STEM Nova Counselor + Supernova Mentor Training (unofficial)

1. STEM Nova Counselor+ Supernova MentorTraining(unofficial) Trisha Bergthold Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council

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

3. What is BSA’s STEM Initiative? Science Technology Engineering Mathematics 19 New Awards for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, & Venturers

4. 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 Award (fun STEM activities) • Supernova Award (high achievement)

5. Structure Across Programs – Level 1

6. Structure Across Programs – Level 1 S: Science Everywhere T: Tech Talk E: Swing! M: 1, 2, 3, Go! S: Shoot! T: Start Your Engines E: Whoosh! M: Designed to Crunch S: Launch! T: Power Up E: Hang On! M: Numbers Don’t Lie

7. Structure Across Programs – Levels 1 & 2 Wolfs Bears Webelos

8. Adult Guidance Nova Counselors Supernova Mentors • 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

9. Who Can Be a Nova Counselor? Anyone who understands the material and can guide learning can be a Nova Counselor

10. Who Can Be a Supernova Mentor? Anyone who has specialized knowledge in a STEM field through education, vocation, hobby, or other life experiences can be a Supernova Mentor. What age youth? What STEM topics?

11. General Characteristics of Nova Awards Build on • Existing badges (for CS & BS) Involve • Familiarization • Exploration and Application • Relevance • Communication

12. Cub Scout Nova – Swing! (Engineering) Complete:

13. Boy Scout Nova – Shoot!(Science) Complete:

14. Venturing Nova – Launch!(Science) Complete:

15. Venturing STEM Explorations

16. 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.

17. 3 2 1 What Comes First, Next, Last? Activity • Take one printed action item. • What is the right sequence? • Line yourselves up in that order.

18. 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 Entertainment

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

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

21. 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 Discuss (1) type of lever in your Belt Loop (2) what you learned about levers in doing your BL (3) why we use levers Where’s the FUN???

22. 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 Discuss (1) type of lever in BL (2) what you learned about levers in doing your BL (3) why we use levers Fun-gineering Levers Activities Lift Off! Make a Type 1 Lever. + Lift a box. Try different fulcrum spots.

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

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

25. STEM in Everyday Life Scientists Technology Innovators Engineers Mathematicians _____ do more than crunch numbers. They also observe patterns, solve problems, and utilize logic. ______ 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. _____ invent, design, and build things. They often (a) deconstruct and analyze, (b) build and test, and (c) design and re-design. _____ engage in systematic measurement, observation, and testing. They search for patterns and predictability. Who’s who?

26. Connecting STEM to Everyday Life Think 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?

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

28. 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.

29. Boy Scout Nova Award Shoot!Sample Roadmap 1. Watch/read 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 www.catapults.info Nova: Medieval Siege The Art of the Catapult

30. Venturer Nova Award Hang On!Sample Roadmap 1. Watch/read 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 Amusement Park Physics Thrill Ride: The Science of Fun learner.org/interactives/ parkphysics/

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

32. Safety Issues Baking Soda & Vinegar Experiment College Chemistry Experiment

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

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

35. 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.

36. Becoming a Nova Counselor Turn these in! • 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

37. Summary At 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.

38. ~ Break ~ • This concludes the Nova Counselor portion of the training. • We will take a 10 minute break. • Up next: Supernova Mentor portion of the training.

39. General Characteristics of Supernovas Build on • Existing badges (for CS and BS) • Nova awards (for BS and V) Involve • Specific STEM activities • Competitions or workshops (for BS and V) • Research on STEM careers • Interaction with STEM professionals • Teaching of STEM ideas to others (for BS and V) • Independent research • Communication of ideas • Possibility of failure and need to try again

40. Cub Scout Supernova Complete:

41. Boy Scout Supernova – Level 1 Complete:

42. Venturer Supernova – Level 1 Complete:

43. Elements of Guiding Youth in the Supernova • The sequence of events, start to end • Tips for guiding youth in STEM • Safety issues and risk mitigation • Einstein Supernova research project • Developing a STEM project • Finding the right subject matter expertise • Determining the ideal challenge level

44. Tips for Guiding Youth In STEMBasic Do’s and Don’t’s • Do insist on a buddy. • Do not modify the award requirements. • Do make sure each Scout understands the requirements. • Do ensure each Scout completes each requirement. • Do testing and reviewing in a friendly way.

45. Too Little, Too Much, Too Different, Just Right Activity • Read the Supernova requirement. • Read the cards, describing four youths’ efforts. • Place each card in the correct pocket.

46. Tip 2 for Guiding Youth in STEMDo not modify the award requirements. • This standard ensures fairness and uniformity. • Requirements must be completed exactly as presented—no additions or deletions. • Substitute only where it is explicitly granted. • A Scout may choose to explore some topics more deeply. • You may encourage but may not require deeper study.

47. Tips for Guiding Youth In STEMGeneral Tips • Anticipate differences in backgrounds. • Establish a positive environment. • Emphasize listening over talking to your youth. • Emphasize options rather than commands. • Balance honesty with support.

48. Tip 9 for Guiding Youth in STEMEmphasize options rather than commands. • Youth feel more commitment to an activity that they choose. • You have a much greater awareness of the variety of approaches than your youth have. • Offering options help youth realize that there are many right ways to do things.

49. Tips for Guiding Youth In STEMTips Unique to STEM • Become a STEM resource specialist. • Emphasize active engagement over passive listening. • Help your youth interpret and grow from failure. • Keep sight of the underlying STEM principles. • Become a STEM myth buster.

50. STEM Fortune Teller Activity • Tell each other a STEM “fortune” or two. • What is the common theme? • How might these messages be helpful?