This document describes the development of an eLearning environment for youth led by Dr. Tony Cook at Auburn University. The project aims to develop and test a cloud-based platform to support online learning for youth through tools like eXtension. Key objectives are developing user management, security, usability, collaborative learning and content development features. A core team will work on the technical development with input from partner organizations focused on youth programming. The environment will be tested with youth and educators.

1. An eLearning Environment for YouthAn Auburn University Development Project Directed by Dr. Tony Cook Extension Specialist, ACES Assistant Professor College of Education Project Leader for the eXtensionYouth Community of Practice

3. User and group management tools are developed and tested

4. Security and safety needs are addressed

5. Usability and effectiveness of a cloud computing environment are assessed

6. Collaborative learning environment is developed and tested

7. Content development can be supported in the same environment

8. Collaborative tools of the system are tested for use in content development

9. Content teams are supported to provide content in two or more areas

10. Technical challenges can be addressed in regard to scaling up to accommodate larger audiences in both the youth learning environment and content development

11. Processes are developed for accommodating larger numbers of users and groups of users in the network

12. Multiple users and groups of users are engaged for testing of the system

14. Dr. Cheryl Seals, Associate Professor, College of Engineering, Computer Sciences & Software Engineering

15. Jerri Caldwell, Information Technology, ACES

16. Justus Nyagwencha, Doctoral Student, CSSE, College of Eng.

17. Kelly Price, IT Support, CSSE

18. Graduate Students

19. Work with Justus

20. Virtual environments

21. Financial literacy project – learning community development

23. Three Dell servers

24. 8GB memory, 4-250GB hard drives (2)

25. For active directory and WebNetwork installation

26. 24GB memory, 4-1TB hard drives (1)

27. For all other web support; websites, Drupal, Wordpress, etc. and as appropriate for development & testing

28. Stoneware Training

29. Dr. Cook and Justus N.

30. Content Development and eXtension pages

31. Dr. Cook and Jerri

32. Partner Development

34. 500+ members and interested faculty across the country

35. Bark Buddies

36. Constance Nelson, Planting Tomorrows, Inc.

37. Potential funding ($150K ?? initially…then much more)

38. Knowledge platform, learning community, mapping feature, website, learning games, virtual environments

39. Virtual Harmony

40. Dr. Andrew Stricker, Maxwell AFB

41. Virtual learning environments; Mars Challenge, Camp 4-H

42. Junior Master Gardener

43. Lisa Whittlesey, Texas A&M University

45. Barbara Chamberlin, Director

46. Bark Buddies collaboration

47. eXtensionMap@Syst (Geospatial)

48. Mapping feature for learning communities in FYFL

49. Chris Dillard, Amy Hayes

50. Crop Science for Kids

51. Dale Monks, John Brasher, Carol Utter,

53. Online Social LearningEnvironments for Youth Developed by the eXtensionYouth Community of Practice Support Team at Auburn University

54. A reliable and credible knowledge resource for an online youth audience A safe and secure online learning environment for youth and the adults who serve them A platform for learning communities and collaborative workspace for educators from land-grant universities to contribute to a common knowledge resource for youth For Youth, For Life is a concept of online learning that addresses the need for a reliable knowledge platform and safe learning environment. With a four theme approach content is designed to accommodate almost any topic as well as USDA Mission Mandates for youth programming.

56. The target audience is predominately middle grades & expanding to PreK-12+

57. 4-H, a USDA/Land-grant university youth program, is a primary audience

58. Focus on Individual Learner – Personal Profile and Learning Portfolio

59. Peer-to-Peer and Group Learning – Team Work, Collaboration, and Sharing

60. Secure Learning Environment – Closed vs. open (facebook, etc.) with age appropriate settings as users mature; i.e., age, decision-making skills, etc.

61. Interfacing with Social Media – Where youth are (facebook, YouTube, etc)

63. FYFL Desktop – Cloud Environment

64. FYFL Network Features eXtension in the FYFL cloud – Interface to eXtension youth pages Learning Community Sites and Collaborative workspace for faculty – Content teams (per subject matter) Development software Virtual Learning Environments (3rd Space) Learning Forums Global Connections Collaborative learning space Dynamic content; news type, etc. Safe space for peer-to-peer learning Group learning; 4-H clubs, classroom, other USDA and its international outreach efforts Global 4-H Network interfaces Land-grant Universities Partners

