 NCSET's
Youth Web Site
 
NCSET launched its youth Web site, Youthhood.org,
in the Spring of 2005. The Youthhood Web site is a dynamic, curriculum-based
tool that can help young adults plan for life after high school.
Although the site addresses youth directly, it is intended to be
used as a curriculum within a classroom, community program, or
in any setting where adults are working with youth to set goals
and plan for the future. The Youthhood includes informational content,
interactive activities, an online magazine, and a wealth of other
opportunities for youth to connect what's important to them to
their learning experiences.
Designed by and for Youth
We believe the best way to engage an audience is to involve them
in the development of a product. So we hired youth in the
Minneapolis/St. Paul area to create the graphics for the Web site,
and wrote the content from a youth perspective. We also met with
youth and their instructors at numerous points during the development
to get their feedback on the site.
The contents of Web site are organized using the metaphor of a
neighborhood, with each content area reflecting a place in the
neighborhood that youth can "visit." For instance, there's
The High School, The Job Center, The Community Center, and several
other "neighborhood" centers. By visiting
the different locations, youth learn about issues related to planning
for a successful transition from high school to adult life.
Engaging Activities
A unique feature of The Youthhood is the emphasis on engaging
youth through various activities. These activities are designed
to help youth:
- learn more about a specific topic,
- enhance
their knowledge base, and
- engage with and assimilate material on a personal level.
We feel this type of learning will be attractive to many
youth with various learning styles, including those with and
those without disabilities. Youth can engage in activities through the following areas:
- Private Journal: An online
journal allows youth to write down their thoughts, ideas, issues,
or anything else as they work their way through the Web site.
This journal is completely private, with access only to the student
through use of their password.
- Activities Folder: Each
content area has corresponding activities to reinforce what youth
learn. These can be saved to an Activity Folder for viewing,
editing, or printing at a later date.
- Life Map: The Life Map is a tool to help youth
plan for the future. Youth can write down goals, steps to achieve
goals, and other important information related to what they’re
learning on the Web site. Teachers can also use this for assignments.
For youth with disabilities, the Life Map parallels the Individualized
Education Program and can be used transition planning meeting preparation
by young adults.
- Class Notebook: Each content area has a corresponding
Class Notebook for youth to reflect on the material they just
read. Instructors can give youth an assignment to write in their
Notebook about what they learned on a certain topic. Instructors
can also read and comment on the student’s
work in the notebook.
- Links to Web Sites: Each content area has
corresponding Web sites where youth can go to learn more about
specific topics. Sites are arranged to correspond with the content
sections of the Web site.
- Youthhood Poll: Monthly poll questions relevant
to different areas of transition allow youth to reflect on their
answers, submit comments, view poll results, and read comments
from youth around the world (currently under construction.
- Under the Hood e-Zine: Youthhood’s
online magazine, Under the Hood, is written by young
adults to share what youth are thinking,
saying, and experiencing across the U.S. and around the world
(currently under construction).
Registration Recommended
In order to complete online activities,
youth must register on the secure site. There is no fee to
register, registration is secure,
and their registration information will not be shared with anyone.
The only requirement to register is that youth have their own unique
e-mail address.
Once they register and login, youth can view and save activities,
and edit them at a later date from any computer. Since the interactivity
of the site requires registration, it is highly recommended that
youth and the adults with whom they're exploring the
site register (youth do not need to register with an adult; they
may register on their own and complete activities).
For adults working with youth,
the added benefit of registering is the ability to read and
comment on their students' work. Once adults submit their comments,
youth are then able to read and respond to these comments, making
any changes necessary to their documents.
See more information
on the site's page on Registering
You & Your
Class.
Curriculum Guide
The Youthhood site provides an online curriculum for adults working
with youth on the Web site. The curriculum provides helpful information,
Web resources, ideas for getting the most out of each content area,
and more. See the site's Introduction
to the Curriculum.
Contact Info
If you would like more information or have questions, please e-mail
us at youthhood@umn.edu or
call Pam Stenhjem at 612-625-3863. You may also use the site's Contact
Us page to send your message.
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