time to tech: tech outreach to youth
TRANSCRIPT
Time to Tech: Tech Outreach to Youth
Goals
• This training seeks to present best prac8ces for outreach ac8vi8es to youth that includes engagement strategies, codes of conduct, organiza8onal liability, boundary considera8on, mandated repor8ng and digital footprints.
Time to Tech Training Team
• Mark Andersen – Chicago Public Library
• Jenny Lockerby – Chicago Public Library
• Kyla Williams – Smart Chicago Collabora8ve
You can’t escape tech • Youth today live in an uber-‐
connected world. Whether it’s tex8ng on a mobile phone, using a computer at school or gaming with friends, technology is inextricably woven into young people’s lives.
• For nonprofits to remain relevant in their programs, services or advocacy targe8ng youth, technology is a crucial component.
Why we use tech in youth programs
• Our kids are a wired genera8on, and many educators—especially those under 30—view tex8ng and Facebook as not only the easiest, quickest way to connect with students, but also as valuable tools to engage, mo8vate and even excite them.
• hTp://www.usatoday.com/story/news/na8on-‐now/2014/04/09/facebook-‐teachers-‐twiTer-‐students-‐schools/7472051/
Communica8on Concerns
• Problems typically start with concern for a child. An adult says, “If you need help or somebody to talk to, call or text me.”
• Calls and texts are now FB posts and Tweets • That can develop into a innocent helping rela8onship, or some8mes emo8ons get involved, and the situa8on may evolve into something seemingly inappropriate.
Where it went wrong? • Michael Brown case in Ferguson, MO • Youth were very upset and wanted to express themselves • Youth provider wanted to demonstrate a lesson on social jus=ce and peace
demonstra=ons • Youth planned a secret demonstra=on and youth provider encouraged the youth to use
social media to “spread the word” • Youth provider tweeted to youth encouraging them to “Stand Up for their rights” and
aCached the Bob Marley YouTube Video • Organiza=on found out about it on social media and instructed the youth that
demonstra=ons could not be done on private property • Youth are incensed. Felt like “rights” are being violated • Youth provider is incensed. Felt like organiza=on was not being suppor=ve to expression • Youth provider tells her college son about the situa=on • Youth move forward with demonstra=on and it gets out of hand. Not peaceful at all. • The unrest is documented all over social media, even had a hashtag • Youth provider’s college son posted this message on TwiCer:
Students at HS tossing it up for Mike Brown and my mom lead the cause #HandsUpDontShoot
Codes of Conducts • One for Adults and One for
the youth-‐same document • Should be posted publicly • Signed copies from
par8cipants as part of program record
• Posted on organiza8onal website
Resource: hTp://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/BCF47CED-‐604B-‐4FDD-‐B752-‐DC2D81504478/0/SMG_FINAL_20130415.pdf
Mandated Reporter
• Any of the following persons or en88es, who have reasonable cause to believe a child known to them in their professional or official capacity may be an abused or neglect child
• hTps://mr.dcfstraining.org/UserAuth/Login!loginPage.ac8on
Organiza8onal Liability
• Another person should also have the login informa8on for social interac8ve plajorms with youth
• Emails should always have another adult copied • If you have children, do not have them pos8ng as you to be cool
• Do not use social media or email to give personal advice, use it for instruc8on and example sekng.
Lessons Learned
• Smart Chicago “Youth-‐Led Tech”
hTp://www.smartchicagocollabora8ve.org/work/educa8on/youth-‐led-‐tech-‐program-‐summer-‐2015/
Engagement Strategies
• Youth Specific Website or Sec8on on organiza8onal website -‐ Pictures, Pictures, Pictures
• Youth Blog (Tumblr or Wordpress) • Group Pages not chats or inboxes (Facebook or Slack)
• SMS Group Text not personal texts
Digital Footprints
• Things live on the internet forever. Even a deleted tweet or FB post can be screenshot and redistributed.
• Remind your youth and yourselves of that.
• Encourage your youth to be inten8onal with posts.
• 5 ques8ons to ask before pos8ng -‐ Am I seeking approval? -‐ Am I boas8ng? -‐ Am I unhappy? -‐ Protec8ve Moment? -‐ Is it kind?
12 Things Students Should Never Post
• Illegal ac8vi8es • Bullying • Teacher/Parent/Service Provider Trashing • Confiden8al Informa8on • Overly specific loca8on check-‐ins • Lie/Cheat/Plagiarize • Threaten Violence • Unprofessional Public Profiles • Post Emo8onally • Rely on Privacy Sekngs 100%
10 Do’s of Tech Outreach to Youth 1. Have a policy with signature 2. Mandated Reporter Training 3. Establish youth friendly alterna8ve accounts to your
organiza8on’s main accounts 4. Work in the open-‐No inbox conversa8ons 5. Do Group Posts versus individual communica8on 6. Ignore friend requests from youth, but speak to them privately
and lead with an alterna8ve 7. Monitor membership in groups as students age out, remove their
access and re-‐engage as adult volunteers 8. Do invite parents or guardians to follow organiza8on and join
group accounts 9. Youth Specific Website or Blog Site 10. Do teach youth about appropriate online interac8ons by modeling
Ques8ons/Comments
Time to Tech Tweet Contacts
@jennylockerby @smartchgokyla @smartchicago @chipublib @hivechicagobuzz