65. FYFL Network Page Types and Functions webOS page – FYFL version (Web Operating System) Dashboard Templates Learning Communities Applications Private Learning Environment Virtual Learning Online Tools Public view of FYFL Interface to eXtension Login page User registration Adults Youth Guest Users User pages Group Facilitator pages Group profile management

66. KXNN – Kids eXtension News Network KXNN presents content about work of the land-grant university. Youth learn about and discuss real world issues through topics presented via KXNN and respond to the topic in various ways including reports on off-line projects, video presentations, photographs, and other methods. Real World Issues Local News & Youth Experiences Research & Development Advancements Land-Grant Universities Youth Kids Extension News Network Youth-adult collaborative production teams creating timely news about research and programs of the university which connect to local stories and experiences of youth Learning Forums Content is posted in an online forum for a club or other group

67. Learner Engagement Searches lead to Basic and Main content pages High search probabilities News Feeds or other Connections Knowledge Platform eXtension youth content Virtual Learning Immersive Environments Social Media Knowledge Interfaces Other Sources, Partners Learning Forums KXNN Facilitators parents, teachers, helpers Learner Interfaces Individuals, Groups

68. FYFL Learning Network Learning Communities Individuals Groups Groups of Groups Virtual Worlds Immersive Environments Knowledge Platform eXtension youth content Land-Grant University based research & knowledge KXNN Kids eXtension News Network Learning Forums Social Media Facilitators - parents, teachers Interfaces - Other Sources, Partners

70. Reading levels

71. Age appropriateness

72. Basic generic content

73. What is it?

74. Why is it important

75. How is it relevant in my world and in our world

76. More in-depth content

77. Curriculum

79. eXtension Youth Pages Public Page Mock-up of Landing Pages – Get SCIENCE These resources are brought to you by the Cooperative Extension System and your Local Institution Welcome! Do you know about your local institution? Alabama A&M University Local Extension 4-H Offices near you Auburn University Tuskegee University Select a different institution What do you want to know? A Knowledge & Learning Resource for Children & Youth… SCIENCEfor YOUTH Learn about the world around us! Understand how things work and….. This resource area was created by the For Youth, For Life community. In the News… Resource Area s eXtension provides objective and research-based information and learning opportunities that help people improve their lives. eXtension is an educational partnership of 74 universities in the United States. © 2010 eXtension. All rights reserved. Feedsinstitutional partnersprivacycontact usdisclaimerterms of use

80. eXtension Youth Pages Public Page Mock-up – Basic Content These resources are brought to you by the Cooperative Extension System and your Local Institution Welcome! Do you know about your local institution? Alabama A&M University Local Extension 4-H Offices near you Auburn University Tuskegee University Select a different institution What do you want to know? A Knowledge & Learning Resource for Children & Youth… Topic: Water This resource area was created by the For Youth, For Life community. The technical definition of water is that it is a binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear, colorless, odorless, tasteless liquid; freezes into ice when at temperatures below 0 degrees centigrade. The water that you '''can''' see is made up of billions of molecules. Each one of these tiny molecules of water are made up of 2 atoms of hydrogen and 1 atom of oxygen. It is these molecules that are constantly circulating throughout the water cycle! Water covers three-fourths of the surface of the earth. This fact makes our planet very special. The earth has more water than any other planet. It is the only planet where water exists in all three forms: gas (vapor), liquid, or solid (ice). Water is in many locations. It is in liquid form in rivers, streams and oceans. Water is in the form of ice at the North and South Poles. Water is in gas (vapor) form in the atmosphere as clouds. More about: Water In the News… Resource Area s Our Partners offer learning experiences for you too  Related Terms: water cycle, water quality, watershed Join 4-H Other Topics: Science Health Live Responsibly Service eXtension provides objective and research-based information and learning opportunities that help people improve their lives. eXtension is an educational partnership of 74 universities in the United States. © 2010 eXtension. All rights reserved. Feedsinstitutional partnersprivacycontact usdisclaimerterms of use

