STEM Nova Counselor Training unofficial Trisha Bergthold Silicon

STEM Nova Counselor Training (unofficial) Trisha Bergthold Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council

Learning Objectives By the end of this training, you will q Know the overall structure of BSA’s STEM Initiative, q Understand the role of Nova Counselor q Gain a general sense of the Nova Award requirements, q Learn key strategies for guiding youth in the Nova awards, q Have suggestions for bringing the STEM Awards to your unit. q Know how to become a registered Nova Counselor.

Purpose of the STEM Initiative • Enhance interest in the STEM fields • Bring a Scouting focus to STEM • Increase the value of Scouting Overall Structure • Optional awards in each program • Two tiers of awards ØNova (fun STEM activities) ØSupernova (high achievement)

Nova Awards Cub Scouts Boy Scouts Venturers S: Science Everywhere S: Shoot! S: Launch! T: Tech Talk T: Start Your Engines T: Power Up E: Swing! E: Whoosh! E: Hang On! M: 1, 2, 3, Go! M: Designed to Crunch M: Numbers Don’t Lie (More in development) Each includes a STEM Belt Loop or Pin Each includes a STEM Merit Badge Each includes a STEM Exploration

Structure Across Programs

Structure Across Programs Dr. Luis W. Alvarez Dr. Charles Townes Dr. Bernard Harris Dr. Sally Ride Thomas Alva Edison Wright Brothers Dr. Albert Einstein

Adult Guidance Nova Counselors Supernova Mentors • • Guide youth through requirements Verify award requirements are met Ensure safety and youth protection Approved by Council • • Commitment: Methods: Expertise: Parent? weeks vs teach/coach vs 0/minimal vs yes vs months facilitate/guide experienced no

Who Can Be a Nova Counselor? Have you ever played soccer, golf, or bowling? –You understand motion of objects. Have you ever cooked, built things, worked in the garden? –You know how to measure and calculate. Have you ever gone fishing, dug a hole, or hit a baseball? –You understand simple machines. Have you ever ridden a bike, driven a car, or sailed a boat? –You understand energy production and use. Have you ever read a book or researched on the internet? –You understand how to prepare to guide learning. Anyone who understands the material and can guide learning can be a Nova Counselor

General Characteristics of Nova Awards Build on • Existing badges (for CS & BS) Involve • • Familiarization Exploration and Application Relevance Communication Major Parts STEM Entertainment STEM Badge STEM Activities STEM in Everyday Life Major Theme STEM Discussions

Cub Scout Nova – Swing! (Engineering) Complete: 1. One hour of STEM entertainment and discuss. 2. One belt loop or pin (from a list): badminton, fishing, ultimate, … (eight more choices) 3. Three activities on levers (a) drawings, (b) types, (c) connection to BL 4. Field trip: visit a place that uses levers, discuss. 5. Design something that uses a lever, discuss. 6. Discuss how levers affect your everyday life.

Boy Scout Nova – Shoot! Complete: (Science) 1. Three hours of STEM entertainment and discuss. 2. One merit badge (from a list): astronomy, aviation, weather, … (six more choices) 3. Choose A or B (A) projectile simulation, (B) velocity discovery 4. Choose A or B (A) field trip, (B) satellite observation 5. Choose A or B or C (A) catapult, (B) pitching machine, (C) marble run 6. Discuss how science affects your everyday life.

Venturing Nova – Launch! Complete: (Science) 1. Three hours of STEM entertainment and discuss. 2. One Venturing STEM Exploration (from a list): astronomy, aviation, weather, … (six more choices) 3. Choose A or B (A) projectile simulation, (B) velocity discovery 4. Choose A or B (A) field trip, (B) satellite observation 5. Choose A or B or C (A) catapult, (B) pitching machine, (C) marble run 6. Discuss how science affects your everyday life.

Venturing STEM Explorations Safety What are the hazards and safety protocols in this field? Developing Knowledge Visit a workplace in this field ~OR~ do research to learn about this field. Hands-On Experiences Identify 4 hands-on activities in this field that you could do yourself. Each activity should take about three hours. Carry out all 4 activities and discuss each with your counselor. Career Exploration Find out about three career opportunities in this field. Communicate the training, education, and experience for each. Value and Impact Find out the importance of this field is in our modern world. How can this field bring about positive change? Create an oral or written report and present it to your counselor.

Key Strategies for Guiding Youth in the Nova Awards • Know the sequence of events, start to end. • Develop strategies for each Nova Award element. – – – STEM Entertainment STEM Badges STEM Activities STEM in Everyday Life STEM Discussions • Create Nova Award roadmaps. • Understand safety issues and risk mitigation.

What Comes First, Next, Last? Activity 1. Take one printed action item. 2. When in a counseling assignment does your action item occur? 3. Find and stand with your group. Getting Started Working Through the Requirements Handling the Admin of Getting the Award

STEM Entertainment Full-Spectrum Science with Ron Hipschman: The Science of Sound (The Exploratorium) Under the Sea (Tech Museum of Innovation) Donald Duck in Mathmagic Land (STEM Movie Night)

STEM Badges Chabot Space and Science Center Astronomy BL, Pin, MB Council Merit Badge Workshop Sustainability MB Camp Hi-Sierra Archery MB

STEM Activities – Fun with a Purpose YOU are the fun-gineer! Games & challenges with freedom to fail Hands-on engagement Team work and creativity

Where’s the FUN? ? ? A. B. Cub Scout Nova Swing! Requirement 3 Make a list or drawing of the three types of levers Tell your counselor (1) the class of each (2) how each works C. Discuss (1) type of lever in your Belt Loop (2) what you learned about levers in doing your BL (3) why we use levers

Fun-gineering Levers Activities A. B. Cub Scout Nova Swing! Requirement 3 Make a list or drawing of the three types of levers Tell your counselor Lift Off! Make a Type 1 Lever. + (1) the class of each (2) how each works C. Discuss (1) type of lever in BL (2) what you learned about levers in doing your BL (3) why we use levers Lift a box. Try different fulcrum spots.

