Sprout e-course

Sprout is an electronic learning course designed, developed, and taught by the Toronto-based charitable organizationTakingITGlobal. It targets youth aged 16-30 who have a social or environmental project idea that could be implemented in their communities. The Sprout e-course provides an innovative, technology-driven approach to engaging young people and to building their capacity to develop, implement, and evaluate successful projects.The e-course is designed using a variety of instructional methods to streamline peer-to-peer learning using TakingITGlobal’s virtual education platform, TIGed. The e-course stresses the importance of digital literacy, leadership, project management and collaborative learning. Although the Sprout e-course requires a nominal fee for registration, membership to TakingITGlobal’s social network is free for everyone.
History
In 2008, the Pearson Foundation developed a partnership with TakingITGlobal to design and deliver an in-depth leadership training course online to youth leaders around the world. The e-course would enable youth to focus on leveraging technology to empower their communities around social and environmental issues. There is a critical need to build young people’s capacity, and in particular the ability to be fully literate in a fast-paced digital world. Throughout this course, it was projected that participants would not only develop their ability to manage projects, but also become fluent with the latest tools and technologies.
Sprout was born out of the desire to make organizing community projects more simple, more effective and more fun. Sprout has taken the traditional project management model, and has adapted it to be more relevant for a young, global audience with a decidedly local focus. From October 2008 to January 2009, a pilot e-course was conducted in order to gain insight into a) which learning goals, b) are more or less likely to be met, c) for what youth populations, d) in what environments and e) through which practices and to determine the effectiveness of the learning design of the e-course.
Name
To promote the e-course, a name was needed that would encompass its guiding principles and attract interest, as well as stay true to its vision and mission. Sprout's aim was to have a name that would support clear communications and lend itself to a concept that would package the e-course as a brand. However, the name was required to reflect clarity as well, and hence, ‘Sprout’ was chosen in order to leverage the concept of growth.
Course Objectives
Sprouting Ideas
The basic tenet of Sprout is to provide youth education about making ideas for community change a reality. The e-course aims to do this by 'planting' project ideas, and 'growing strong roots' to enhance and encourage positive community changes.
Growing Projects
The second step of the e-course has been designed to guide learners through the process of developing a project, by creating an eportfolio. This is done by using a project life-cycle, and information and communication technologies (ICTs).
Cultivating Leadership
The third and final step in the Sprout e-course aims to develop potential social and environmental leaders from within its participants. The goal here is to develop skills required to make positive community change a possibility.
Other course objectives include:
1.Providing a rich,[interactive learning experiences designed to reinforce the values of global citizenship among participants while improving upon critical thinking and leadership skills.
2.To improve students' global citizenship, critical thinking, and leadership skills.
3.To bring the world to students and to prepare students for the world.
4.To promote peer to peer collaboration.
Learning Outcomes
The Sprout e-course will help to strengthen skills in four core areas. After having taken the e-course, the aim will be to enable participants:
* To apply critical thinking and project management skills to plan strategically, conduct research, manage project, solve problems and make informed decisions using digital media tools.
* To engage communities in creating positive social and environmental change.
* To use leadership skills.
* To apply creative thinking skills and gather knowledge relevant to participants' project.
* To use online environments to communicate and work collaboratively at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.
* To execute your project and create a lasting impact.
Methodology
The Sprout e-course follows a project life-cycle, including planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing phases.
Guiding Principles
Some of Sprout’s guiding principles are:
* To incite and enhance a strong sense of civic identity and responsibility that focuses on the importance of leadership and practical, community-based action.
* To provoke critical thought and meaningful reflection and encourage both personal and professional transformation.
* To support value-driven work that promotes sustainability and community solidarity.
* To provide a supportive environment through e-mentorship and to facilitate co-learning and encouragement amongst participants.
* To create a learning community where social connections exist in tandem with and act to enhance both collaborative and autonomous learning.
* To support creativity by encouraging self expression, meaningful contributions and a community of cooperation and sharing.
* To reflect and respond to continuous feedback and to strive for new and innovative ways to serve young people better.
* To encourage a culture of play where learning is both an adventure and a process of discovery

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