully planned experience followed by leader-led discussion questions • Basis for 4-H activity manuals
- 22. "Learn by Doing" • We remember: – 10% of what we read – 20% of what we hear – 30% of what we see – 50% of what we see and hear – 70% of what we see, hear and discuss – 90% of what we see, hear, discuss and practice • You can tell or show members how to do something, but the actual experience of doing it themselves is the best way to reinforce learning
- 25. Experience… “Just do it!” • Action on the part of the learner • Leader provides guidance, but is not directive • Goal is for youth to “experience” the activity to develop life skills • Opportunities for practice
- 26. Share… “What happened?” • Ask the group some of the following questions… – What did you do? – What happened? – What did it feel like to do this? – What was most difficult? Easiest?
- 27. Process… “What’s important?” • Ask questions to focus on thinking about the process… – How was the experience conducted? – How was the activity performed? – What steps did you complete during this activity? – What problems did you encounter? How did you overcome them?
- 28. Generalize… “So what?” • Focus questions on individual experiences… – What did you learn or discover? – How does what you learned relate to other things you have been doing? – What skill did you practice? What similar experiences have you had with learning this skill?
- 29. Apply… “Now what?” • Emphasize how this activity helped the members learn subject matter skills and practice life skills. – How does what you learned relate to other parts of your life? – How can you use what you learned? – How might this experience change the way you will approach a similar task in the future?
- 30. Debriefing the Activity • Debriefing allows members to complete their learning from the activity. • Leaders should be well-prepared for the debriefing. • Build in adequate time for members to reflect on their experiences. • Listen to youth carefully. • Most important outcome: members demonstrate new knowledge gain & practice targeted life skill.
- 31. Objective 4 Discuss methods to help youth develop life skills.
- 32. Methods used in 4-H to help youth develop life skills • 4-H projects • Activity manuals • Demonstrations/Public Speaking • Judging events • Skill-a-thons • Project workshops • Educational trips • Resume building • Camp Counselors
- 33. Skill-a-thon • Method to involve 4-H members and parents • Challenging, non-competitive, learn-by- doing activities • Series of mini learning stations with assistants at each station • Participants rotate from station to station to perform the given task
- 34. Skill-a-thon • All team members test their knowledge and ability before assistant provides hints • Can involve several project groups at one time on the program • Entire club can be actively involved at one time • Provides recognition to projects and leaders
- 35. Planning a Skill-a-thon • Determine subject matter for stations. • Create realistic tasks to complete at each station. • Delegate responsibility for securing adequate equipment and supplies. • Identify an assistant for each station (youth or adult) familiar with the topic. • Identify volunteer to divide group into teams of 2-4 and to assign each team to a workstation. • Advertise event to members and parents.
- 36. Conducting a Skill-a-thon • Set up stations • Divide group into teams by age • Allow teams to experience activities • Listen to answers and presentations • Ask questions to help build on presentation • Praise efforts • Review major points and appropriate solutions • Evaluate the skill-a-thon
- 37. Objective 5 Identify characteristics of successful youth and adult partnerships.
- 38. Youth-Adult Partnerships • Provides opportunities for youth and adults to work together • Excellent learning opportunity for both groups • Adults work with youth as equals in the partnership (not do activities to or for youth)
- 39. Youth-Adult Partnerships • Benefits of youth involvement: – Youth recruit other youth more effectively than adults – Youth have a fresh perspective – Youth have access to information – Youth gain self-esteem and new skills. – Communities gain new source of potential leaders
- 40. Youth-Adult Partnerships • Benefits of youth involvement: – New role models are formed. – Negative youth activities are reduced. – Adults learn they don’t need to be responsible for everything. – Adults better understand youth and become re-energized. – Youth better understand adults and the roles they play.
- 41. Tips to develop effective YAP’s • Don't expect more from youth than you would from an adult. Youth have busy schedules and deadlines too. • Treat youth as individuals. Don't ask one youth to represent all youth. • Encourage youth & adults to work as equal partners with balanced voices. • Respect youth as having a significant contribution to make and do not view them only as program beneficiaries.
- 42. Tips to develop effective YAP’s • Don't interrupt. Allow youth the chance to finish their thoughts. • Help the group feel comfortable with each other and overcome the initial anxiety. • Outline expectations and responsibilities of youth and adult members. Establish a set of shared values, such as respect, equality, openness, listening, and trust. • Work toward outcomes that address real issues and needs of youth & community.
- 43. Tips to develop effective YAP’s • Allow youth and adults to learn together and explore beneficial new program ideas. • Take joint responsibility for decision- making, identifying issues, planning, and implementing plans. • Provide challenging and relevant roles for participation in the organization. • Evaluate results and give positive reinforcement. Allow time to reflect on the work accomplished.
- 44. Overcoming Barriers to Youth Service • Discuss organizational “mindset” so that adults and youth working together is a productive and enjoyable experience for both groups • Advise adults about “dos and don’ts” on how to work with youth, and youth on how to work with adults • Hold open discussion about stereotypes that adults and youth have of each other • Lead exercises to practice “shared power”
- 45. Overcoming Barriers to Youth Service • Train various age groups appropriately • Provide clear definition of roles and responsibilities for both adults and youth • Include youth in meaningful decision-making processes • Be sensitive to logistics such as the availability of transportation, suitable scheduling, and snacks for young volunteers who come after school Source: Independent Sector
- 46. Youth as Volunteers • 44% of adults volunteer and 2/3 of these began volunteering when they were young. • Adults who began volunteering as youth are twice as likely to volunteer as those who did not volunteer when they were younger. • High school volunteering recently reached the highest levels in the past 50 years. • In every income and age group, those who volunteered as youth give and volunteer more than those who did not. • Those who volunteered as youth and whose parents volunteered became the most generous adults in giving time. Source: “Youth Service America”, Independent Sector
- 47. This I Believe… • The 4-H boy and girl are more important than the 4-H projects. • 4-H is not trying to replace the home, the church, and the school, only to supplement them. • 4-H’ers are their own best exhibit. • No 4-H award is worth sacrificing the reputation of a 4-H member or leader. • Competition is a natural human trait and should be recognized as such in 4-H club work. It should be given no more emphasis than other fundamentals in 4-H.
- 48. This I Believe… • Learning how to do the project is more important than the project itself. • A blue ribbon 4-H’er with a red ribbon pig is more desirable than a red ribbon 4-H’er with a blue ribbon pig. • To “learn by doing” is fundamental in any sound educational program and is characteristic of the 4-H program. • Generally speaking, there is more than one good way of doing most things. • Every 4-H member needs to be noticed, to be important, to achieve, and to be praised. • Our job is to teach 4-H members HOW to think, NOT what to think. Source: Utah 4-H
- 49. Resources • Hendricks, Pat. 1998. “Targeting Life Skills Model.” http://www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/lifes kills/previewwheel.html. • Independent Sector. http://www.independentsector.org/progra ms/research/engagingyouth.html. • Kress, Cathann. “Essential Elements of 4-H Youth Development.” National 4-H Headquarters. http://www.national4- hheadquarters.gov/library/elements.ppt.
- 50. Resources • USDA/Army Youth Development Project. 2003. “4-H 101, The Basics of Starting 4-H Clubs.” http://www.national4- hheadquarters.gov/library/4h_docs.htm. • Utah 4-H website. “This I Believe…” http://utah4h.org/vol- handbook/handouts.htm. • Woessner, Lisa. “Youth and Adult Partnerships.” University of Illinois 4-H. http://www.4- h.uiuc.edu/opps/articles003.html.