Fun-gineering Simple Machines Activities BS Whoosh! & V Hang On! Requirement 3 A. Make a list or drawing of the six simple machines B. Tell your counselor the name of each and how it works C. Discuss (1) the simple machines involved in your MB/Expl (2) the energy source behind the motion in your MB/Expl (3) what you learned about motion in your MB/Expl Pull! Make a pulley. + + Lift a loaded container. Try two pulleys!

Shameless Tactics of a Dedicated Fun-gineer Adopts a partner in crime Sleuths out great resources Tries and revises before showtime

STEM in Everyday Life Science Scientists engage in systematic measurement, observation, and testing. They search for patterns and predictability. Technology innovators aim to solve problems or perform specific functions. They know about, use, and make tools, machines, crafts, techniques, and systems of organization to do this. Engineering Engineers invent, design, and build things. They often (a) deconstruct and analyze, (b) build and test, and (c) design and re-design. Mathematics Mathematicians do more than crunch numbers. They also observe patterns, solve problems, and utilize logic.

The Well-Prepared Traveler of the Universe Activity 1. Open your package. 2. Look at your object and the list of uses and questions. 3. Brainstorm 1 additional use. 4. Brainstorm 1 additional question that connects your object to STEM.

Connecting STEM to Everyday Life Think in terms of times past, present, and future. § What did people do before ______ was invented or discovered? § What kinds of knowledge and capabilities do we have today that make it possible for us to use _____? § How might this _____ be improved in the future? Would it be cheaper? Could it be more environmentally friendly?

STEM Discussions Aim for Collaborative Dialog Starting Point Talk about Doing Feeling Thinking

STEM Discussions Low Gain Question A closed-form call for a brief answer, such as Yes/No True/False Good/Bad Choice A/Choice B High Gain Question An open-ended call for explanation, description, reflection, or speculation; often begins with, “Who, What, When, How, Tell me more about. . . , Give me an example of…. ” Too Open-Ended: What did you learn? Better: What did you learn about safety protocols on the archery range? Great Options • How might we do this or think of this another way? • What if we try to do it a wrong way? What could we learn? • Oooh, I don’t know the answer to that question! Let’s find out.

Boy Scout Nova Award Shoot! Sample Roadmap 1. Watch/read www. catapults. info Nova: Medieval Siege The Art of the Catapult 2. Aviation MB program at the USS Hornet 3. Option A: projectile simulation applet 4. Option A: visit USS Hornet (see the catapult launchers!) 5. Option A: design and build a catapult 6. Science in everyday life

Venturer Nova Award Hang On! Sample Roadmap 1. Watch/read Amusement learner. org/interactives/ Thrill Ride: Park Physics The Science parkphysics/ of Fun 2. Model Design and Building STEM Exploration 3. Explore simple machines 4. Option A: visit Great America 5. Option to design an amusement park ride 6. Engineering in everyday life

Cub Scout Nova 1, 2, 3 Go! Sample Roadmap (very young Cubs) 1. Watch/read The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System Cyberchase (PBS) 1 -7: Codename Icky 2. Mathematics Pin 3. Option A: Weight on other planets (Using slide rules) + Option C: Volume 4. Secret Codes 5. Mathematics in everyday life

Safety Issues Baking Soda & Vinegar Experiment College Chemistry Experiment

Risk Mitigation – Mixed Up Q & A Activity 1. Find the Answer to your Question. 2. Find the Question that has your Answer. 3. Form a circle with the Qs and As in order, clockwise.

Just Say STOP! Start with BSA’s Guide to Safe Scouting! Accommodate Academic Differences Risk Mitigation Bring in a Consultant with Safety Expertise Follow BSA’s Youth Protection Policies Ensure Internet Safety Use Safety Gear & Practices

Bringing the STEM Awards to Your Unit • • • Start with the Guidebooks. Visit a great STEM destination. Develop Nova Award roadmaps. Fun-gineer great STEM activities. Look towards the Supernova Award. Manage the forces of GLOPP (Great Lovers of Pushing Paper) Capitalize on ideas from other units. Recruit a unit STEM coordinator Keep up on local STEM news and events.

Becoming a Nova Counselor q Be at least 21 years old q q q q Turn these in! Be of good character Be able and willing to work with Scout age youth Be comfortable with high school math and science Be willing to research STEM topics unfamiliar to you Provide current certification in Youth Protection Training Complete BSA adult registration form (no charge, position code 58) Submit Nova Counselor Information Page Be approved by the council

Summary At this point, you should ü Know the overall structure of BSA’s STEM Initiative, ü Understand the role of Nova Counselor ü Have a general sense of the Nova requirements, ü Know key strategies for guiding youth in the Nova Awards, ü Know suggestions for bringing the STEM Awards to your unit. ü Know how to become a registered Nova Counselor.

In Conclusion • HAVE FUN with the Nova Award activities. • We so appreciate your time and efforts. • THANK YOU for bringing this great program to BSA’s youth.