4-H Science, Engineering, and
Technology (SET)
Presentation for the California
Afterschool Network
April 5, 2013
Steven Worker
4-H SET Coordinator
What is 4-H?
Celebrating 110 years! Founded in 1902, merged
with cooperative extension in 1914.
4-H is a nonformal youth education program for
young people (ages 5-19).
In 2009, over 6 million youth participated in 4-H
through 4-H clubs, afterschool programs, camps,
and school enrichment activities.
4-H is coordinated nationally through
USDA National Institute of Food and Ag.
and through each state’s Land Grant
University.
National: www.4-h.org | California: www.ca4h.org
Head
Heart
Hands
Health
4-H and Science
National 4-H Science Mission, established in
2008 – California also launched its 4-H Science,
Engineering, and Technology (SET) Initiative.
4-H SET programs…
• (short-term) help youth improve their knowledge
and skills around science, engineering, and
technology
•
(medium-term) engage youth in adopting and
using science and engineering in authentic and
meaningful ways
•
(long term) increase the number and diversity of
youth pursuing higher education and careers in
science, engineering, and technology fields.
Foundation of 4-H Science
Educational Practices
• Project-based learning
• Experiential education
• Inquiry-based teaching
• Collaborative learning
• Service learning
Youth Development Practices
• Safety
• Relationship building
• Youth engagement (youth-adult partnerships)
• Community involvement
• Skill building
http://www.ca4h.org/files/146514.pdf
Overview of 4-H SET Resources
1. Utilize our program and fund
development materials
2. Professional Development
Utilize 4-H materials or invite local 4-H staff to
help facilitate workshops.
3. Curricula
As a public youth development organization, 4-H
materials are often available for free or low cost.
Materials are often peer reviewed for accuracy
and quality.
4. Learn from our research, evaluation, and
promising practices
Program Resources
4-H Science-Ready Checklist
http://www.ca4h.org/files/154115.pdf
Experiential Learning Check-Off List
http://www.ca4h.org/files/73510.docx
4-H Program Framework
http://www.ca4h.org/files/146514.pdf
Teens-as-Teachers
4-H National Youth Science Day
http://www.4-h.org/4-h-national-youth-science-day/
4-H Science-Ready Checklist
Anchored in a
Activities follow the
Experiential Learning Cycle
After the activity, the facilitator leads youth through a period of reflection
where the learner shares and processes the experience and applies new
learning in authentic situations.
Positive Youth Development Context
Provides opportunities for youth to develop their 6 C’s: Competence,
Confidence, Connections, Character, Caring/Compassion, and Contribution.
Facilitated and delivered with
Adult mentors who partner with youth
Activities promote
Inquiry Learning using Effective Questioning
Through learning experiences, youth are encouraged to think, explore,
question, and make decisions. Youth build understanding through active
exploration and questioning.
Provides opportunities to improve
Learning experiences led by trained, caring adults and teens who create
environments in which they work together as active learners.
Programs offer
Extended Learning Opportunities
Projects offer long-term experiences to significantly increase youth
knowledge, skills and attitudes. Experiences are designed for extended
frequency and duration that serve to build learning over time.
Science, Engineering and Technology Abilities
Engages youth in science, engineering and technology through one or more
of the thirty most important science, engineering, and technology
processes.
Programs based on
National Science Education Standards
SET activities delivered through inquiry-based learning focusing on concepts
of physical science, life science, earth and space science, science and
technology, science in personal and social perspectives, history and nature of
science.
Experiential Learning Check-Off List
Teens-as-Teachers
A good practice is preparing teens and having them deliver science activities
to younger children.
• Children respond well to teen teachers
• Teens act as positive role models
• Teens benefit too!
Teenagers as Teachers: Twelve Essential Elements
http://www.ca4h.org/files/145251.pdf
Teens as Volunteer Leaders: Recruiting and Training
Teens to Work with Younger Youth in After-School Programs.
http://4-h.org/b/Pages/Afterschool/Assets/AS_TeenVolunteers.pdf
4-H National Youth Science Day
The focus of 4-H NYSD activities is a single science experiment designed to
engage young people across the nation.
