Nathan1001001

I definitely see how this could be really helpful

So should I just forget about this idea... seems like people don't really like the idea. 😕

Hi there! I think that would be a good idea too, but after reading a lot of the comments here about wanting less of an independent google search to find answers, I think something like that may also limit the counselor-scout relationship and a scout may be be more focused on using those websites solely to learn from. I am getting a few mixed responses which makes it seem like a combination between learning independently and with the counselor is best. So, for example, a scout can learn with the counselor and test their skills with the app or use it as a bit of a guide while working with the counselor. I am working on creating content for the first aid merit badge as an example and should be finished in a week or so. What do you think. Thanks

The hope is that the app will be either free or a very low cost. If it does end up costing a small amount, then there will definitely be a functionality for group logins at a discount for larger troops.

For sure! I'll work on making the prototype for the first aid merit badge Thanks!

I believe I do understand your view on this. However, when I ask myself whether or not this will help or hinder us, my thoughts are that any aid such as this is going to be a help because it can only add to the scout's experience. I definitely do not want to take away from the merit badge counselor because I do know, like you said, that a Scout and the counselor need the one on one experience that they create while learning about the new topics in a merit badge. My goal for this app would be to only aid this experience and allow the Scout to have only another option to learn while keeping the role of a merit badge counselor. I think of it like this: the more a scout can learn, whether this is alone or with the merit badge counselor, the better. This is, after all, one of focuses in scouting- learning new things. Now once the Scout does learn about the topic, (again the more that they take away the better) they can have a better discussion with their merit badge leader if they have more to discuss. Let's say you have two Scouts. One meets with the merit badge counselor 2 times a week and converses about the topic (we'll go with the first aid merit badge), now this Scout has some pretty good conversations about first aid and takes notes and tries to remember but he just can not. He has a great adult association but he does not learn much about first aid. Well, okay, he has learned something and he does now have a good adult association, however, that was only half of the battle. Now with the other Scout... he meets with the merit badge counselor only once a week and when the other scout would be meeting for his second time, he is using this app to gain additional knowledge and that he may not have before. He does the same as the first Scout who takes notes and converses about the topic when he meets with his counselor. Now, Scout 1 and Scout 2 are still meeting with the counselor but Scout 2 is using this app to gain more experience and learn more about first aid. When Scout 2 goes to meet with his merit badge counselor, he is able to talk more thoroughly and go more in depth with more examples about first aid while also gaining valuable adult association. Scout 2 is able to learn much more about first aid while using both of his resources and also gaining a great counselor-scout relationship, while Scout 1 has only really gained the counselor-scout relationship. Now, you might say, well if Scout 1 had such a hard time learning from the merit badge counselor, why not just read the merit badge book or look it up online? Well this is where the app is most important: if given the choice, I think that this app would provide a better learning experience for the scout rather than the scout book or pamphlet. Again, I only see this as an advantage and something to supplement the method and I do not want to see this as a replacement for merit badge counselors. I think that the order of importance for learning about a topic in scouting should be the merit badge counselor first, then this app, then any scout book or merit badge pamphlet. I'd like to know whether this example is helpful or not and if there is any way you think would make sure that this is only added value to the scout experience. Thanks

@DuctTape What do you think?

In my opinion, I think that creating the app would provide an additional aid to the merit badge and rank requirement process. Since I know that you disagree, what would you change about it to help you see that it is something that can become useful to troops and scouts?

There to help on requirements with their expertise and guidance if you need it. I don't think you have to receive help from a counselor if you are knowledgeable in the topic. This is something else I found: "A scout decides they would like to earn a specific merit badge. They obtain approval to begin the merit badge from their Scoutmaster. The Scoutmaster identifies possible merit badge counselors. The scout identifies another scout, buddy, or family member that will be their partner to attend all meetings with the counselor to follow safe scouting guidelines. The scout then contacts the counselor to begin badge work. The counselor reviews the requirements with the scouts and they decide on projects to complete and a completion schedule. The counselor provides expertise, advice, guidance as needed until the scouts have completed the requirements. The merit badge counselor certifies completion of requirements and the merit badge patch is presented at a court of honor or troop meeting. See this page for more info on merit badges." https://boyscouttrail.com/boy-scouts/merit-badges.asp.

