Iowa 4-H Youth Development and 4-H GPS/GIS

What are we doing here?

Training you to teach—

In a way that kids can learn!

To Be Successful You Need To Know:

• About 4-H• About Kids• The Subject• How to teach

4-H 101

What makes 4-H so effective in helping youth grow and develop?

Iowa 4-H Mission

•4-H empowers youth to reach their full potential working and learning in partnership with caring adults

It’s about Positive Youth Development

Positive Youth Development

Positive youth development helps young people become competent, caring, capable, confident, connected and contributing through a

series of progressive learning experiences with caring adults

4-H is a community of

young people

across America who are

learning leadership, citizenship and

life skills.

The 4-H Pledge"I Pledge my Head to clearer thinking,

my Heart to greater loyalty, my Hands to larger service,

and my Health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world."

The pledge tells what 4-H is all about. 4-H has as its goal the four-fold development of youth: Head, Heart, Hands and Health. The pledge was adopted by the delegates to the 1927 National 4-H Club Camp in Washington, DC. State club leaders voted for and adopted the pledge for universal use. The phrase "and my world" was added in 1973. The saying of the pledge has prominent place

in 4-H activities at regular 4-H meetings, achievement days, and other club events.

Positive Youth Development =Meeting the Needs of Youth

Belonging Mastery Independence Generosity

What are these 4 basic needs of Youth?Belonging—

Finding that you have things in common with others and you are accepted and made to feel part of the groupMastery — Encouraged to try new experiences and find out what things you are good at

What are these 4 basic needs of Youth?Independence—

Giving youth a choice in what they will do and a voice in where the group is headedGenerosity— When youth belong, feel that they have skills they have accomplished and are given choices, youth will choose to share with others of their knowledge time and skills We need to provide them with a chance to give back

What are the Essential Elements of a great 4-H Experience?

A Caring AdultA Safe EnvironmentOpportunity to develop MasteryOpportunities to help others “Service”Opportunities to make decisions or Self Determination

An Inclusive environment

Opportunity to see oneself as an active participant in the future

Opportunities to be Engaged in Learning

Let’s Put it All Together

A Caring Adult

•Supporter Friend Advocate

•Set boundaries and expectations and they identify each child’s strengthsAdvisor

Guide Mentor

Supports all youth development needs

As a 4-H Leader your most important job is to be your Members Caring Adult.

A Safe Environment

Youth learn and participate more fully when they feel physically and emotionally safe.

A structured yet flexible environment encourages honesty, trust, and respect.

Supports need for Belonging

As a 4-H GPS/GIS volunteer when should you be structured and when flexible?

An Inclusive Environment

Encourages and supports its members

Where youth receive positive and specific feedback from leaders, other parents and other youth.

Where leader takes time to celebrate successes of all members

Supports sense of belonging

Opportunities for Mastery Learning•High schoolers in Nome, Alaska learning GPS in -25 below zero weather!

Opportunities to Engage in LearningDeveloping connections with what they learn and experience in life

Self-reflection

Learn from Experience and Reflection

Helps to meet needs of

Mastery and Independence

Opportunities to Be Generous or Servicing Others

•Helps youth feel they a part of something larger than themselves.•Can give them immediate success and the good feelings helping others gives.•Helps youth learn new skills or use their talents wisely.•Helps them connect with others positively

Helps to support the need for generosity

Opportunities for Self-DeterminationYouth and leaders are making decisions so youth know they have an impact. Youth feel a personal sense of influence over their lifeYouth become self-directing and independentWhat would this look like at your 4-H GPS/GIS club meetings or camps? Supports need for independence

• What is the most important single element in helping young people become caring, contributing, and competent ?

• A Caring Adult- You!

Youth and Adult Partnerships• What does this mean?

– Youth can choose which activities they wish to participate and how they want to participate- unless unsafe.

– Youth meet regularly to discuss and modify existing programs with leaders.

– Youth meet regularly to plan future programs or activities.

– Youth evaluate programs they plan or participate in.– Youth can share and communicate the program to

outsiders: they know what the program needs, why, and the how’s.

What is not a Youth/Adult partnership?

• The leader and adults in the program decide what activities the youth will do.

• The leader and adults decide what resources they need and find them themselves.

• The leader and adults tell others what the kids are learning, because the kids don't know.

• The leaders and adults decide and organize the community service projects.

How will I know I am doing a good job?

•Kids are attending the meetings/field trips etc.•Kids are the focus•There’s a good mix of consistency and flexibility•The group works hard and plays hard•Kids are empowered and are making decisions

•Kids are listened to and genuinely valued•Balance between chaos and rigidity•All members successes are celebrated •Newcomers are welcomed by existing members•Service is practiced

Let’s take a quick Break!

We will come back and get into how we better understand the youth we

work with and how to help you learn

WELCOME BACK!!

Ages & Stages of Youth Development• How do young people change as they

grow?

• How do these changes affect you as a 4-H leader, instructor, or volunteer and the programs you plan for your club/members?

4-H age groups are in different places with…

Physical Growth

Growth in Thinking

Social Growth

Emotional Growth

Different Ages – Different Stages

What are they like? Juniors (9-11 years)

Intermediates (12-14 years)

Seniors (15-18 years)

Interest Span Varied & many times quite short

Lengthens with experience Almost adult like and self-motivated

Motor SkillsHigh Interest, Poor Coordination

Interested in skills for specific use, may tackle difficult jobs

Highly skilled

Mental AbilityPeak of interest, Limited Experience

Increased depth and scope Continued increase related to experience. Can see relationship

Ability to Plan Limited ability due to limited experience & judgement

Can plan better than execute Have need and ability to plan

Relating to Peers Boys-Boys, Girls-Girls Interest in opposite sex & interest in group acceptance

High

Experiential Learning is…

• “LEARNING BY DOING”

Let’s get into Rocket Science!

Extraordinary Learning Experiences Experiential Learning Cycle- Hands-on

learning with reflection Aware of what stage of development youth

are in, so we know what they can learn. We are always concerned about creating a

safe environment.

Experiential Learning Cycle

Experiential Educaiton

Experience the activity and do it Share reactions and observations publicly Process by analyzing and reflecting upon what

happened Generalize to discover what was learned and

connected to life Apply what was learned to similar or different

situations

Experiential Learning Cycle

Tips for using the Experiential Learning ModelPlan for time to reflect on the experience.Ask the right questions. Prepare ahead of

time as you are thinking through the learning activity.

Listen carefully to the youth.Support each young person’s unique

learning style.

Why the Experiential Learning Model

• How Young People Learn• Read 20%• Hear 20%• See 30%• Hear & See 50%• Say 70%• Do 90%

4-H GPS/GIS Resources

• 4-H GPS/GIS Facebook Page• http://www.facebook.com/4hgisgps

• 4-H Geospatial Programming Resources• http://www1.cyfernet.org/prog/gis/gis.html

•Join the 4-H GPS/GIS Email List Group• http://www1.cyfernet.org/prog/gis/4hgisgps.html

So what did we learn today?