Undergraduate Programs
Course Information
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AGED 430 YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
3 undergrad hours, 4 graduate hours(3 hours lecture-discussion)
Spring Semesters
Course Objectives
The ability to design instruction, facilitate personal growth, provide strategies for making positive choices through enhanced problem-solving abilities, and manage the formal or non-formal educational environment are the central functions of individuals working with youth. Those preparing for careers as youth educators or advocates must develop extensive skills in planning, delivering, and evaluating development programs. This course provides a forum for the dissemination of knowledge concerning youth development and the programs that assist in this endeavor. This course will be broken into three main units: The Learner, The Environment, and The Development Program. Individuals will acquire a basic knowledge of these three areas through observation, discussion, and exploration. More specific course objectives include:
- Relate how youth learn to various youth development concepts and initiatives (e.g., learning styles, experiential education, prevention education, cooperative learning).
- Articulate the purposes, values, and role of youth development programs in the Cooperative Extension Service, the public schools, and other service organizations.
- Identify the role of educators and other adult leaders in conducting youth development programs.
- Incorporate principles of volunteerism, volunteer education, and volunteer management in youth development programs.
- Identify procedures for designing and maintaining high quality youth development programs, including programs for Youth-At-Risk, through community needs analysis, curriculum design, and implementation.
- Incorporate team building, collaboration, and examination of implications for the balance between cooperation and competition in youth development programs.
- Examine role of youth development programs, contests, and awards at local, state, and national levels.
Topics
- Student personality and learning profiles
- Impacting attitudes and changing behaviors
- Understanding community structures
- History, nature and scope of the educational system
- History, nature and scope of youth development programs
- Strategies for planning youth development programs
- Strategies for staffing and working with program volunteers
- Evaluating youth development programs
Assigned Texts
AGED 430 readings on Library E-Reserve
Graded Activities
- Unit Exams (3)
- Topic Discussion
- Program Observation and Evaluation
- Group project