Designing more equitable learning systems.

The Digital Youth Network focuses on three areas to enact change: Learning Platforms, Opportunity Landscaping and Mentor Development. We understand that building and sustaining healthy OST ecosystems require investments in people, organizations, technology and data.

Learning Platforms

A purpose-built solution for strengthening OST ecosystems.

Youth Centered: Allow young people to connect to relevant opportunities and document their OST journey over time.

Ecosystem Focused: Engage all stakeholders, including families, youth, providers, mentors and more.

Data Driven: Generate actionable analytics to create data informed strategies to build and sustain a healthy local OST ecosystem.

Opportunity Landscaping

An asset-based model to ensure communities have access to quality learning opportunities.

Places: Where are the locations where learning happens? What features do these locations have?

Opportunities: What programs and events are available for young people to participate in?

People: Who are the individuals and organizations offering programs for young people?

Supports & Barriers: What helps young people to join in or keeps them from participating?

Mentor Development

Developing the next generation of OST STEAM mentors.

Professional Development: Ongoing training and support for delivering impactful STEAM programming.

Employer Matching: Mentors are matched with partner youth serving organizations for job opportunities.

Community Focus: We recruit mentors that are from the high needs communities we serve.

What informs our model

Responsibilities for learning are distributed throughout community institutions.

John I. Goodlad

Learning is deeply social, with people playing different roles in the system, including critical roles as brokers, collaborators, and guides across settings

Ito et al., 2013; Nacu et al., 2014