scholarly journals Organizational Supports and Youth Life Skill Development: Adult Volunteers as Mentors, Managers and “Mediators”

2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 20-35
Author(s):  
Kate Fogarty ◽  
Bryan Terry ◽  
Dale Pracht ◽  
Joy Jordan

A statewide community club evaluation (youth self-report), empirically testing a logic model of factors influencing youth life skill development is described. Results supported that the way adult volunteers manage and mentor youth and explained how 4-H program features (e.g., youth sense of belonging, safety, and support) influence life skill development. Youth engagement in activities was also linked with life skills and organizational supports were linked with youth engagement in the model. Future directions based on the findings to be discussed include: (1) examining volunteer competencies to build upon in training; (2) use of SEM to understand the larger picture of youth programs; and (3) what the results tell us about: (a) creating quality club environments for youth; (b) providing youth with caring adult support systems; and (c) developing life and career skills through subject-matter topics.

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-76
Author(s):  
Brenda S. Allen ◽  
Brenda J. Lohman

Research suggests 4-H programs build Life Skills such as leadership, communication, citizenship and learning. However, 4-H programs vary from long-term on-going experiences to shorter, more intense opportunities. This paper discusses a program evaluation articulating the life skill development of participants in a 3-day residential State 4-H Conference on a Midwestern college campus. The Life Skills assessed were in the areas of leadership, citizenship, communication, and learning as part of overall Life Skill development. Participants were youth ages 14-18 years. A retrospective pretest-posttest was used to evaluate skill development and understanding. Analysis, including paired sample t-tests, indicated growth in each of the 12 common outcome measures evaluated. This study supports the importance of purposeful planning and youth engagement in the learning process to achieve desired life skill outcomes.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly Meyer ◽  
Scott Wurdinger

<p>This research aimed to examine students’ perceptions of their life skills while attending project-based learning (PBL) schools. The study focused on three questions including: 1) What are students’ perceptions of their development of life skills in project-based learning schools? 2) In what ways, if any, do students perceive an increase in their life skill development over a one-year period of time? 3) What relationship, if any, is there between grade level and students’ perceptions of their life skills? The subjects were 275 6-12 students from two project-based learning charter schools in Minnesota. One school was located in a rural location; the other in an urban location. The triangulating data collection methods included a Likert-scale survey, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups. Quantitative analysis using SPSS were used to analyze the survey data. Qualitative analysis methods used were coding and identification of emergent themes. Qualitative results showed perceptions of most improved skills as time management, collaboration, communication, and self-directedness. Quantitative data results showed most improved skills within an academic year as responsibility, problem-solving, self-directedness, and work ethic. Self-directedness was the single skill that was evident in all data results. The results showed students’ perceptions of their life skills were positive and that project-based learning helped them develop multiple life skills including, but not limited to communication, collaboration, problem-solving, responsibility, and time management. Implications of this research suggest that project-based learning has a positive influence on students’ life skills development across 6-12 grade levels and helps prepare them to be successful in the 21<sup>st</sup> century global community and economy.</p>


2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-67
Author(s):  
Rachel Allison

Integrating the Student-Athlete Climate Study conceptual framework with critical race and intersectionality theories, I examine racial differences in the perceived effects of college on life skill development among college sportswomen. I use nationally representative data from the NCAA’s 2006 Growth, Opportunity, Aspirations, and Learning of Students in College (GOALS) survey to examine whether team and/or campus climate mediate racial differences. I find small, but statistically significant differences whereby sportswomen of color report less positive effects of college on leadership, teamwork, time management, and work ethic compared to white sportswomen, but more positive effects of college on their understanding of people of other races. Campus climate, but not team climate, partially mediates racial differences in the perceived effects of college on leadership, teamwork, time management, and work ethic.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Ben S. Weikert

The purpose of this study was to identify the relationships between participating in the National Junior Angus Show and perceived gain in youth leadership and life skill development, as well as to describe a relationship between 4-H participation, FFA participation, and demographic characteristics with youth leadership and life skill development. The target population for this study was youth who participated in the 2016 National Junior Angus Show and Conference (n= 851). An overall response rate of 50.8 % was attained in this study (n= 127). Youth provided their perceived gain in of youth leadership and life skill development, indicated which of 23 youth development activities they participated in, indicated their participation in 4-H, FFA, or other youth development organization, and also responded to basic demographic questions following the administration of an electronic survey instrument. Based on findings from this study, it was concluded that the 2016 National Junior Angus Show and Conference did have a perceived positive change on youth's leadership and life skill development. The researcher also concluded that age was a significant predictor of youth's perceived leadership and life skill development. Overall dosage of youth development activities showed significance across three psychological constructs The researcher also found that two of the 23 activities accounted for a significant perceived gain in youth leadership or life skill development across five psychological constructs. Further research is recommended through a qualitative lens to elicit more descriptive information on the experiences and growth that youth develop as the result of their participation in National Junior Livestock Shows and Conferences.


2009 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Gould ◽  
Sarah Carson ◽  
Angela Fifer ◽  
Larry Lauer ◽  
Robert Benham

This study was designed to identify issues and concerns involved in contemporary school sports that are perceived as influencing sports’ potential to achieve educational and developmental objectives (e.g., psychosocial and life skill development). Eleven focus group interviews involving 67 participants were conducted with key constituency groups involved in high school athletics (coaches n=14, athletic directors n=20, school principals n=11, parents of current high school athletes n=11, and student-athletes n=21). Results were content analyzed using a three-person inductive consensus procedure and triangulated across constituency groups. Issues identified as concerns included: inappropriate behaviors in high school sport, increased expectations for success, ramifications of over-commitment, health issues, coaching and administrative issues, and unmet affiliation needs of athletes which impact the motivation. Findings are discussed relative to the professionalization of scholastic sports and threats to its developmental and educational potential. Implications for coaching education are emphasized.


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