How are you using technology to work with youth from a distance?

By Kari Robideau

In what felt like an instant, our traditional ways of meeting youth needs halted. The essence of our work is building relationships. Now that we are all physically distant from young people we serve, how can we continue to do it?

Let’s answer this question with intentional programming and purposeful opportunities. While developing youth programs in distance learning formats is not our usual strategy, following best practices and achieving youth outcomes is what we will continue to do.

Technology can help us stay connected, but let's be smart about how we use it.

• Many things have changed in the last few weeks, but one thing has not. We are youth development professionals grounded in positive youth development practices. We provide high-quality learning environments with experiential learning opportunities in out-of-school time.
• Ask young people and families what they need during this time. Survey your youth leaders by email or text.
• Be mindful of the hours kids are spending in online school work, their adjustment to new routines and challenges with access to wifi and bandwidth issues. Youth work is active, hands-on and we do not want to contribute to too much screen time.
• Practice true youth-adult partnerships where youth are leading and adults are guiding. Use online tools youth are familiar with and give them opportunities to plan and implement their ideas.
• Allow the needs to drive the tools used to deliver programs, rather than picking a single tool for connecting.
• Consider no-tech options. Write letters to young people and include handouts with hands-on activities. You could include a treat, like a stick of gum, or a card with an inspirational saying.
• Use technology such as video conferencing or Flipgrid to share and apply. Encourage participants to do an activity ahead of time and use your time together to share their work. Or, consider doing the activity together on video if bandwidth allows.
• There are some groups who still need to have meetings with agenda items and decisions to make. Use a video conferencing tool that is familiar to those leading the meeting, be mindful of members that cannot participate due to bandwidth issues and always follow program policies, including the safety of minors.
• Use this time to build your own technology skills for the future when virtual programs are no longer needed for regular programming. For example, this experience will enable youth groups to meet virtually when there are weather-related cancellations.
• Acknowledge that we are not going to be able to re-create all scheduled programming during this time because the goals of some programs won’t translate into high-quality online experiences. And that’s OK. The time to re-engage in person will come again.

Sharing creative ways to deliver high-quality learning experiences for young people during this time eliminates duplication and provides everyone more time with delivery. How are you continuing youth work in out-of-school practices while we are physically apart?

-- Kari Robideau, Extension educator & associate Extension professor

Read more about working with youth from a distance. 

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