A Rising Priority for Edtech: Relationship Building in Schools

Moving Data into Action: Tools for Deepening Relationships That Matter

Understanding the experiences of young people in schools and programs is crucial, and one effective way to do this is by giving youth a voice. By asking young people about their experiences, schools and programs gain insights into creating relationship-rich environments that help them thrive and engage in shared meaning-making. This involves actively listening and responding to young people’s feedback and experiences.

A Guided Approach to Improvement

Educators must address challenges by making small, measurable, and feasible changes to approaches and practices. While this process may not be linear and might involve false starts and misunderstandings, it is ultimately rewarding. To ease the work and support mindset shifts, we recommend a guided approach grounded in data and critical activities, approaching each stage as a journey.

The guided approach has four stages:

1. Prepare: Define the purpose and intent and identify ways to elevate youth and staff voices with an improvement mindset. This includes understanding what you’re measuring, cultivating an improvement mindset, recognizing the power of surveys in elevating youth voices, and exploring the study itself.

2. Implement: Work with organizations to see the work they are already doing, the work they aspire to do, and the types of measurements that can support that work. This stage involves planning and building your survey, communicating and building support within your organization, and conducting the survey to discover actions needed for successful administration.

3. Reflect: Take what you learn from the data and discuss its meaning in context. We lead organizations through focused conversations using the ORID process (Objective, Reflective, Interpretive, and Decisional levels). Involving other stakeholders, such as families or parenting adults, in these conversations is critical.

4. Act: Turn data into action plans by setting goals and determining what to do differently to meet those goals. This is not the journey’s end but the beginning of continuous improvement. Repeating these steps ensures ongoing growth within the organization and among the young people served.

Unpacking the ‘Why’

Organizations often collect data but need to use it effectively. By being intentional throughout the process—from preparation to action—organizations are more likely to use data meaningfully. Acting on data involves integrating insights into a structured continuous improvement process. Organizations should drill deep into the data to understand the underlying issues and map out change ideas. Questions like “What is the problem of practice?” and “What are young people experiencing that we want to address?” help map out actionable improvement steps.

Empowering Change Makers Through Actionable Insights

Data collection tools like Search Institute’s surveys offer an equitable means to ensure all voices are heard. With a clear purpose and goals, valid and reliable measures, and a proven approach, these tools are essential building blocks for driving improvement and helping all youth thrive.

Moving data into action involves listening to these voices and using the insights gained to implement a guided approach that fosters equity and enhances the well-being of young people.

Critical Elements for Driving Impact

1. Clear Purpose and Goals:

   • Establish clear objectives for data collection.

   • Communicate the intended outcomes and how the data will be used.

2. Valid and Reliable Measures:

   • Utilize tools that provide accurate and trustworthy data.

   • Ensure the measures reflect the experiences and perceptions of young people and staff.

3. Elevating Voices:

   • Actively seek and prioritize the input of young people and staff.

   • Create environments where everyone feels heard and valued.

4. Proven Approach:

   • Implement strategies that have been tested and shown to be effective.

   • Follow a structured process for continuous improvement.

The Guided Approach to Improvement

1. Prepare:

   • Define the purpose and intent of your data collection.

   • Build understanding and support within the organization.

   • Recognize the potential of surveys to elevate youth voices.

2. Implement:

   • Develop and execute a measurement strategy.

   • Communicate the purpose and process to all stakeholders.

   • Survey to gather meaningful data.

3. Reflect:

   • Analyze the data using a structured approach, such as the ORID process (Objective, Reflective, Interpretive, Decisional).

   • To interpret the data, engage in conversations with stakeholders, including families and community members.

4. Act:

• • Create action plans based on the insights gained.

  • Set goals and outline steps to achieve them.

  • Continuously review and adjust strategies to ensure ongoing improvement.

Moving Forward with Actionable Insights

Empowering change makers requires not just collecting data but also using it effectively. By being intentional and systematic throughout the entire process—from preparation to action—organizations can use data meaningfully to support their goals and drive impact. This involves:

• Understanding the reasons behind the data.

• Identifying issues and areas for improvement.

• Developing and testing change ideas.

• They ensure that young people and staff voices are central to the process.

By following these steps, organizations can foster more equitable and thriving environments for youth, ultimately empowering them to become changemakers.

Thriving and Equity

A fundamental assumption of positive youth development is that all young people can thrive. Each youth possesses unique strengths, and when they are supported and nourished by community assets and developmental relationships, they are more likely to flourish.

Embracing the Capacity of Youth

Imagine the possibilities if we collectively embraced the belief in the potential of all young people. This idea was central to the Youth Policy Summit: Cultivating Possibilities, where young people from across the country shared their visions for a just world where their ideas are respected and acted upon.

