The STEM / Nova Program
and
Greater Alabama Council
Dr. Richard J. Stone
Greater Alabama Council
Talakto District Committee
July 11, 2012
1
Agenda
• STEM – What and Why?
• Review of Nova / Supernova Program
• Ideas for Implementation in Greater Alabama Council
Some briefing content were borrowed from
materials used at Philmont Training Center by
STEM committee members and training
participants
2
STEM in Scouting – so far
• Scouting has always included Science Technology
Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) topics
– But the content is often hidden in other activities
• Scouting focuses on outdoor program
– Not Every Youth Wants to Be Dan Beard or Daniel Boone.
Some Want to Be Neil Armstrong, Bill Gates, or Albert Einstein.
3
WHAT is STEM?
• The acronym STEM stands for Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics.
• This approach to education is designed to
revolutionize the teaching of subject areas such as
mathematics and science by incorporating
technology and engineering into regular curriculum
by creating a “meta-discipline.”
• Highlight STEM content in existing Scouting
Program.
4
Why STEM?
• Our country is falling behind in science, technology,
engineering and mathematics (STEM)
– In 2009, just 34 percent of U.S. 8th graders were rated proficient
or higher in a national math assessment.
– In an international exam given, U.S. high school students ranked
21st out of 30 industrialized nations in science and 25th in math.
– Only 43 percent of U.S. high school graduates in 2010 were
ready for college work in math and 29 percent were ready in
science.
– China graduates more engineers per year than the U.S.
graduates in all fields.
5
Why STEM?
• STEM is the future.
• STEM education is an economic imperative.
– Experts say that technological innovation accounted for almost
half of U.S. economic growth over the past 50 years, and almost
all of the 30 fastest-growing occupations in the next decade will
require at least some background in STEM.
• STEM literacy has a profound and growing impact on
our day-to-day lives.
– The National Science Foundation “estimates that 80% of the
jobs created in the next decade will require some form of math
and science skills.”
6
The BSA Response
• The BSA has partnered with ExxonMobil to increase
STEM awareness in youth and offer them the
opportunities to “Be Prepared for Life”
• BSA created the Nova and Supernova Awards
Programs
– Youth Program, Adult Roles, Leader Support, and Awards
programs defined
– Field tested, refined, and improved in two trials
– Development of manuals
– National Roll-Out in mid-July 2012
7
Nova and Supernova Programs
• Nova Program
– Based on accomplishment of existing program activities (belt
loops, merit badges, venturing activity areas)
– Extends and enhances existing program activities
– Adult counselors familiar with STEM topics guide explorations
and provide advancement quality control
• Supernova Program
–
–
–
–
Significant accomplishment extending program activities
Learn some fundamentals of the topic areas
Original STEM investigations and projects
Adult mentors who are accomplished STEM practitioners guide
explorations and provide advancement quality control
8
The Nova Program - Activities
Cub Scouts
Boy Scouts
Venturing
Exploring
Science Everywhere Shoot!
Launch!
TBD
Tech Talk
Start Your Engines!
Power Up
TBD
Swing!
Whoosh!
Hang On!
TBD
1-2-3 Go!
Designed to Crunch
Numbers Don’t Lie
TBD
More in development
More in development
More in development
TBD
9
Nova Program Activities - Example
• Cub Scout Nova Activity: Science Everywhere
– Requirements summarized:
 Must be a Wolf or Bear
 Watch TV or read about science, collect questions and ideas, discuss
with counselor
 Complete ONE belt loop: Astronomy, Collecting, Geography, Geology,
Map and Compass, Mathematics, Nutrition, Pet Care, Photography,
Science, Weather, Wildlife Conservation
 Act like a scientist. Pick a question to study. Investigate answers.
Discuss with counselor.
 Visit a place where science is being done or used. Talk to someone
about use of science. Discuss with counselor.
10
Nova Activity Awards
• First Award – get Nova patch
• Next Awards – get Nova pins for
patch (up to 3)
11
Supernova Program Activities Example
• Boy Scout Supernova Activity: Dr. Bernard Harris
Supernova Award
– Requirements summarized:








Must be First Class or higher.
Earn at least three Nova awards for Boy Scouts.
Earn Scholarship MB and four MBs from approved list.
Complete two Supernova activity topics. Each topic includes research,
preparation, set up, coordination, organization, analysis, reflection,
reporting.
Participate in a science fair or math competition.
Shadow a science professional
Present Nova program to Cub den or other youth group
Review scientific method and use it to examine a selected topic
12
Supernova Awards
Cub
Scouts
Boy
Scouts
Venturing
Dr. Luis W. Alvarez
Dr. Charles H. Townes
Wolf / Bear (bronze medal)
Webelos (bronze medal)
Dr. Bernard Harris
Thomas Alva Edison
(bronze medal)
(silver medal)
Dr. Sally Ride
Wright Brothers
(bronze medal)
(silver medal)
Dr. Albert Einstein
Venturer (gold medal)
13
Integration with Traditional
Program - Example
Merit badge from
selection list
Boy
Scouts
Dr. Bernard Harris
Thomas Alva Edison
(bronze medal)
(silver medal)
Dr. Albert Einstein
Venturer (gold medal)
14
Implementation Plan in GAC
1. Organize STEM Committee
2. Promote the Nova/Supernova Program
1.
2.
3.
Round Table Presentations
University of Scouting
Program samples at Camporees, Day Camps, Cub Haunted?
3. Develop Nova Counselors and Supernova Mentors
1.
2.
3.
Identify Resources and Candidates
Recruitment
Training
1.
