Computers

1. Discuss with your counselor the tips for online safety.
2. Give a short history of the computer. Explain how the invention of the computer has affected society, science, and technology. In your explanation, give a short history of the computer.
3. Do the following:
   1. Explain Describe four different uses of computers outside the home.
   2. Describe three ways you and your family could use a personal computer other than for games and recreation entertainment.
4. Explain to your counselor the following to your counselor:
   1. The five major parts of a computer system.
   2. How the types of files used to store text, sound, pictures, and video files are stored in a computer's memory
   3. How file compression works and how compression affects the quality of the file.
   4. Describe two computer chip-based devices, and describe how they are "smarter" because of the chip and its program.
5. Do the following:
   1. Explain what a program or software application is and how it is developed.
   2. Give Name three examples of programming languages, and describe their uses.
   3. Name four software packages you or your family could use, and explain how you would use them.
   4. Discuss ways you can help protect a computer from viruses and how to keep secure protect the information that has been saved stored on a computer.
   5. Describe how computers are linked to form generate and access the Internet and the World Wide Web.
6. Do THREE of the following:
   1. Use a database manager to create a troop roster that includes the name, rank, patrol, and telephone number of each Scout. Show your counselor that you can sort the register by each of the following categories: rank, patrol, and alphabetically by name.
      b. Use Using a spreadsheet program, to develop a food budget for a patrol weekend campout.
   2. c. Use Using a word processor, to write a letter to the parents of your troop's Scouts inviting them to a court of honor. Use the program's mail merge feature to make a personalized copy of the letter for each family.
   3. Using a computer graphics program, design and draw a campsite plan for your troop.
   4. Use Using a computer graphics program, create to design and draw a campsite plan for your troop, OR design a flyer flier for an upcoming troop event, incorporating both text and some type of visual such as a photograph or illustration.
   5. Using a software package of your choice, develop a short presentation about a topic that has been approved by your counselor. For your presentation create at least 10 slides.
      f. Using an Internet search engine (with your parent's permission), find ideas about how to conduct a troop court of honor or campfire program. Print out a copy of the ideas from at least three different Web sites. Share what you found with your counselor, and explain how you used the search engine to find this information.
   6. Using a presentation software program of your choice, develop a report about a topic that has been approved by your counselor. For your presentation, create at least 10 slides.
   7. Using a digital camera, take a picture of a troop activity. Transfer the picture file to a computer and use photographic software to make it small enough to send easily as an e-mail attachment. Then, using a computer connected to the Internet (with your parent's permission), send an e-mail to someone you know. In your message, include the photograph as an attachment. Verify that the person received your e-mail and was able to view the attachment.
   8. Describe two computer chip-based devices, and explain how they are "smarter" because of the chip and its program.
      Using a database manager, create a troop roster that includes the name, rank, patrol, and telephone number of each Scout. Show your counselor that you can sort the register by each of the following categories: rank, patrol, and alphabetically by name.
7. Do ONE of the following:
   1. Visit a business or an industrial plant that uses computers. Observe what tasks the computers accomplish, and be prepared to discuss what you have learned.
      Using a database program of your choice, create a troop roster that includes the name, rank, patrol, and telephone number of each Scout. Create a form within the database manager to access each Scout's information individually. Show your counselor how the form works.
   2. Using a software package of your choice for computer aided design (CAD), create an engineering-style drawing of a simple object. Include the top, bottom, and at least one side view and the dimensions.
   3. Use a general purpose programming language to write a simple program application of your choice, subject to approval by your counselor.
      Create a blog and use it as an online journal of your Scouting activities, including group discussions and meetings, campouts, and other events. Your blog should have at least five entries and two photographs or illustrations. You need not post the blog to the Internet, but you will need to share it with your counselor. If you decide to go live with your blog, you must first share it with your parents AND counselor and get their approval.
   4. Design Create a Web page for your troop, patrol, school, or place of worship. Include at least three articles and two photographs or illustrations. Your Web page should have at least one link to a Web site that would be of interest to your audience. You need not post the page to a Web site the Internet. However, if you decide to do so, you will first need to get your parent's permission and your counselor's approval, as well as permission from the host site must first share it with your parents AND counselor and get their approval .
   5. Visit a business or an industrial plant that uses computers. Observe what tasks the computers accomplish, and be prepared to discuss what you have learned.
8. For each of the following categories, discuss several related terms: input and output devices, storage media, memory, processors and coprocessors, modems or network cards, networks, World Wide Web and Internet, electronic mail, Wi-Fi.
   9. Explain the following to your counselor:
   1. Why it is not permissible to accept a free copy of a copyrighted computer game or program from a friend
      Why copyright laws exist
   2. The restrictions and limitations of downloading music from the Internet
      Why it is not permissible to accept a free copy of a paid, copyrighted computer game or program from a friend unless the game or program is considered freeware or shareware. Explain the concepts of freeware and shareware.
   3. Why copyright laws exist
      The restrictions and limitations of downloading music from the Internet
9. 10. Pick two Find out about three career opportunities in the computer industry. field that interest you. Find out what Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience those positions require required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you. Report what you learn to your counselor.

BSA Advancement ID#: 36
Requirements last updated in: 2010
Pamphlet Publication Number: 35878
Pamphlet Stock (SKU) Number: 35878
Pamphlet Revision Date: 2009

Blanks in this worksheets table appear when we do not have a worksheet for the badge that includes these requirements.