This module is designed to help you explore how programming affects everyday life.
Execute!
Requirements last updated 2022-05-25. There are broken links and outdated information in places and formatting may not match between two Nova awards because the requirements are preserved to match the original state from Scouting America. Where available, the related counselor notes have been included along with the requirements.
1.
Choose A or B or C and complete ALL the requirements.
A.
Watch not less than three hours total of shows or documentaries
related to programming, robotics, the Internet, networking, social
media and digital freedom, cyber security, electronics. Then do the
following:
1.
Make a list of at least five questions or ideas from the
shows you watched.
2.
Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor
that relate to programming and other computer topics.
b.
Read (not less than three hours total) about anything related to
programming, robotics, the Internet, networking, social media and
digital freedom, cyber security, electronics.
1.
Make a list of at least five questions or ideas from the
material you read.
2.
Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor
that relate to programming and other computer topics.
C.
Do a combination of reading and watching (not less than three
hours). Then do the following:
1.
Make a list of at least five questions or ideas from the
material you read.
2.
Discuss two of the questions or ideas that relate to
programming and other computer topics with your counselor.
2.
Choose ONE STEM field of interest from the following list. Complete ALL
the requirements for a Venturing STEM exploration in that field. (If you
have already completed a Venturing STEM
Exploration in one of these fields, please choose a
different field for this award.)
Computer Hardware, Cryptology, Cybersecurity, Electronics, Information
Technology, Networking, Programming, Robotics, Social Media Marketing
3.
Experiment! Choose three activities from the following list and complete
ALL the requirements.
A.
Build an app.
1.
Create an app that helps solve a problem of your choosing.
You can use a development environment of your choosing. Some
common software applications include:
a.
https://squeak.org/ (Smalltalk)
b.
Liberty Basic or the free Just Basic
c.
Free Basic
d.
Free Pascal
e.
Active State (Perl, Python, Ruby, Lua, TCL, Go)
f.
Java and NetBeans IDE
2.
With your counselor, discuss what aspects of your app make it
easy for users to use. Discuss what modifications could be
made to make the app better and easier to use.
3.
Show your app to your counselor and explain how you created
it.
B.
Investigate a new object-oriented programming language.
1.
Use an online program for learning programming to study a
language of your choice. An example of such a language is
Scratch or JavaScript or Squeak.
2.
After experimenting with the language, create a mini-video or
game that encourages potential new members to join
Venturing/Sea Scouting or tells the story of your favorite
Scouting memory.
3.
Show your program to your counselor and describe how you made
it.
C.
Create a page in HTML.
1.
Take on online course to learn about HTML.
2.
After taking the course, create a basic HTML page for your
crew or ship.
3.
Show your HTML page to your counselor and explain how you
created it.
D.
Find an old cellphone, computer, or other digital electronic and
take it apart (ask your parents or guardians for permission
first!).
1.
Identify three pieces to research.
2.
Figure out what they do and how they contribute to the
machine.
3.
Report your findings to your counselor.
E.
Investigate how the internet works.
1.
Do some research and describe the history of the internet,
its original purpose, and the technical information about how
your device uses the internet.
2.
Find out how do search engines work. Research how large
databases, like Google and Bing, manage and distribute their
data to internet users.
3.
Share your research and timeline with your counselor.
F.
Research the importance of cybersecurity.
1.
Create a poster or presentation describing the types of
malicious computer attacks, at least six common cyber and
physical attacks, and how to prevent cyber-attacks.
2.
Share your poster with your crew or ship.
3.
Explain the importance of cybersecurity with your counselor.
G.
Research the Agile Design Process.
1.
With a group of friends, use the skills that you learned to
build a tower of plastic cups as tall possible without human
or other external support.
2.
Agile Design = Build/Code, Test, Assess, Return to Code or
Deliver; students learn the importance of testing to make
sure their tower will stand in small increments instead of
waiting until the end to let it go)
H.
Investigate the components of Digital Citizenship.
1.
Locate reputable websites to cultivate a list of practices
that show healthy digital citizenship.
2.
Make a public service video that helps make others aware of
good digital citizenship.
3.
Share your video with your crew/ship and counselor.
4.
Visit and Meet! Choose ONE option and interview a person involved with
the field. If possible, visit them in that environment and see what they
do. Write down at least five questions to ask and share what you learn
with your counselor.
A.
Local gaming or programming company
B.
Computer Science/Engineering department at a local university
C.
Professionals within the fields of programming, computer science,
cybersecurity, or information technology
D.
A Hackathon or Robotics competition
5.
Discuss with your counselor how programming affects your everyday life,
and what you have learned by working on this Nova.
