Bowen, JenniferBonnett, ErikaHsiao, MichaelKashyap, Shikhar2022-02-042022-02-042022-01-31http://hdl.handle.net/10919/108135The 4-H Thriving model of positive youth development provides a framework for high quality programs that enable youth to meet developmental and long-term goals by first encouraging them to find their spark. For many youth that spark is technology. In the summer of 2021, Virginia 4-H developed a multifaceted program allowing teens with an interest in technology to explore video game design and develop leadership and teaching skills. Adequately trained teens are effective and innovative teachers. Youth respond well to teen teachers, and teens gain self-confidence and a sense of achievement. Utilizing a network of 4-H agents across the state, teens were recruited to participate in a series of virtual workshops. Virginia Tech professor Dr. Michael Hsiao led two sessions teaching teens to use his Game Changineer video game design platform. A third session, led by 4-H agent Jennifer Bowen and 4-H specialist Dr. Erika Bonnett, taught youth how to design and implement an impactful workshop in their community. Nine teens from six localities (both rural and urban) participated in the Teens as Teachers series. Of these, five went on to lead Game Changineer workshops of their own. A total of 50 youth participated in the teen-led programs. The final component of the program was the implementation of a statewide 4-H video game design contest for workshop participants that garnered 19 entries from across the state. The teens reported positive experiences for both themselves and their workshop participants. One wrote, “This workshop brought kids from all different backgrounds in our community to work together collaboratively.” Another explained, “Instructing the students in the workshop helped build my teaching skills. It allowed me the opportunity to explain to students in a clear and concise way how to create games…”application/pdfenIn CopyrightPoster2022-02-04