Of all the Boy Scout Merit Badges I have taught, I have most enjoyed Pioneering and Computers. I am not a pioneering expert, and can't offer any help to Scouts for this. But, I do know a
little bit about computers. Therefore, I've taken to providing information and resources for Scouts interested in learning about computers and for Computer Merit Badge Counselors.
As of late, my main contributions have been posts to my blog, working my way through the requirements - knowing what I know NOW. Stay tuned, I hope to provide a list of resources for both Scouts seeking information about the Merit Badge and beyond - as well as Counselors.
I am doing this because I think that the Computer Merit Badge in its current form actually does a disservice to the Scouts and to computer professionals. Therefore, it is my goal to provide more insight and understanding. This disservice is no more apparent than in the Merit Badge's clear Microsoft bias. And while I do prefer Unix operating systems over Microsoft Windows, this bias is not the reason for my opinion. The basis for my opinion is that I believe the Merit Badge focuses on turning Scouts into computer
users, with no firm foundation. In otherwords, it makes Scouts view the computer and all that's behind it as a mysterious black box. I wish to demystify the computer. Knowledge is power, and there's no reason that the Computer Merit Badge should be taught with this in mind.
Recommended Reading
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Computer Science (ISBN: 0470090952), [Edited by Reilly]
- The New Turing Omnibus: Sixty-Six Excursions in Computer Science (ISBN: 0805071660), [Dewdney]
- Programming Challenges: The Programming Contest Training Manual (ISBN: 038700163...8), [Revilla]
I maintain a little project called
PatchLodge.com, which would not be possible without my passion for Computers, Boy Scouting, and patch collecting.