Thanks for the welcome Hm it just seems that here: https://www.scouting.org/programs/scouts-bsa/advancement-and-awards/merit-badges/ the way you should complete merit badges are to pick a merit badge, find the counselor, and they are there to help if needed and if you don't need any specific help just to start working on the requirements. Says that when you are ready you should then call the counselor and discuss it with them and get it signed off (In my opinion, this seems very similar to what I was saying). From what I understand, counselors are another resource that you can use for help and the app could go along side what BSA recommends and be another resource for scouts. If I am mistaken, please let me know.

Unfortunately my troop does not do this and maybe if they did, I would not have felt the need to come up with this idea. I think it honestly might just depend on the troop. Mine and others might not have this kind of process but others might.

I think there might be some slight confusion on the purpose and goal of the app so I can try to explain in more detail what one of the guides could look like. When Scouts sign in, they will choose what they are working on and see a guide that they can follow which will provide more detail of what is expected. For example... in the emergency preparedness merit badge, you must describe how to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond, and recover to a list of scenarios. Rather than directly stating what the answer to each of these are, we can describe what each of the terms (prevent, protect, mitigate, etc.) mean and set the scene: You are going on a road trip from point a to point b, you must cross a windy one-way road that goes up a high mountain, maybe include some pictures or a video of what exactly is happening and hint at any emergencies that could occur. What are things you should do to prevent an incident? The scout can come up with their ideas such as looking at the forecast beforehand, plan to not go during the coldest part of the year, etc. and then there could be a prompt saying something like, now go discuss this with your leader. The idea is not to tell the scouts the answers to any of these scenarios, but to create a better way where they think through the problems and come up with their own ways. It will keep the Scout-Adult relationship and also provide instances where if an older Scout would like, to assist in these ideas. As of right now, I do not see the scout book or merit badge pamphlets providing anything like this and I can certainly see how this can benefit troops and the scouts. Let me know

So maybe direct the app more towards solely being a resource? The problem I see is with how scouts are being taught: in my troop, scouts must learn the requirements mainly by themselves. I think the same idea of a replacement of adult association can be seen with the scout book and merit badge pamphlets. A Scout can sit down and copy from the scout book or pamphlet each requirement and then show it to a leader and have it signed off. If the only idea is to focus on adult association opportunity, I do not think we should have the scout book or merit badge pamphlets at all. But these things should be treated as resources for both the scout and leader. If we focus on the issues with the scout book and pamphlets, it's that it is boring, hard to learn from, and even more of a "spoon-fed" guide. An ideal way, in my opinion, where a Scout completes a merit badge is where an individual scout or group of scouts research, learn, and figure out what the requirements are asking. They familiarize themselves with it, and then they go to their adult leaders to discuss what they learned and the leader can decide if the Scout has learned enough about the topic and are sufficient in it. The app could provide a better way for the scouts to complete the step in researching, learning and figuring out what the requirements are asking so the scout can then go and discuss with the adult leader. I by no means want this to turn into a freebie for Scouts to abuse in their advancement to Eagle. If we put warnings and suggestions throughout the app saying things like this is meant to be used as a resource and after completing a guide that you are not yet done and need to now discuss what you learn with a leader, I think it will help the idea of having a more involved experience and therefore keeping advancement as the method. What are your thoughts on this?

I definitely understand the need for content creators. There is a large number of merit badges and rank requirements but thankfully a lot of leaders in scouting are also merit badge counselors so they are knowledgeable in the topics. I do not have many connections out side of my troop and my parent's friends who could be helpful in creating content for the app, so I came to this forum in order to try and find people who are willing to help, in any way that they can, so we can make this more than just a concept. I know that leaders already might have their own way of teaching their individual troop about the requirements but it could be possible to make a collection of ways leaders have been teaching their scouts so that we can turn it into a easy to follow app where all scouts will be able to learn in the best way possible.

I totally agree! I think something like this would be best used as a tool and supplement to things like the EDGE method and research; not a replacement.