Centering Youth Voice

Keeping young people at the heart of the design

Imagine operating a business and creating a new product without consulting top consumers about their wants and needs. What could happen?

The product might seem impressive on paper, but it will never succeed if it doesn’t resonate with them. In schools, students are the valuable consumer at the center. By listening deeply to their experiences, thoughts, and dreams, school transformation teams can ensure that the “product”—their education—is something they genuinely want and will prepare them for life beyond the school’s doors. This module serves as your guide to ensuring that the most important people—your students—influence the future of your school.

Welcome Designers!

This module is specially designed for:

School Design Teams and educators seeking to make student voices a driving force in school transformation.

Here's why it's super important:

Listening to students is crucial for creating relevant, engaging, and equitable learning environments that truly meet their needs and prepare them for future success.

What your team will get out of this module:

This module gives your team the tools to elevate student voices from feedback to action, ensuring their insights drive meaningful change. You’ll strategize how to gather authentic perspectives, understand what students truly want, and turn their ideas into concrete steps that create a school environment where every learner thrives. Get ready to build a school with your students, not just for them!

Estimated time to complete:

Section 1: Gear Up & Get Inspired: Plan for all team members who will learn about and facilitate this content to reserve 45-60 minutes to complete the Gear Up & Get Inspired section
Section 2: Dive In & Try It Out: Plan for 30 minutes where facilitators pick and prepare the activity and 60 minutes to engage the community
Section 3: Capture Insights and Create Solutions: 60-90 minutes for synthesis with facilitators
Section 4: Launch and Measure Impact: 30 minutes for action planning