Promoting STEAM and Digital Youth Work in the youth sector
NYCI promotes the use of STEAM and Digital Youth Work in youth work settings. We use innovative methodologies to increase the use of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and maths) to support the achievement of youth work outcomes and train youth workers to support the young people they work with to deal with both the risks and opportunities that living in an increasingly digitalised world bring.
SCIENCE
TECHNOLOGY
ENGINEERING
ART
MATHS
The STEAM in Youth Work project will enable the youth sector to:
- use STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and maths) to support the achievement of youth work outcomes, and
- deliver inspiring, experiential STEAM projects.
Through training, residentials, ‘scientist in youth work residency’ grants, resources and equipment grants, youth workers will be supported to develop their youth facilitation repertoire to include STEAM and to communicate STEAM concepts covering light, energy, electricity, circuits and environmental science. Youth workers will be supported to develop innovative learning models based on ‘development education & environmental science through gaming’, ‘science through art’ and the ‘maker movement’.
Robust evaluation and quality assurance mechanisms, including an academic adviser and an expert advisory group, will ensure evidence generated about innovative STEAM education and engagement and youth work models will be transferable. Dissemination events, resources and NYCI’s extensive networks will ensure evidence informs wider youth work, STEAM education and engagement and formal education policy and practice.
The project is funded by the Science Foundation of Ireland.
STEAM Toolkit and Activity Guides
The STEAM Toolkit is designed to support youth workers interested in developing their practice by incorporating STEAM learning approaches and tools in their work with young people.
These STEAM training resources were developed as part of a European Partnership www.digitalyouthwork.eu by NYCI and their Irish partners Camara Education Ireland. There are also training resources from the our European Partnership on various aspects of digital youth work.
UPCOMING STEAM TRAINING
The National Youth Council of Ireland has a number of upcoming STEAM training courses that can be booked online. Click on any of the events below to find out more about them, or click here to see all available training and events that you can book online.
Sustainable Development Games
Online training programme that will enable youth workers to use games to strengthen their practice while focussing on the Sustainable Development Goals and development education* issues of concern to the young people they work with.
STEAM training for Youth Workers, Arts practitioners and other educators – Laois/Offaly
During this innovative course, you will undertake a range of STEAM* activities that you can build into courses, programmes and projects for young people in a variety of non-formal and formal educational settings.
Digital Youth Work – Reflection and Discussion for Youth Workers
Following up on the NYCI Youth Workers Check-in sessions held by NYCI last month, one of the key issues emerging was the use of digital platforms to engage young people in youthwork during this time.
Complete our expression of interest form if you would like to be among the first to hear about newly announced training days and opportunities.
DIGITAL YOUTH WORK NEWS
Invitation to tender: Evaluation of the STEAM in Youth Work project
NYCI is inviting tenders for the evaluation of our major new two-year STEAM in Youth Work project (2021 – 2022).
New toolkit: Using Games in Youth Work
NYCI and Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) are delighted to launch our new toolkit, Using Games in Youth Work for Development Education. This very practical resource […]
Webinar: Games to Engage Young People with Climate Change
11th November, LIT Thurles & Tipperary Festival of Science
DIGITAL YOUTH WORK RESOURCES
Invitation to tender: Evaluation of the STEAM in Youth Work project
NYCI is inviting tenders for the evaluation of our major new two-year STEAM in Youth Work project (2021 – 2022).
New toolkit: Using Games in Youth Work
NYCI and Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) are delighted to launch our new toolkit, Using Games in Youth Work for Development Education. This very practical resource […]
Webinar: Games to Engage Young People with Climate Change
11th November, LIT Thurles & Tipperary Festival of Science
WEB SAFETY IN YOUTH WORK RESOURCE
This resource from has been created to support those who work with young people in all youth work organisations who often share similar concerns, risks and challenges to ensure all young people, staff, volunteers are safe online. However, each organisation should consider how the issues raised in this resource should be adapted to their own local context and what will work most effectively in their practice.
The information in this resource is designed to highlight the key issues to be considered when working online with young people and to sign post to other resources that can support youth work organisations to work safe online with young people.
DIGITAL YOUTH WORK PUBLICATIONS
Setting up Makerspaces in Youth Work Organisations – A Guide
This guide is for youth workers who are interested in setting up ‘makerspaces’ and including STEM and maker education in youth work. This guide: introduces the […]
Games in Youth Work Handbook
This practical toolkit is packed full of ideas, guidance, tips, templates and resources for youth workers who want to: Include gamification in their regular youth work Use existing […]
Digital Youth Work
Youth Work in an Online Setting during Covid-19 This guidance document for youth workers and those working with young people looks at youth work in an […]
