Scoutmaster Musings
Life EDGE Requirement
I've been thinking about it, and I have a concern with this new requirement #6 for Life rank:
I love the idea of having higher-ranked scouts teaching lower ones and of using EDGE as a standard method of teaching. The interaction of scouts and the extra opportunity for younger advancement is great.
One of the listed skills that can be taught, for example, is Second Class #1-a:
So, the Star Scout gets a compass and a map and a Tenderfoot scout that has not yet learned this skill. He then explains the skill to be taught, demonstrates the skill, guides the Tenderfoot through the skill, and finally ensures the Tenderfoot is enabled to perform the skill all on his own.
Throughout this teaching, the scoutmaster should be watching that the EDGE method is being used. When the teaching is complete, the Tenderfoot would then demonstrate the skill to the scoutmaster to show he has learned it well enough.
Here's my concern ...
The scoutmaster should sign off on the Tenderfoot's advancement requirement since it was done to his satisfaction. Then, the scoutmaster signs off on the Life requirement, unless EDGE was not used or the Tenderfoot did not learn the skill.
This seems to push the "Learn It, Show It, Forget It" problem we're working to get past. In this scenario, the Tenderfoot may have seen a map and compass for the first time, parroted what the Star scout did, and got it signed off. In a day, or an hour, he may not remember how to orient a map.
The adults and Star, Life, and Eagle scouts in our troop teach skills to lower-ranked scouts. They often use EDGE. They sign off on T-2-1 scout skill requirements. But, they don't teach a skill and sign off at the same time. If a scout wants a 'demonstrate' advancement requirement signed off, instructing has been done earlier. The scout walks up, demonstrates, gets the sign off.
This new Life requirement seems to promote the teaching and signing off at the same time, which I've found to lessen retention. I'm still trying to work out the best way to handle this new requirement without adding to it, nor weakening the skill level of the scouts.
The best way I've come up with is interpreting "so that he is prepared to pass those requirements". Since it doesn't say "so that he passes those requirements", the scoutmaster might observe that the teaching was done and it appears that the Tenderfoot knows the skill good enough to get it signed off. But, he may not sign off right then, waiting for the Tenderfoot to demonstrate the skill at a later time. Letting the Tenderfoot know this is just a training time for him rather than a sign-off time might set expectations correctly.
Any constructive suggestions out there?
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- While a Star Scout, use the EDGE method to teach a younger Scout the skills from ONE of the following six choices, so that he is prepared to pass those requirements to his unit leader's satisfaction.
I love the idea of having higher-ranked scouts teaching lower ones and of using EDGE as a standard method of teaching. The interaction of scouts and the extra opportunity for younger advancement is great.
One of the listed skills that can be taught, for example, is Second Class #1-a:
- Demonstrate how a compass works and how to orient a map. Explain what map symbols mean.
So, the Star Scout gets a compass and a map and a Tenderfoot scout that has not yet learned this skill. He then explains the skill to be taught, demonstrates the skill, guides the Tenderfoot through the skill, and finally ensures the Tenderfoot is enabled to perform the skill all on his own.
Throughout this teaching, the scoutmaster should be watching that the EDGE method is being used. When the teaching is complete, the Tenderfoot would then demonstrate the skill to the scoutmaster to show he has learned it well enough.
Here's my concern ...
The scoutmaster should sign off on the Tenderfoot's advancement requirement since it was done to his satisfaction. Then, the scoutmaster signs off on the Life requirement, unless EDGE was not used or the Tenderfoot did not learn the skill.
This seems to push the "Learn It, Show It, Forget It" problem we're working to get past. In this scenario, the Tenderfoot may have seen a map and compass for the first time, parroted what the Star scout did, and got it signed off. In a day, or an hour, he may not remember how to orient a map.
The adults and Star, Life, and Eagle scouts in our troop teach skills to lower-ranked scouts. They often use EDGE. They sign off on T-2-1 scout skill requirements. But, they don't teach a skill and sign off at the same time. If a scout wants a 'demonstrate' advancement requirement signed off, instructing has been done earlier. The scout walks up, demonstrates, gets the sign off.
This new Life requirement seems to promote the teaching and signing off at the same time, which I've found to lessen retention. I'm still trying to work out the best way to handle this new requirement without adding to it, nor weakening the skill level of the scouts.
The best way I've come up with is interpreting "so that he is prepared to pass those requirements". Since it doesn't say "so that he passes those requirements", the scoutmaster might observe that the teaching was done and it appears that the Tenderfoot knows the skill good enough to get it signed off. But, he may not sign off right then, waiting for the Tenderfoot to demonstrate the skill at a later time. Letting the Tenderfoot know this is just a training time for him rather than a sign-off time might set expectations correctly.
Any constructive suggestions out there?
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Posted: 12:01 03-04-2010 485
Comments:
Mar 4, 2010 - Clarke Green
I don't concern myself with quality and retention of skills because they are not an end in themselves.
Do Scouts have repeated opportunities to orient a map, set up a campsite and start a fire? They get good at it with practice and that practice comes naturally by doing things Scouts do. I am concerned that the program is lively, engaging and centered solidly in Scouting this produces advancement, not the other way round.
There is nothing implied in any requirement that that indicates a repeatable level of expertise. If that were the aim requirements would read 'orient a map on seven different occasions'.
I'd say that 80% of the requirements signed off by our older Scouts, and our older Scouts do 95% of the skill instruction.
The new life requirement is very specific but I have no doubt that my Scouts will have completed it several times over in the natural course of running their Troop.
Do Scouts have repeated opportunities to orient a map, set up a campsite and start a fire? They get good at it with practice and that practice comes naturally by doing things Scouts do. I am concerned that the program is lively, engaging and centered solidly in Scouting this produces advancement, not the other way round.
There is nothing implied in any requirement that that indicates a repeatable level of expertise. If that were the aim requirements would read 'orient a map on seven different occasions'.
I'd say that 80% of the requirements signed off by our older Scouts, and our older Scouts do 95% of the skill instruction.
The new life requirement is very specific but I have no doubt that my Scouts will have completed it several times over in the natural course of running their Troop.
Jul 8, 2010 - Larry Geiger
I have no clue where I'm going to go with this. I certainly do not have the time to watch every skill training session that happens. I usually evaluate things like this in a Scoutmaster conference. Perhaps I'll pull in the trainee during the Life Scout's conference and chat with the two of them? We'll see how that goes. YMMV.
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