Based on previous research efforts and Lab activities, the Youth and Media team has made great strides building a curriculum focusing on social/emotional learning, and, in particular, online relationships.
So far, the young members of the lab together with the core Youth and Media team have developed three modules about Social-Emotional Learning & Online Relationships:
1. Creativity in Online Spaces
The module considers the value of creativity both online and offline, as well as the connection between creativity and science. Participants are encouraged to reflect on the relationship between creativity in their online practices and their interests in science and technology. This can done by reflecting on who they are, what they do online, and how creativity plays a role to each of these. Finally, participants produce analog or digital media designed to motivate or inspire others to pursue science, technology, education, and math (STEM).
Creativity in Online Spaces – PDF
Creativity in Online Spaces – PPT
Creativity in Online Spaces Handouts – DOC
2. Healthy Relationships Online
For today’s youth, the intricacies of online interaction can significantly impact their relationships. This module explores the topic of healthy relationships and emotional wellbeing among youth in relation to their technology use. Additionally, this module targets youth who work as peer leaders, trainers, mentors, etc., (“youth ambassadors”), and encourages them to think critically about this topic. The participants are also encouraged to identify ways of promoting positive bystanding (or, “upstanding”) among their peers, which include actions like discouraging bullying acts, offering their peers support, and openly communicating about issues that arise in a personal and school context.
Healthy Relationships Online – PDF
Healthy Relationships Online – PPT
3. Perspective
Media can be a powerful means for presenting audiences with different perspectives. In this module, participants explore what perspective is and what influences and shapes it. In particular, they consider the roles of empathy and the ability to understand others’ perspectives in the process of creating and sharing powerful media about social or community issues.
If you would like to know more about our modules, please feel free to send us (youthandmedia@cyber.law.harvard.edu) an email anytime. We are happy to provide you with additional information and/or share the actual modules with you.
Hyde Square Task Force
Workshop with Hyde Square Task Force, Health Careers Ambassadors Program, August 1st, 2012, Jamaica Plain, MA:
Hyde Square Task Force is a Jamaica Plain, Boston-based community organization whose Health Careers Ambassadors Program (H-CAP) trains high school students in peer teaching on health-related topics. This wonderful group of budding youth ambassadors contributed to the diverse mix of young people with whom YaM got to test its curriculum. After learning from the perspectives of youth from another U.S. city and other countries, some immersed in the study of science/tech, others in community issues and media production, it was great to round off the summer’s teaching and learning with local peers in another ambassadorial program. The workshop deployed the module Relationships Online. It focused on healthy relationships, including participants’ associations with positive, safe, and healthy relationships (especially online), and how bystanding/upstanding can become important when trouble starts to grow in a friend’s relationship. Moreover, the workshop adopted a “train-the-trainers” approach to highlight facilitation techniques the ambassadors may deploy themselves (an approach the Lab team was exposed to in the SEL training).