STEM Nova CounselorTraining(unofficial)

Trisha BergtholdSilicon Valley Monterey Bay Council

Learning Objectives

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

Nova (fun STEM activities)Supernova (high achievement)

Nova Awards

Cub Scouts

S: Science Everywhere

T: Tech Talk

E: Swing!

M: 1, 2, 3, Go!

(More in development)

Each includes a STEM Belt Loop or Pin

Boy Scouts

S: Shoot!

T: Start Your Engines

E: Whoosh!

M: Designed to Crunch

(More in development)

Each includes a STEM Merit Badge

Venturers

S: Launch!

T: Power Up

E: Hang On!

M: Numbers Don’t Lie

(More in development)

Each includes a STEM Exploration

Structure Across Programs

Structure Across Programs

Dr. Luis W. Alvarez

Dr. Charles Townes

Dr. Bernard Harris

Thomas Alva Edison

Dr. Sally Ride

Wright Brothers

Dr. Albert Einstein

Adult Guidance

• Guide youth through requirements• Verify award requirements are met• Ensure safety and youth protection• Approved by Council

• Commitment: weeks vs months• Methods: teach/coach vs facilitate/guide• Expertise: 0/minimal vs experienced• Parent? yes vs no

Nova Counselors Supernova Mentors

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 AwardsBuild on • Existing badges (for CS & BS)

Involve• Familiarization• Exploration and Application• Relevance• Communication

Major ThemeSTEM Discussions

Major PartsSTEM Entertainment

STEM Badge

STEM Activities

STEM in Everyday Life

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!(Science)

Complete:

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!(Science)

Complete:

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 ExplorationsSafety

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?

Activity1. Take one printed action item.2. When in a counseling assignment does your action

item occur?3. Find and stand with your group.

Working Through the Requirements

Getting Started

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 CenterAstronomy BL, Pin, MB

Camp Hi-SierraArchery MBCouncil Merit Badge Workshop

Sustainability MB

STEM Activities – Fun with a Purpose

Hands-on engagement

Games & challengeswith freedom to fail

Team workand creativity

YOU are the fun-gineer!

Where’s the FUN???

Cub Scout Nova Swing! Requirement 3

A. Make a list or drawing of the three types of levers

B. 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

Cub Scout Nova Swing! Requirement 3

A. Make a list or drawing of the three types of levers

B. Tell your counselor (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 Off! Make a Type 1 Lever.

+

Lift a box.

Try different fulcrum spots.

Fun-gineering Simple Machines ActivitiesBS Whoosh! & V Hang On!

Requirement 3A. Make a list or drawing of the

six simple machinesB. Tell your counselor the name

of each and how it worksC. 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

ScienceScientists engage in systematic measurement, observation, and testing. They search for patterns and predictability.

Technology 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.

Mathematics

Mathematicians do more than crunch numbers. They also observe patterns, solve problems, and utilize logic.

Engineering

Engineers invent, design, and build things. They often (a) deconstruct and analyze, (b) build and test, and (c) design and re-design.

The Well-Prepared Traveler of the Universe

Activity1. 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

Collaborative Dialog Starting Point

ThinkingFeelingDoing

Aim for

Talk about

STEM DiscussionsLow 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?

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.

Better: What did you learn about safety protocols on the archery range?

Boy Scout Nova Award Shoot!Sample Roadmap

www.catapults.info

1. Watch/read

2. Aviation MB program at the USS Hornet3. Option A: projectile simulation applet4. Option A: visit USS Hornet (see the catapult launchers!)

5. Option A: design and build a catapult6. Science in everyday life

The Art of the Catapult

Nova: Medieval Siege

Venturer Nova Award Hang On!Sample Roadmap

1. Watch/read

2. Model Design and Building STEM Exploration3. Explore simple machines 4. Option A: visit Great America 5. Option to design an amusement park ride6. Engineering in everyday life

learner.org/interactives/parkphysics/

Thrill Ride: The Science

of Fun

Amusement Park Physics

Cub Scout Nova 1, 2, 3 Go!Sample Roadmap (very young Cubs)

Cyberchase (PBS)1-7: Codename Icky

1. Watch/read

2. Mathematics Pin3. Option A: Weight on other planets (Using slide rules)

+ Option C: Volume4. Secret Codes 5. Mathematics in everyday life

The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System

Safety Issues

Baking Soda & Vinegar Experiment

College Chemistry Experiment

Risk Mitigation – Mixed Up Q & A

Activity1.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.

Risk Mitigation

Follow BSA’sYouth Protection

Policies

Use Safety Gear & Practices

Accommodate Academic

Differences

Start with BSA’sGuide to Safe

Scouting!

Ensure Internet Safety

Bring in a Consultant with Safety Expertise

Just Say STOP!

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

Be at least 21 years old 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

Turn these in!

SummaryAt this point, you should

Know the overall structure of BSA’s STEM Initiative, Understand the role of Nova Counselor Have a general sense of the Nova requirements, Know key strategies for guiding youth in the Nova

Awards, Know suggestions for bringing the STEM Awards to

your unit. 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.