There are many challenges that surround the engagement of youth in the management and editorial components of youth engagement sites. PSO partners are actively discussing different ways we may be able to succeed in this capacity.
We’re currently partnering with other local organizations to get their youth involved in using the PSO site when it launches, and we are running school-year and summer youth content production teams out of the YMCA. We’re simultaneously engaged in an active discussion about how to develop youth governance of the site. We have been discussing different strategies and possibilities for engaging youth in the management and editorial process, and we would love to spark a conversation about recommended approaches to this issue.
Do we keep youth editorial and governance teams separate, or do we combine them into regional youth teams? Are team members elected by the youth who use the site, or do we recruit them through an application process housed in partnering organizations? When and how do we kick off this process? Feel free to weigh in on the discussion!
Entry Filed under: adviser conversations, youth management
April 23rd, 2008 at 06:20pm
Toby Campbell
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by Allison Fine
I find it very interesting how often people believe that social networking sites simply take off on their own, unaided and without any nurturing. I met with an advocacy group that is creating their own social networking site (of course, we all need our own sites since no other social networking sites exist!) They were so very concerned about the functionality of the site - do the buttons work right, is the navigation good, etc. Great, I said, so why exactly do busy people need more friends and if they do, why do they need to be on your site to have them? (more…)
Entry Filed under: practitioners and scholars, social networking
April 11th, 2008 at 03:38pm
guestblogger
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Using the Internet for games, instant messaging, and Myspace is second nature to many young people, yet the medium’s rich civic potential for this tech-savvy demographic remains untapped. In this video (available below the jump), Lance Bennett discusses the potential for digital media to connect young people with public life. (more…)
Entry Filed under: digital learning skills, practitioners and scholars
April 11th, 2008 at 03:06pm
Lance Bennett
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For six weeks during the summer of 2007, a diverse group of Seattle-area youth collaborated to design, implement, and advertise a web site intended to help connect local young people to civic opportunities and public life. They directed, filmed, and starred in this video PSA (available below the jump), which communicates the site’s purpose via a creative visual metaphor. (more…)
Entry Filed under: videos, youth management
April 11th, 2008 at 03:02pm
guestblogger
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It may have not happened here in the U.S. as much, but yesterday there was a massive protest in many countries around the world against the FARC. Over two million people marched in countries like Venezuela, Peru, Japan, and its epicenter: Colombia.
What’s impressive is that the protest were primarily organized in Facebook, with support of other Internet tools. Interesting as well, is that Facebook has put no effort in being a global platform, yet the connections of its users have made it relevant for many parts of the world. Also, other countries are not as aware of the privacy issues that the platform has had, so while I know of people in the U.S. dropping out of Facebook, it seems that it continues to grow in other parts of the world.
This is a wonderful example of how digital media can mobilize people for social causes. Perhaps an instance to look into and understand how it happened, I’m sure that the model will be replicated. This may be the best example to date of the power of social networking.
This is the official website of the organizers:
http://www.colombiasoyyo.org/
News:
BBC
New York Times
NPR
Click here to join the FB group “Un millon de voces against the FARC” (A million voices against the FARC)
Entry Filed under: participatory media
February 5th, 2008 at 10:14am
Adri
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On Saturday I met with Eric, Zoe, Jamia, Derek, Sam, Talia, and Viena from YMCA Earth Service Corps. We spent 30 minutes together reviewing the PSO summer project, website, design, and templates. The entire group liked the name and color scheme. In addition, they came up with a lot of ideas on how they could use the site to support their Earth Service Corps work - promote events, blog, share information, post articles…
They have signed on to be a testing partner!!!!!!!!!! We need to discuss how we’ll use them to test the site. Do we want to hold a testing day or allow each individual to test on their own.
One question they have is can their be a YMCA Earth Service Corps main group with subgroups (Hazen High School Earth Service Corps) attached to the main group?
Entry Filed under: partner strategy
January 28th, 2008 at 09:16am
Chris Tugwell
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As most know, this quarter we have 10 very talented undergraduates who are spending time working on the PSO through the CCCE. For the past two weeks, they have been learning about the theory behind PSO and other projects. As of Monday, they will begin analyzing the curriculum created by the YMCA and creating more of the curriculum modules that Chris Tugwell sketched out. We also want to give them a fairly solid preview of the other things they will be doing this quarter, so I would appreciate feedback and suggestions on what their role might be. Here are the elements we plan on having them tackle:
1) Understanding the curriculum created by the YMCA, evaluating it in terms of the learning goals, and drafting the curriculum modules that have not been written. This will include standardizing the modules and creating some good PSO-specific templates.
2) Another task will be devising ways for the PSO to fit into the programs in which other interns are working, including Aki Kurose Middle School and the City Year programs. The main task here will be working with the students from Aki to find ways to use PSO in combination with the Project Citizen curriculum.
3) Another task that makes sense for this group is marketing for the PSO. (There are several students interested in marketing.) Some materials we plan to have them create are: Powerpoints for presentations to both potential partner organizations and groups of youth; a plan and materials for advertising over Facebook, Myspace, etc.; and a set of ‘alternative’ materials such as videos and podcasts for the PSO site and the web.
4) Finally, the task that will require more thinking out is how the BC interns might take a lead on establishing the youth management process for PSO, perhaps by becoming regional leaders in different Seattle neighborhoods.
We would appreciate any comments on these ideas or suggestions for others. We plan to present a plan for the quarter to the students on Monday.
Entry Filed under: civic learning goals
January 24th, 2008 at 11:00am
Chris Wells
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There was an interesting article in the Seattle Times today about MySpace’s efforts to protect kids.
Click here for the Seattle Times Article.
Entry Filed under: legal and privacy
January 15th, 2008 at 05:12pm
Chris Tugwell
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Thanks for getting the ball rolling, Toby.
I spoke with Michael Harris today. He has done some research and chatted with some different people since our initial contact with him. One of those conversatios was with Sam. He mentioned it went well and that she helped answer a lot of his questions. Thanks Sam!
Power of Hope is officially a testing partner. Michael Harris will pull a team of staff and youth together to serve as the official Power of Hope testing team. Their web address is www.powerofhope.org
I have a feeling this is going to be an issue that comes up often. I propse that we put together some type of safety specs sheet for our partners to help alleviate their fears; as well as, educate them. My guess is that a lot of non profits are going to be wrestling with safety issues as they embrace emerging (maybe old by then) technologies. Plus, this would be a nice slide to add to the PSO PowerPoint a group of BC interns will put togther.
Any ideas on what we would want to say or should include.
Entry Filed under: partner strategy
January 15th, 2008 at 04:13pm
Chris Tugwell
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Chris W, Deen and I met. Chris is going to have the BC interns begin working on creating powerpoints for the learning goals identified in the curriculum inventory/needs doc. Download Curriculum Inventory and Needs (XLS)
Entry Filed under: digital learning skills
January 14th, 2008 at 01:25pm
Chris Tugwell
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