Rethinking Relationships in School: Organic Positive Youth Development Within a Design-Based Research Implementation (Poster 41)

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Wednesday 10:50 a.m.
  In Poster Session: Inclusive and Culturally Responsive Designs for Learning Environments

Abstract

School structures often prioritize assessment and academic success, which leaves less room for holistic youth development and relationship building. Through a lens of positive youth development (PYD), we offer a way to rethink relationships in schools within a 5th grade classroom implementation of a computer science curriculum. Our design involved undergraduate volunteers entering classrooms to provide support for teachers. The undergraduate volunteers practiced core PYD principles of competence, confidence, connection, character, and caring. We found that they took up an emergent role as mentors to the students, which they characterize as between “friend” and “teacher”. Through their enactment of PYD, we can rethink relationships with students within schools and the conditions to make those relationships possible.

Authors

• Ashley Serine Quiterio, Northwestern University

• Megan B. Butler, Northwestern University

• Marcelo A.B. Worsley, Northwestern University