Maker Studio specialist Kerry Harmer, left, supports students, faculty, staff and community members who utilize the technology-rich environment.
There are a variety of skills that students enrolled in the child and youth care counsellor program are teaching local youth, and it's all based in creativity. This is the premise behind the full-year capstone course the cohort is working through at the University's Maker Studio in collaboration with McMan Youth, Family and Community Services Association and Hull Services.
From textile mending to 3D-modeling, child and youth care counsellor student Delaney Schaeffer says the youth from the different agencies are given the chance to explore what they like doing. "It's an opportune chance to seek potential career paths they may enjoy in the future," she says. The program's students spent the Fall 2019 semester assessing community needs, learning new skills and developing programming to share with the youth. This initial setup was deemed a "pilot."
"What we did was get youth engaged, build relationships and get them familiar with the tools in the Maker Studio," Schaeffer says.
The MRU students were also busy learning and creating. "Sewing, 3D-modeling, logo design, virtual reality, podcasting and electronics have all been touched upon," says Isha Thompson, content and communications coordinator at the Riddell Library and Learning Centre (RLLC).
The weekly gathering of child and youth care counsellor students and highschoolers within MRU's modern library offered all participants the opportunity to learn collaboratively in a supportive, innovative and inspired space. And the results so far have been very positive.
"As a team, our goal is to inspire and create a safe space for everyone involved," Schaeffer says. "We noticed that some of the youth who were initially disengaged are now invested, and we're hearing some ask if the skills being learned are what employers are looking for."
Stephan Hochhausen is a second-year social work student at MRU. He says MRU does a good job preparing its students to work with young people facing challenges.
"There is an emphasis on addressing the multiple areas of the individual's life that are being impacted, have been impacted and have the potential to be impacted," Hochhausen says.
Students learn to look at their clients as a whole rather than in parts. This prepares them to address varying levels of trauma responses, counselling and referral approaches.
"The education I have received from MRU has aided in my employment role as a relief worker in a group home for at risk youth."
Hochhausen says he is better equipped to address escalated situations, listen without judgement, refrain from advice giving, assist in resource management and implement approaches to problem solving.
The Maker Studio is a creative space in the RLLC that facilitates academic research and interdisciplinary collaborations. Browse the Maker Studio website to find out more about the space and its people.
By Rob Petrollini
