Preparing Volunteers to Meet the Developmental Needs of Youth Audiences

Introduction

Volunteers are most commonly involved in the 4-H Youth Development Program as non-formal educators who lead projects and activities with youth (Boyd, 2004). Over 550,000 adults are engaged in this capacity nationally on an annual basis (USDA, 2006), and without their commitment of time and energy, the 4-H Youth Development Program could not operate effectively (Boyd; Stedman & Rudd, 2006). However, to be effective, volunteers must have access to training opportunities and educational resources (Hoover & Connor, 2001).

Effective teaching requires that educators differentiate their instruction to meet the needs of their learners (Anderson, 2007). Differentiated instruction means understanding the differences between learners and applying this understanding to planning lessons that maximize the educational impacts on the individuals involved (Anderson, 2007). Differences such as learning styles, skills, and interests can have profound effects on whether or not an educational activity achieves the desired learning outcomes (Anderson, 2007).

In 4-H, projects and published curricula are typically organized around or designed according to specific age groups: 5-8 year-olds, 9-11 year-olds, 12-14 year-olds, and 15-19 year-olds. These groupings are not random; rather, they are based on research related to the developmental characteristics of youth that are both linear (e.g., physical size) and dynamic (e.g., behavior) (Katz, 1996). However, because 4-H projects and activities frequently include youth of mixed age groups, understanding these developmental characteristics becomes essential to volunteers as they plan and implement programs.

Addressing Developmental Characteristics of Youth: A Best Practices Matrix

The developmental characteristics of youth are categorized according to ages and domains of youth development (i.e., physical, cognitive, social, emotional). For each of the four defined age groups, there are specific developmental characteristics within each of the four domains. Characteristics of youth are age specific within each domain and thus have implications relative to the design and implementation of 4-H projects and activities. According to Silliman (2007), it is important to understand and use these domains effectively when planning 4-H programs, and that by doing so, practitioners can "improve their knowledge and skills" (p. 6).

Based on Silliman's (2007) work and results from a statewide survey of 4-H staff in California (Dasher et al., 2005), it was determined that a comprehensive resource on youth development concepts that included strategies for authentic application was needed for volunteers. To aid in addressing this need, Extension personnel from the University of California developed the Best Practices Matrix (Figure 1) that outlines domain-specific, age-appropriate characteristics of youth, applicable to 4-H programming. Anchored in similar work (McFarland et al., n.d.; Levings, 2006; Ponzio, Junge, Manglallan, & Smith, 2000; Smith, 1994; Tomek & Williams, 1999), the Best Practices Matrix provides educators a resource to compare developmental characteristics within different domains and across four age groups, or focus on characteristics within each age group and/or domain individually. What distinguishes this matrix from most previous work is the inclusion of best practices that provide practitioners with examples of potential program applications.

Figure 1.
Best Practices Matrix

Methods

The Best Practices Matrix was field-tested with 4-H volunteers through interactive workshops. Volunteers were asked to draw upon their prior knowledge and experience, and use the Best Practices Matrix to plan an event or activity for 4-H youth using project group profiles provided by the workshop facilitators. Project group profiles were designed to simulate 4-H project rosters and included information such as youths' ages and genders, size of groups, and the number of years enrolled in 4-H. The participants used the Best Practices Matrix as a reference to help guide them in the development of activities that addressed domain-specific, age-appropriate characteristics of the youth represented in the profiles.

At the conclusion of the workshops, participants were asked to complete a survey that included six forced-response and five open-ended questions. The purpose of the survey was to assess participants' understanding of the developmental characteristics of different age groups, the Best Practices Matrix, and how they intended to use this tool in their future work as 4-H volunteers.

Results

Survey results were collected from 48 adult volunteers who attended one of five workshops. Participants represented an array of volunteer roles, including project leaders, community club leaders, and council officers, with an experience in a variety of delivery modes (e.g., clubs, camps, afterschool programs). Seventy percent of the participants had less than 5 years of experience as 4-H volunteers; 10% had 6-10 years of experience; 10% had more than 15 years; and 10% did not indicate their level of experience. Specific survey results revealed the following.

• 92% of workshop participants agreed or strongly agreed that their understanding of the differences between cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development was better after participating in the workshop than before. Open-ended responses from participants suggested that they would apply information such as knowing when to insert fine-motor tasks into projects and activities, and how domain-specific characteristics associated with different age groups can affect youths' interests.


• 90% of the participants agreed or strongly agreed that they had a better understanding of age-specific developmental characteristics of youth after attending the workshop than before. They commented that they believed this understanding would allow them to better meet the needs of 4-H youth in their programs by choosing activities and tailoring projects for different ages.


• 92% agreed or strongly agreed that they would be able to use the Best Practices Matrix to assist them in project planning, training and teaching others, and working with teen and junior leaders.


• 94% of the participants agreed or strongly agreed that other 4-H volunteers would benefit from participating in a similar workshop.

Discussion

Effective volunteer development is critical to the success of the 4-H Youth Development Program (Hoover & Connor, 2001; Kaslon, Lodl, & Greve, 2005; Smith, Meehan, Enfield, George, & Young, 2004; Van Winkle, Busler, Bowman, & Manooigan, 2002). One component of effective volunteer development is to provide materials and informational resources necessary to support volunteers in successfully executing their responsibilities as non-formal educators (Kerka, 2003; Tingley, 2001). The Best Practices Matrix can help staff provide critical information related to core competencies for volunteers identified by Culp, McKee, and Nestor (2001) and help volunteers understand what is expected of them in their role within the 4-H Program.

The Best Practices Matrix can also benefit 4-H volunteers by serving as a practical resource that builds their capacity to organize, plan, and deliver educational projects and activities for youth. Most important, however, is that by understanding the needs of youth as learners and incorporating those requirements and conditions into 4-H programming, the possibility that youth will learn through positive, developmentally appropriate experiences will be enhanced.

Conclusion

Differentiated instruction is an important element of effective teaching (Anderson, 2007). The learning styles, skills, and interests of target audiences must be considered and addressed if desired learning outcomes of educational interventions are to be achieved (Anderson, 2007). The Best Practices Matrix is a comprehensive resource that outlines domain-specific, age-appropriate characteristics of youth and is applicable to 4-H programming. The matrix can be used to enhance volunteer development and educational programming and can help 4-H staff build and maintain a volunteer corps, elements that have been identified as necessary for successful county-based educational programming (Subramaniam, Heck, & Carlos, 2008; Van Winkle, Busler, Bowman, & Manoogian, 2002).

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