The document discusses the challenges and opportunities of a program designed to engage local teens as teaching assistants, aiming to build their skills and interest in science. It highlights the difficulties in tracking alumni for evaluations, as many lose contact over time, and suggests the creation of an online alumni program to facilitate ongoing communication and mentoring. The proposal aims to leverage social media tools, like MySpace, to enhance community connections and program effectiveness, with optimism about its potential success.

1. Tracking Teens: Using Technology for Longitudinal Impact Studies Teaching with New Technologies

2. Tracking Teens Learn to Earn Intern program Local/community teens Opportunity for personal and professional development Teens get paid to be teaching assistants for Curator Kids Club

3. Tracking Teens Learn to Earn Intern program Local/community teens Opportunity for personal and professional development Teens get paid to be teaching assistants for Curator Kids Club Goals: Our perspective Foster self-esteem Make science learning relevant Use informal science as a vehicle to build skills for academic achievement and success in the work place Prepare students for the workforce and college by focusing on communication and leadership skills Stimulate a life-long interest in learning about science

4. Tracking Teens Goals: Teens’ perspectives: To have fun To gain people skills (i.e. work w/kids, help kids learn, help/interact with people) To gain job/life skills (i.e. what it’s like to have a job, teaching/leadership skills) To have a learning experience

5. Tracking Teens Typical evaluation/follow up method Pre- and post-program interviews with manager of research and evaluation. This year, track down and interview alumni HR Records Cold calling to set up interview date Telephone interview

6. Tracking Teens How’d that work for us? Out of 24 alumni…

7. Tracking Teens How’d that work for us? Out of 24 alumni… Only 4 responses... Not returning calls or emails, in spite of initial enthusiasm Phone numbers disconnected/changed (esp. cell phones) Addresses changed Email addresses changed/inactive Spam filters

8. Tracking Teens Why is this a problem? The program purports to change lives. Funding agencies demand answers especially because the program involves so few participants so it’s about quality, not quantity in this case. Expectations are high. We can’t get these answers, risking loss of or decrease in funding. What’s the solution?

9. Tracking Teens In 2005, participants were asked: “ Would you participate in an ‘electronic’ alumni program?”

10. Tracking Teens The response was a resounding YES! 2005 Evaluation Report concluded: “ It is recommended that an alumni program be created to maintain long-term relationships with former Interns with the goal of tracking their educational and career paths … it may also be possible for alumni to return to the California Science Center to speak to current Interns as mentors or role models. The effects of this peer teaching/role-modeling should be explored since long-term outcomes of this nature and participant commitment to the program are especially important to funding agencies that support community programs like Learn to Earn”

11. Tracking Teens Original Ideas Webpage accessible only to L2E Electronic newsletter (via email) Alumni could keep in touch with each other Alumni could return to the science center to mentor current Interns, serve as role models, talk about college, being in the work force, resume building, etc.

12. Tracking Teens Two Years Later… “ My Space” is all the rage ( www.myspace.com ) Current Learn to Earn program manager is active on My Space and herself keeps in touch with Interns with this forum Presently developing Learn to Earn My Space page for consideration by science center executive staff…however…

13. Tracking Teens Obstacles Executive staff nervous about web communication Controlling content (verbal and visual) Who monitors/polices it? Keeping up with technology – requires savvy staff to design, maintain and update/upgrade Generation Gap: Most older staffers don’t use such tools so requires extra help Learning curve – new terminology/language/jargon Executive staff worried about maintaining museum identity Though other museums and organizations have done it MOCA LACMA NHMLA LA Shakespeare Festival

14. Tracking Teens Other organizations have tried it and here’s what one here in LA says: Chris Anthoney from LA Shakespeare Festival Re: “Willpowertoyouth” “ A lot of kids are already on MySpace and they get excited about finding people they know on it. Some past participants found us !” “ They don’t need us to stay in touch with each other. So it’s more about us being in the loop rather than us managing the exchange of information.” Most beneficial: “I get to know more about what’s going on with them. … who may be in need of services, who may be in crisis. That’s why we stay in touch, to make sure everyone’s okay”

15. Tracking Teens Not to mention countless church youth groups Quick search for “church youth group” returned over 14,000 sites ! Even if only half of those are legitimate…

16. Tracking Teens Not to mention countless church youth groups Quick search for “church youth group” returned over 14,000 sites ! Even if only half of those are legitimate… Well…you get the picture! We need to get on the bandwagon!

17. Tracking Teens Our page would: Be a meeting place for current and former Interns Be “hosted” by the science center We choose who’s in the community Can exclude ‘outsiders’ by restricting who you allow to be a “friend” and only friends can post comments Be the kids’ page Informal Interns and alumni control content Include message boards for “community” info. sharing. i.e.: Need advice on filling out college applications “ What’s it like at that college?” “ What’s dorm life like?”

18. Tracking Teens Our page would: Ultimately, help us follow up and keep in touch with participants to see how the program has helped them with school or career or other life decisions.

19. Tracking Teens Will it succeed? This generation is building the technology so they are invested It is to them what E-mail or cell phones were to many of us Today many people can’t imagine life without one or the other or both. We use these tools without thinking. It is becoming a legitimate way of communicating Shrinking-world mentality Keep in contact with anyone anywhere Web pages don’t change or “expire” like phone numbers, addresses, email

20. Tracking Teens Potential for success is high But we’ll know more next year…if we get the final approval to move ahead!

21. Tracking Teens MOCA: http:// profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction = user.viewprofile&friendid =70175250 NHM’s Sonic Scenery Exhibit: http:// profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction = user.viewprofile&friendID =47147396 … and their First Fridays Program: http://www.myspace.com/ firstfridays LACMA: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=98475592 LA Shakespeare Festival: Willpowertoyouth: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=151904818