Developmental Relationships Framework

Search Institute’s Developmental Relationships Framework identifies five strategies for strengthening and deepening relationships that help young people thrive. The recent summit highlighted two key strategies: sharing power and expanding possibilities.

Sharing Power

Sharing power means treating young people with respect and giving them a say. It involves:

• Respecting them by taking them seriously and treating them fairly.

• Involving them in decisions that affect their lives.

• Collaborating with them to solve problems and reach goals.

• Letting them lead by creating opportunities for them to take action.

Practitioners and leaders can share power in classrooms, programs, and informal settings. This might involve letting young people choose partners, groups, or activities, decide how to spend free time, or select discussion topics. Encouraging voice means inviting young people to share their thoughts and opinions and reminding them that their voices matter.

Expanding Possibilities

Expanding possibilities means connecting youth with people and places that broaden their horizons. This can involve:

• Inspiring them to see possibilities in their future.

• Broadening their horizons by exposing them to new ideas, experiences, and places.

• Connecting them with people who can help them grow.

Approaches to expanding possibilities include:

• Using culturally responsive content.

• Introducing diverse options.

• Helping them delve deeper into subjects or interests that engage them.

When we share power and expand possibilities, young people develop their abilities and resources to shape their lives and communities.

A Critical Need

Research shows that “sharing power” and “expanding possibilities” are the least commonly experienced elements in developmental relationships. For instance, 40-49% of young people report that school and youth program staff only occasionally connect with them, include them, broaden their horizons, or let them lead. In contrast, only 10-19% of the same youth say adults expect their best, set boundaries, or hold them accountable at similar levels.

Relationships that expand possibilities and share power are crucial for building connections that facilitate access to educational and occupational resources and meeting young people’s developmental needs. Opportunities to explore, make decisions, and contribute are essential for developing agency, identity, purpose, and well-being. These opportunities also foster a sense of belonging, supporting positive mental health, school engagement, and pathways to future education and employment.

A Perception Gap

Many adults believe they share power and expand possibilities more than young people perceive. For example, about 85% of school and youth program staff reported sharing power, compared to 63% of youth in those settings. Similarly, 73% of adults believed they were expanding possibilities, compared to 51% of youth (Houltberg, Scales, & Williams, 2023). Adults often acknowledge barriers to fostering strong developmental relationships, such as different experiences and systemic inequalities.

A Youth-Powered Future

National events like the Youth Policy Summit can inspire classrooms, programs, and communities to empower youth and strengthen youth voices. Tools like Search Institute’s Student Voice Toolkit support educators in measuring and advancing practices that amplify youth voices.

Believing in young people’s capacity to learn, grow, and shape their world, we can play our role by sharing power and expanding possibilities, helping them recognize and claim their power to embrace their futures.

The Developmental Assets Framework

For over three decades, Search Institute has delved into Developmental Assets, examining their impact on millions of young individuals across the United States and globally. This research consistently underscores the pivotal role these strengths play in shaping the lives of young people, regardless of their backgrounds.

Understanding Developmental Assets

Developmental Assets® are the culmination of extensive research in youth development, resilience, and prevention. They represent 40 positive supports and strengths essential for young people to thrive. These assets are divided into two categories:

1. External Assets:

   • These assets focus on the relationships and opportunities young people need in their families, schools, and communities. They encompass positive family communication, a caring school climate, and community engagement.

2. Internal Assets:

   • These assets revolve around the social-emotional strengths, values, and commitments nurtured within young individuals. Examples include a sense of purpose, self-esteem, and resilience.

Research indicates that when young people possess a more significant number of assets:

• They are more likely to thrive both presently and in the future.

• They are less inclined to engage in various high-risk behaviours.

• They demonstrate increased resilience when confronted with challenges.

In conclusion, the impact of relationship-building within educational settings cannot be underscored, particularly highlighting its indispensable role in fostering compelling learning experiences. Through our exploration, we’ve seen how cultivating strong connections between educators and students lays the foundation for a nurturing environment where students feel valued, supported, and empowered to thrive academically and personally.

It becomes evident that these various teaching methodologies complement each other seamlessly, amplifying students’ educational journeys. By integrating project-based learning approaches with intentional relationship-building strategies for instance, educators can create dynamic classrooms where curiosity is fostered, creativity is unleashed, and critical thinking skills are honed.

Ultimately, investing in relationship-building in schools is not just about improving academic outcomes; it’s about nurturing the holistic development of our future leaders, innovators, and changemakers. As we prioritize cultivating meaningful connections within educational contexts, we pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future where every student can reach their full potential.