SPIN Volunteer Quick Guide to Mastery

SPIN Volunteer Quick Guide to Mastery (PDF)

Mastery is at the heart of 4-H SPIN clubs. Young people demonstrate mastery when they are able to competently use new knowledge and skills in real-world situations. As a SPIN volunteer your goal is to help the members in your SPIN club master the knowledge and skills they need.

Best Practices for Mastery	Ways Volunteers Can Promote Mastery
Young people learn best through hands-on learning.	Plan learning activities that actively engage them in learning — build, create, explore, make, discover, test, plan, cut, estimate, experience, measure, draw, etc.
When young people successfully solve problems or meet a challenge, they develop confidence in themselves — they believe they are capable.	Present them with a challenge or problem to solve. Encourage and support them, but allow them to discover the solution.
Young people demonstrate leadership skills.	Provide leadership opportunities such as, leading an activity, helping others who need assistance, or planning a family event to showcase what members have learned.
Young people demonstrate their mastery to others.	Provide opportunities for members to share what they have learned, created, and mastered at a family event, competition, or community gathering.
Young people learn from their mistakes.	When things don’t work out as planned, talk with the young person and ask what s/he thinks went wrong, what s/he could do differently, and how to avoid the mistake in the future. Allow the young person to reflect on the experience, share his/her thoughts, and identify a solution.

Adapted with permission from University of Illinois Cooperative Extension.