1. Encouraging Independence through Project Work
Sonja Crawford, 4-H Coordinator / Livestock Agent III, Hendry County
Kate Fogarty, 4-H Youth Development Specialist
Special Thanks to: Geralyn Sachs, 4-H Extension Agent II, St. John’s County
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Overview
Independence – What is it?
Fostering Independence in Project Work
Goal Setting/Helping Youth Make Progress toward Self-set goals, Empowering vs. Enabling
Recognizing Independence through Helping Youth Set Their Own Goals
Review of Standards of Excellence
Summary, Questions, Evaluation
Kate
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Independence Defined
“I pledge my head to clearer thinking…”
Sonja
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Independence Defined
In order to develop self-confidence, youth need to feel and believe that they are capable, and they must gain experience at solving problems and meeting challenges. They need to know that they are able to influence people and events through decision-making and action. They need opportunities to understand themselves and become independent thinkers. (University of California Cooperative Extension Service – Project Leader’s Digest – ANR Publication 21729)
Sonja
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5. Independence: Questions to Ask Youth
How are you going to influence people and/or events through decision making (your decisions)?
What did you learn or discover from participating in your project that can be applied to the future?
How does what you learned relate to other parts of your life?
How can you use what you learned outside this project in other settings?
How will this experience change the way you approach a similar task in the future?
Sonja
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Setting Project Goals
Part of fostering youth independence is to help them set their own project goals.
When youth achieve goals they set for themselves, they gain a sense of independence and accomplishment
Youth also learn where their skills measure up in terms of “Standards of Excellence” in independent projects
Standards of Excellence will be covered later in this presentation
Kate
Because 4-H’ers learn by doing, they should be allowed to make their own plans and set their own goals
Plan and goal-setting varies by age and stage of youth
Youth work towards accomplishment of a plan through step-by-step goals
Goals help youth to:
Make a plan
Find ways to achieve that plan
Evaluate their progress toward that plan
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Setting Project Goals
If we don’t know WHERE we are GOING… HOW will we ever know IF we get THERE?
Kate
If we don’t know WHERE we are GOING… HOW will we ever know IF we get THERE?
4-H volunteers, project leaders, & even older teens
Goals need to reflect youth’s own ideas, not be imposed
Goals reflect
What 4-H’er desires to accomplish
Options from 4-H project manual
Reflected in activities listed & described in project books
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Setting Project Goals
Number of goals dependent upon 4-H’er’s age and experience
Fewer steps and more basic goals for younger children (5-10 years)
Large goal and subgoals with several smaller steps toward each goal in a project for older youth (11-18 years)
Goals reflect what a 4-H’er wants to accomplish in a project area. Need to be
Realistic
Reachable (7-step plan to setting goals)
Kate
(type your answer in chat box)
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Setting Project Goals
Kate
4-H’ers
Positive feedback (project/record book notes), introduction based on achievement, newspaper articles, letter to parents, certificates & seals, celebration party
Volunteers
Newsletter article re: volunteer plans and goals, photo of volunteer in newspaper re: achieving a goal
Clubs
Celebration, skit to present to others re:goals, progress toward goals award, certificate & seals
Alternative Delivery
Positive adult feedback, public reception at school, library or community center, newspaper article, letters of commendation to parents, party, certificates & seals
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Setting Project Goals
Kate
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11. Goal Setting: Enabling vs. Empowering
Behaviors that put the adult leader between youth and life experience
Fosters dependence
Empowering
Turning control over to youth so have a sense of control over their own lives & decisions
Kate
Empower:  To equip, to authorize, to invest with power
Empowering is giving someone the confidence they need to do something. This is not doing something for them but helping them to increase control over their own life. This is calling them to accountability for their actions. Empowerment also speaks to a reality of self-awareness.
From
By Shenandoah Valley Teen Challenge 2016
Teening up with your Adolescent UF/IFAS Curriculum
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12. Enabling versus Empowering
Excusing certain youth responsibilities due to poor time management (chores excused so youth can finish last minute homework)
Giving additional funds to support a project than youth budgeted for *
Helping prepare record book for youth (late night work)
*There are exceptions
Empowering
Involving youth in project decision-making
Respecting youth’s privacy and decisions
Sharing your feelings, asking youth for help
Communicating respect
Showing faith in youth
Giving information vs. advice
Listening without fixing or judging.
Kate
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13. Describe a meaningful 4-H Youth Project Goal…
Setting Project Goals
Question:
Describe a meaningful 4-H Youth Project Goal…
(type your answer in chat box)
Sonja
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14. Setting Project Goals: Review
Sonja
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15. Progress Towards Goals
What are some ways we encourage 4-H youth to make progress toward goals that youth set for themselves?
Sonja
It is important for youth to learn to set goals and work toward their goals.
Goal setting is an individual and personal matter– these are the young people’s goals, not the goals of the parent or volunteer
Goals should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely
Goals are motivators only when the person setting the goal owns that goal– when it is owned, it is important
4-H Project Books are one very formalized way to give feedback on progress towards self-set goals
These can goals be can individual or collective. How many of your 4-H clubs set club goals for the year?
Resources– SMART Goals handout
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16. Achievement of Standards of Excellence
What do you think of when you hear “achievement of standards of excellence”?
Sonja
(type your answer in chat box)
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17. Standards of Excellence
Sonja
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Questions?
Sonja and Kate
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19. ‘It’s Not About the Ribbons’
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References
Revised Florida 4-H Recognition for Excellence, Helping Youth Grow.
University of California Cooperative Extension Service (2007). Project Leader’s Digest – ANR Publication
Shenandoah Valley Teen Challenge. Am I enabling or empowering? Blog post accessed on
Fogarty, K. (2009). Teening-Up: A curriculum for parents of teens aged UF/IFAS Extension.
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