University of Scouting, by STEM Committee, On-line?, PTC?
4. Resource List (like MB counselor list?)
15
Organization in GAC
•
•
Staff Advisor
STEM Committee Chair (under Council VP Advancement)
–
•
Program Integration
–
–
•
District representatives
Promotions at Round Tables, University of Scouting, etc.
Incorporate program in camps, camporees, merit badge universities, etc.
Staffing
–
Counselor/Mentor Identification and Recruitment
•
–
•
Additions to STEM Committee as required
Training
–
–
–
•
Corporate, education, government organizations
Unit Leaders and Program Users
Counselors and Mentors
Commissioners and District/Council
Resources
–
Grants to fund staff and program projects
16
Organization Resources Sharing
• STEM Committee and “STEM and Scouting” PTC
Student Group are developing and sharing
resources to support implementation of the STEM
programs.
Boy Scouts
Greater St.
Louis
Area Council
Council S.T
(to improv
e science,
technolog
.E.M. Comm
y, engineerin
ittee
for our
th programs
g, and ma
of Americ
a
Camp Rockefe
Scouts)
Summer Cam
man
ittee Chair
.E.M. Comm
Council S.T
scription
Position De
Pre
______
pared for
________
Principal Re
______
Class Schedu
9:30 – 10:00
ngthen
gs
ces to stre
tee Meetin
nity resour
m Commit
or, commu
Council Ste
gram Direct
Chair three
h STEM Pro
Ø Host &
wit
ze,
bili
and mo
e
Ø Identify
iative.
and Financ
programs
l’s stem init
/ Exploring
the Counci
support the
Venturing
Boy Scout,
Funding to
Cub Scout,
· Identify
irmen for
cha
sub
t
· Recrui
positions.
Objectives
ng and Exp
ller STEM Pro
gram
le
SHOOT!
9:00 – 9:30
_____
________
s
sponsibilitie
uti
related Sco
hip in STEM
se Members
Posts
Ø Increa
M Clubs and
se/Grow STE
Badges
Ø Increa
ted Merit
rela
M
te STE
Ø Promo
ivities
te STEM Act
Ø Promo
p 2012
loring Units
10:00 – 10:30
10:30 – 11:00
11:00 – 11:30
11:30 – 12:00
Key Dates
12:0
0 – 1:45
April.
th
of
4 week of
t Saturday
meeting in
.
eting – firs
committee
September
th
mittee Me
Ø Host a
4 week of
erating Com
Op
eting in the
ed
me
a
nat
st
Ø Ho
ncil Coordi
April.
eting at Cou
Dome in late
ard Jones
Ø Host me
ships at Edw
Legend
Champion
February
end FIRST
aged to att
our
Enc
Ø
Monday
Lecture: What
Engineers Do
(Engineering
Req 4)
Discover Your
Lat/Long usin
g
GPS and 7.5 min
ute maps
(Nova SHOOT!
Req 4)
Lecture: Safety
and the
Robotics Indu
stry
(Robotics Req
1&2)
Video: NOVA/N
ASA shorts
Sonic Boom
Robonaut
(Nova SHOOT!
Req 1)
Lecture: Building
a Robot
(Robotics Req
3)
Tuesday
Plant Tour
To be worked
out with TJ
(Engineering
Req 1)
Design and Buil
d Robots
Design team of
three to five
scouts depend
ing on the
week. Each Sco
ut will have
to keep his own
Robot/Engineeri
ng
Notebook.
(Robotics Req
4a, 4b, 4c, 4d)
Engineering
Nuclear Science
Video: History
of Flight
(Nova SHOOT!
Req 1)
Lecture: Basic
Engineering
Concepts
(Engineering
Req 6)
Build Catapults
(Nova SHOOT!
Req
Lunch – Dining
Hall
Robotics
Space Explora
tion
Lunch- Dining
5)
Hall
12:15 to 12:3
0: Launch
Catapults @ Par
ade Grounds
NOVA Shoot!
NOVA Crunch
!
Thursday
Lecture: How
Engineers Solv
e
Problems
(Engineering
Req 5a)
Research Eng
ineering
Achievement
(engineering
Req 2)
Lecture: Velocity
- To Escape,
Orbit or Term
inate?
(Nova SHOOT!
Req 3)
Lecture: Systems
and
Subsystems
(Robotics Req
3)
Lunch - Dining
Hall
Wednesday
Lecture: Fields
of Engineering
(Engineering
Req 3)
Lecture: The Pro
fessional
Engineer
(Engineering
Req 7 & 8)
Test and Twe
ak Robots
(Robotics Req
4e, & 5a, 5b)
Lecture: Careers
in Robotics
(Robotics Req
7)
Research: Lea
rn about
Robotics Com
petitions.
Report in Not
ebook.
(Robotics Req
6b)
Lunch - Campsit
es
Misc STEM
Friday
Lecture: Enginee
ring as a
Career
(Engineering
Req 9)
Office Hours for
Counselors
· Finish Out
standing
Requirements
· Work one
on one
with boys as
necessary
· Go over
Robotic/Engine
ering
Notebooks
· (Notebook
s shall be
retained by
counselor at this
point to be retu
rned
to Unit leader)
Some sort of fun
NOVA or
NASA video dur
ing these
hours for boy
s who are don
e.
Lunch- Dining
Hall
Not Related to
Stem
17
What’s Next?
• 7/11/12 Introduction meeting
– RS – develop promo sheet for PPC
– JB – briefs VPAdv, seek list of initial power-contacts
• Homework
– RS – develop training package for UoS, RT
– RS – capture STEM comm traffic as FAQ
18
19