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Design

Learners 

Background & Need
Who are my learners?  The learners in my research are senior high school students between the ages of 16 to 18 years old.  These high school students represent the young voters in our country.  Young voters notoriously dismiss the importance of voting, but their voice is an important one on both sides of the aisle. Key issues in every election increasingly relate to the concerns of students and professionals between the ages of 18 and 29, making it essential for members within that age group to educate themselves on political issues and take to the polls. Despite millennials represented nearly 50% of the entire voter population in the 2016 election, they were further divided along race, gender, and education lines when considering key issues from both candidates.  Conversely, people in the same age range are constantly using Social Network Sites at an alarming rate. The combination of both these facts leads to the inspiration of this study to ascertain whether Social Network Sites can alter students to become more motivated in politics.

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As we move into the 21st century, the age old problem of young adults not participating in politics or getting involved within their communities still lingers.  Young adults, especially between the ages of 18 to 25, notoriously disregard the seriousness of voting or getting involved, but their voice can make a major impact in our society.  Despite millennial's represented nearly the majority of the entire voter population during the most recent few elections, millennial's were further divided along race, gender, and education lines when considering key issues in our government or in our society today.  Contrarily, people in the same age of 18 to 25 are constantly using Social Network Sites at an outstanding rate.
Entering the 21st century, for our society to be successful, settling for being technologically savvy is insufficient.  Society must strive to be more aware of social and political issues and feel the need to vote. The combination of both these facts leads to the inspiration of this study to ascertain whether the use of technology, especially the use of Social Network Sites, increase student empathy for effecting social change?

What is the SITE model?

As we enter the 21st century, we as educators should Start With Why.  Just like Simon Sinek said in his book, Start with Why:  How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action, to understand the true meaning of a problem and have everlasting change we must always start with why.  Why do our students struggle in class?  Why do our students have poor behavior problems?  By starting with why can help educators understand their students better and what their needs are.  The SITE model is a great tool to start with why.  The SITE model allows educators to look closer in what the students needs are by weaving together connections between the students other factors such as a student's background history, what resources are available to the students to find success, and what skills does the student already have.

Initial Anaylsis

Research Video

Prototype

Logo
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Research
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Support and Next Steps
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Creating a logo wasn't as easy as I thought it would be.  I had many ideas that ran though my mind and didn't know which direction to go to.  After several drafts I decided to go with this model that optimizes the goal of my research.  The goal of my research was to determine how SNS such as Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook can influence young adults to become more proactive within their community.  This is why you see the symbols of these popular Social Network Sites as part of my logo.  The biggest part of my logo represents the most important part of my research, which is a computer with a voting check mark on it.  This represents the best way for young adults to become proactive within their community is the power of voting and making a change.  In the 21st century we must use the technological tools we have to influence our young adults to make an impact in today's world.