81. eXtension Youth Pages Public Page Mock-up – Main Pages for Content These resources are brought to you by the Cooperative Extension System and your Local Institution Welcome! Do you know about your local institution? Alabama A&M University Local Extension 4-H Offices near you Auburn University Tuskegee University Select a different institution What do you want to know? A Knowledge & Learning Resource for Children & Youth… All About Water This resource area was created by the For Youth, For Life community. Welcome to the For Youth, For Life learning site for water. This learning area will help you understand what water is, why it is important, and how it is useful in our world. You will learn about water processes, explore your water resources, water quality and the basic properties of water. We often take water for granted. Turn on a faucet tap and the water appears. Do you ever think about how the water gets to you? As you admire the view of a river or lake, do you ever wonder how the water there and where it is going? Can you name important rivers and lakes in your community? Do you know your watershed address? Explore the lessons here to find out more about water and your local water resources. We hope you will enjoy these learning experiences and that they will help make you a better steward of your water. In the News… Resource Area s Our Partners offer learning experiences for you too  Live Responsibly Join 4-H Science Other Topics: Health Service eXtension provides objective and research-based information and learning opportunities that help people improve their lives. eXtension is an educational partnership of 74 universities in the United States. © 2010 eXtension. All rights reserved. Feedsinstitutional partnersprivacycontact usdisclaimerterms of use

82. eXtension Youth Pages Public Page Projections – External Knowledge Interfaces These resources are brought to you by the Cooperative Extension System and your Local Institution Welcome! Do you know about your local institution? Alabama A&M University Local Extension 4-H Offices near you Auburn University Tuskegee University Select a different institution What do you want to know? A Knowledge & Learning Resource for Children & Youth… This resource area was created by the For Youth, For Life community. In the News… Resource Area s eXtension provides objective and research-based information and learning opportunities that help people improve their lives. eXtension is an educational partnership of 74 universities in the United States. © 2010 eXtension. All rights reserved. Feedsinstitutional partnersprivacycontact usdisclaimerterms of use

83. eXtension Youth Pages Public Page Projections – Community Environment Interface These resources are brought to you by the Cooperative Extension System and your Local Institution Welcome! Do you know about your local institution? Alabama A&M University Local Extension 4-H Offices near you Auburn University Tuskegee University Select a different institution What do you want to know? A Knowledge & Learning Resource for Children & Youth… Community Network This resource area was created by the For Youth, For Life community. Welcome to the For Youth, For Life learning site for water. This learning area will help you understand what water is, why it is important, and how it is useful in our world. You will learn about water processes, explore your water resources, water quality and the basic properties of water. We often take water for granted. Turn on a faucet tap and the water appears. Do you ever think about how the water gets to you? As you admire the view of a river or lake, do you ever wonder how the water there and where it is going? Can you name important rivers and lakes in your community? Do you know your watershed address? Explore the lessons here to find out more about water and your local water resources. We hope you will enjoy these learning experiences and that they will help make you a better steward of your water. In the News… Resource Area s eXtension provides objective and research-based information and learning opportunities that help people improve their lives. eXtension is an educational partnership of 74 universities in the United States. © 2010 eXtension. All rights reserved. Feedsinstitutional partnersprivacycontact usdisclaimerterms of use

84. eXtension Youth Pages Public Page Projections – Users Environment Interface These resources are brought to you by the Cooperative Extension System and your Local Institution Welcome! Do you know about your local institution? Alabama A&M University Local Extension 4-H Offices near you Auburn University Tuskegee University Select a different institution What do you want to know? A Knowledge & Learning Resource for Children & Youth… Users Network This resource area was created by the For Youth, For Life community. Welcome to the For Youth, For Life learning site for water. This learning area will help you understand what water is, why it is important, and how it is useful in our world. You will learn about water processes, explore your water resources, water quality and the basic properties of water. We often take water for granted. Turn on a faucet tap and the water appears. Do you ever think about how the water gets to you? As you admire the view of a river or lake, do you ever wonder how the water there and where it is going? Can you name important rivers and lakes in your community? Do you know your watershed address? Explore the lessons here to find out more about water and your local water resources. We hope you will enjoy these learning experiences and that they will help make you a better steward of your water. In the News… Resource Area s eXtension provides objective and research-based information and learning opportunities that help people improve their lives. eXtension is an educational partnership of 74 universities in the United States. © 2010 eXtension. All rights reserved. Feedsinstitutional partnersprivacycontact usdisclaimerterms of use

86. Secure for youth twelve and under

87. Supports Collaborative Learning

88. Individuals, Groups, and Groups of Groups

89. Joint creations

90. Sharing with others

91. Map features for sharing across the globe

92. Sponsorship

94. Content areas

95. Determine objectives

96. Build up content areas in eXtension platform

97. Interfacing with partner educational resources

98. Engagement of youth audience

99. Target Audience (demographics)

100. Collaborative efforts

101. Jointly developed or produced products

102. Sponsorship

104. Work Groups

105. Site support

107. Content Review