Features

Youth starting a media project may have a wonderful array of arts and technology tools at their fingertips. They can draw pictures, take photographs, shoot video, design graphics. They can share any message they wish with their friends, their community, the world…. All they have to do is ‘just be creative.’ But “creativity isn’t something that ‘just’ happens,” says Kane Milne, an educator from Auckland, New Zealand.  “You have to... Continue Reading

Good communication, collaboration and community-building skills are all closely related, so the good news is that when you reinforce one, you’re helping youth master the others. The most important thing is good modeling on your part. We often think of modeling simply in terms of demonstrating a technique to youth (e.g., how to use a piece of software or how to look a word up in the dictionary). Yet every minute you’re with youth and in everything you do,... Continue Reading

While many people know of my work with YouthLearn, not many realize that my background is in fact in filmmaking. In my early days, I worked as a freelance producer and editor on a range of documentary, educational, and commercial projects. Some 25 years ago, I was asked to lead a documentary project with a group of teenagers on the far west side of Chicago. The vision and artistic creativity of that first group of young people was truly inspiring and led to my working... Continue Reading

“I look for professional quality because they’re capable of it!” says Ms. Thato Mwosa.  “Don’t be mediocre – be great.” Ms. Mwosa teaches TV Production at Madison Park High Technical Vocational High School, part of Adobe Youth Voices (AYV) partner Boston Public Schools. “I tell my students to make their work as professional as possible – ‘We’re not making something for the classroom. The point is you’re making things for the... Continue Reading

Mapping is a simple and wonderfully versatile technique that you can use with your colleagues and kids for brainstorming, organizing thoughts and generating ideas. They can be used to define a curriculum, plan a project, select a theme, develop a simple story or to add energy and enthusiasm to a repetition-based exercise such as pattern writing. Whether you’re doing a project with the whole class, breaking up into teams or working on individual projects, mapping... Continue Reading

Chole Richard is a teacher at PMM Girl’s School in Jinja, Uganda, and has participated in Adobe Youth Voices through network partner iEARN. His stewardship and outreach on behalf of youth media makers brings people in the community hope and tools of empowerment. “The idea of having an audience that appreciates what they do has a magical effect on young people, which gives them confidence to express themselves more freely.  Perhaps many of the world’s problems... Continue Reading