Getting Started

How do you create a YOUmedia?

Begin by building a core team that may include staff from your institution, designers, and program and digital media experts from the community, as well as a process for youth input. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the research and philosophy if you haven’t already. It’s important, and in fact guides most of the steps you’ll be taking to design and run a great program.

YOUmedia programs have five core elements. Follow the links to learn more about each:

• a physical space designed to promote exploration
• an online space for critique, collaboration, and sharing
• programming that nudges youth to stretch their imaginations and abilities
• digital media equipment that fosters 21st century skills
• mentoring that makes it all happen

Before continuing on, here are two key terms that you’ll run into frequently on these pages:

HOMAGO is short for hanging out, messing around, geeking out (the stages of self-directed learning).

Leveling up comes from video gaming and is the process of advancing through stages in games or learning, each step getting progressively harder, but only when you’re ready for it.