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Is It Time For Hacker Scouts?

Posted by Soulskill on from the earn-a-lightsaber-badge dept.

ptorrone writes "MAKE Magazine asks: is it 'Time For Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts 2.0?' What might the future of education be like if it were based on online & earned skill badges, and what could the future of traditional organizations for kids, like the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, be like in a very modern, tech-savvy world? Social networks and the maker movement are the perfect intersection of where the kids of today are, but we don't see 'leaderboards' for skills yet; we only see them for video games. Is it time for Hacker Scouts?"

6 of 186 comments (clear)

  1. Is it time? by YrWrstNtmr · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Yes, probably. Let's roll some tech into it.
    But do NOT lose the outdoor aspect. Camping, etc. Far, far too many kids have no clue what the "big green room with the blue and white ceiling" looks and smells like.

    1. Re:Is it time? by Hatta · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The funny thing is, I remember computer camps being common in the 80s. Somehow as computers got more popular, computer camps got less so.

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      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    2. Re:Is it time? by lightknight · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Yes, I've seen that kind of 'appliance' thinking in action.

      That's why we have a weird schism. One generation which bankrupted us and couldn't fix a toaster to save their lives, another which could write a fair number of new OSs but is hamstrung on the financial issue, and another generation immediately thereafter which has acquired both generation's mistakes and understands neither finances nor technology. W00F!

      --
      I am John Hurt.
  2. Fine as is by twnth · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I do not think it is necessary to reform all organizations to match some illusionary techno elite mold.

    Scouts/Guides teach different skills, like what the sun looks like and how to get along with others, that are not well represented by the can't-lift-face-from-LCD crowd.

    Badges are about basic skills and sense of accomplishment (little milestones met). Leaderboards are about competition. Each has their merit.

    P.S. Get off my lawn

  3. No by Hentes · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Isn't the point of scouts is to get kids out of the basement to move and do something?

  4. Not really by bjdevil66 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Yes, the core Scouting organizations could use online resources for organizational purposes or for some merit badges that could be done online.

    However, most of the valuable experiences from scouting can only be gained in person - experiencing things in real life. Camping. Swimming. Hiking. Shooting. Meeting people in various fields and getting a real education about a topic (even if it is cursory), Etc.

    However, online scouting would lose a lot of the value you get by interacting with live people who can share their experiences.