During October each year.
Past year’s activity guides are available
• 2008: Helpful Hydrogels
• 2009: Biofuel Blast
• 2010: 4-H2O, water quality
• 2011: Wired for Wind
• 2012: Eco-Bot
Fund Development
National 4-H Fund Development Toolkit
http://www.4-h.org/resource-library/professionaldevelopment-learning/fund-development-toolkit/
On-demand access to a wealth of fundraising
resources, including:
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Philanthropy
Managing the fund development process
Building a strong board
Creating a powerful message
Major gifts
Raising money from many donors
Hosting top quality special events
Keeping donors with world class stewardship
Professional Development
Tools of the Trade II: Inspiring Young Minds to be Science, Engineering, and
Technology Ready for Life!
– http://www.ca4h.org/Projects/SET/SETResources/ToTII/
– 22 hour training guide for afterschool line staff
Experiential Learning – 3 module introduction
http://www.experientiallearning.ucdavis.edu/default.shtml
Online Course: Using Inquiry-based learning to Support 4-H Science
– 3, 20-minute videos
– http://www.4-h.org/
Professional Development (cont.)
4-H Science Promising Practices
http://www.ca4h.org/Projects/SET/SETResources/PP/
– Science in Urban Communities
– Lessons from Promising 4-H Science Programs
– 4-8 page briefs on:
• Experiential Learning
• Evaluation
• Professional development
• Curriculum
• Science process skills
• Collaborative partnerships
• Fund development
• Teens-as-teachers
Professional Development (cont.)
Curricula
4-H Curricula available in a variety of content:
• Animal science
• Biological sciences
• Civic engagement
• Communication and expressive arts
• Consumer and family sciences
• Environmental education and earth sciences
• Health
• Leadership and personal development
• Personal safety
• Physical sciences
• Plant science
• Technology and engineering
Curricula
To find curricula, search:
California 4-H
http://www.ca4h.org/Projects/Curriculum/
My4H.org and National Directory of 4-H Materials
http://www.4-h.org/my4-h
4-H MALL
http://www.4-hmall.org/
Hot off the Presses
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4-H Junk Drawer Robotics (middle school, 3 levels)
There’s No New Water! (middle-high school)
Veterinary Science
4-H Junk Drawer Robotics
For middle school youth
Engages middle school youth in understanding
scientific concepts and processes, the engineering
design process cycle, and technology creation and
building by working with household items to
complete simple design challenges.
Level 1: Robot arms and hands
Level 2: Robot movement
Level 3: Mechantronics
$31.80 at http://www.4-h.org/resourcelibrary/curriculum/4-h-robotics/
There’s No New Water!
For middle-high school youth
Water is a finite natural resource whose quantity and
quality must be responsibly preserved, protected,
used, and reused.
Curriculum concepts:
• The natural water cycle
• Human interventions in the water cycle
• The urban/rural interface
• Mapping watersheds
• service-learning project that address local water
conservation issues
$16 at http://www.4-h.org/curriculum/water/
Veterinary Science
For youth grades 3-6
Modules include:
1. Behaving like Animals,
2. Fur, Feathers, Skin and Scales
3. The Eyes Have it
4. You've Got to Have Heart
5. Dem Bones, Dem Bones
6. Food in, Waste Out
7. Is your Bird Feeling Blue?
8. Is your Dog Feeling Down?
9. Is Your Goat Feeling Green?
10. Is Your Horse Healthy?
11. Is Your Snake Sick?
Free at http://www.ca4h.org/Projects/Curriculum/FREE/
Research and Evaluation
California Agriculture - http://californiaagriculture.ucanr.org/
Articles on professional development and youth water education.
Journal of Extension - http://www.joe.org/
Articles on youth OST science education.
California 4-H
http://www.ca4h.org/Research/4HPublications/
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[Book] Advances in youth development:
Research and evaluation from the University of
California 2001-2010
Monographs
Fact Sheets
Questions?
Steven worker
4-H SET Coordinator
smworker@ucanr.edu
(530) 754-8519