This document outlines a comprehensive 5-week program designed to empower three promising young individuals with foundational skills in learning design. This unique opportunity culminates in each youth participant designing three impactful short online courses (5-10 minutes each) using Tally.so, contributing valuable educational content to their peers, and gaining experience in gathering and applying learner feedback.

1. Program Overview

Goal: To equip three selected young individuals with foundational, practical skills in learning design, fostering their ability to create engaging and effective educational content, and to experience the iterative process of design based on learner feedback. Duration: 5 weeks. Youth Participant: 3 youths (ages 15-18). Program Deliverables: Each youth participant will design three 5-10 minute online courses using Tally.so, building a tangible portfolio of their learning design capabilities, and will gather and analyze feedback on at least one of their courses.

1.1. Project Content Focus & Themes (Ages 15-18)

The courses developed by the youth participant will focus on well-being topics highly relevant to their age group, encompassing mental health, healthy relationships, environmental awareness, and academic success. Participants will select one of the following three themes for their courses, ensuring the chosen topics are suitable for concise 5-10 minute microlearning modules delivered via Tally.so.

Theme 1: Mental & Emotional Resilience

• Focus: Understanding and managing emotions, developing coping strategies for stress, and cultivating self-awareness.
• Example Topics for 5-10 min Tally.so Courses:
• "Quick Stress Busters: 3 Breathing Techniques You Can Use Anywhere"
• "Understanding Anxiety: What It Feels Like & How to Spot It"
• "Building Your Self-Compassion Toolkit: Simple Daily Practices"

Theme 2: Healthy Relationships & Communication

• Focus: Navigating friendships, family dynamics, responsible online interactions, and mastering effective communication strategies.
• Example Topics for 5-10 min Tally.so Courses:
• "Active Listening 101: How to Really Hear Your Friends"
• "Setting Healthy Boundaries (Online & Offline): A Quick Guide"
• "Navigating Conflict: Tips for Disagreeing Respectfully"

Theme 3: Navigating School & Future Pathways

• Focus: Strategies for academic well-being, managing school-related stress, exploring diverse post-secondary options, and promoting environmental consciousness in daily life.
• Example Topics for 5-10 min Tally.so Courses:
• "Smart Study Habits: Beating Procrastination in 5 Steps"
• "Eco-Friendly Choices: Small Changes, Big Impact (at Home & School)"
• "Post-Graduation Pathways: Beyond University - Quick Intro to Trades & Colleges"

1.2. Participant Recruitment & Selection: Youth Learning Design Bootcamp

This initiative proudly offers a unique Youth Learning Design Bootcamp, providing fully funded, specialized training for aspiring young designers. This is a highly competitive opportunity for motivated youth to acquire invaluable skills, build a professional portfolio, and contribute meaningfully to youth well-being, all at no personal cost.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Age: Applicants must be between 15 and 18 years old at the commencement of the program.
• Passion for Well-being: A demonstrated genuine interest in exploring and contributing to youth well-being topics (mental health, relationships, environment, schooling).
• Curiosity for Design & Innovation: An eagerness to learn the art and science of designing and creating engaging online learning content. No prior experience in learning design or content creation is required; we are looking for potential and enthusiasm!
• Foundational Digital Literacy: Familiarity with basic computer operations and navigating online environments.
• Reliable Access: Consistent access to a personal computer and a stable internet connection to fully participate in online sessions and complete independent design work.
• Commitment to Excellence: Ability to dedicate approximately 8-10 hours per week for the 5-week duration of this intensive program.
• Collaborative Spirit & Self-Direction: A willingness to actively participate in group discussions, provide constructive peer feedback, and independently drive their design tasks.

Application Process:

1. Comprehensive Online Application Form: Prospective youth participant will complete a detailed online application. This form is designed to gather:
• Essential contact and demographic information.
• Thought-provoking essay questions to assess their intrinsic motivation, interest in well-being topics, and aspirations for learning design (e.g., "Describe why you are passionate about designing educational content for youth well-being," or "What specific skills or knowledge do you hope to gain from this program, and how do you envision applying them?").
• Confirmation of their availability to fully engage with the program's weekly schedule.
• (Optional, but highly recommended) A brief creative prompt, such as asking them to outline a compelling 1-minute idea for a well-being topic, showcasing their initial conceptualization skills.
2. Personalized Virtual Interview: A select cohort of top applicants will be invited for a focused (15-20 minute) virtual interview. This interview serves as an opportunity to:
• Further assess their enthusiasm, communication abilities, and unwavering commitment to the program's objectives.
• Delve deeper into their responses from the application form, exploring their insights and ideas.
• Provide applicants with a chance to ask any questions they may have about the program's structure, and the learning journey ahead.

Successful candidates will be formally notified of their participation and meticulously onboarded into the program, poised to embark on an enriching and impactful learning design journey!

2. Key Learning Design Concepts Covered

Youth Participant will acquire a practical understanding of:

• Introduction to Learning Design: Defining its role, significance, and impact in modern education.
• Learner Analysis: Techniques for understanding target audience needs, preferences, and characteristics.
• Learning Objectives: Crafting clear, measurable, and achievable learning objectives (SMART goals).
• Content Curation & Simplification: Strategies for identifying relevant information, distilling complex ideas, and making content concise and impactful.
• Instructional Strategies: Fundamental principles for effective teaching and engagement (e.g., microlearning, active learning techniques, storytelling).
• Assessment Design: Creating simple, effective checks for understanding and knowledge retention within short modules.
• Feedback Mechanisms: Principles for providing and receiving constructive feedback to enhance learning and design quality.
• Tally.so Proficiency: Mastering Tally.so for dynamic course delivery, including diverse question types, sophisticated logic jumps, and seamless embedding of multimedia.
• Iterative Design & Feedback Integration: Understanding the importance of learner feedback in refining and improving educational content.

7. Tips for Success

• Empower Simple Starts: Encourage scholarship recipients to select topics they are genuinely passionate about and that are relatively straightforward for their initial course, especially within the well-being themes.
• Embrace Iteration as Growth: Emphasize that design is an inherently iterative process; initial drafts are stepping stones to refined, impactful creations, and learner feedback is a vital part of this process.
• Provide Timely, Constructive Feedback: The facilitator should offer specific, actionable, and encouraging feedback on course drafts, paying meticulous attention to both learning design principles and the sensitive nature of well-being content.
• Cultivate Peer Learning: Foster an environment where scholarship recipients actively learn from each other's designs, provide supportive feedback, and collaborate.
• Celebrate Milestones: Acknowledge and celebrate all progress and effort throughout the program, reinforcing motivation and confidence.
• Maintain Flexibility: Be prepared to adapt the timeline or the depth of topics based on the scholarship recipients' pace, prior knowledge, and emerging needs.