Requirements
1. Show your counselor your current, up-to-date Cyber Chip.
2. Do the following:
a. Give a brief history of the changes in digital technology
over time. Discuss with your counselor how digital
technology in your lifetime compares with that of your
parent’s, grandparent’s, or other adult’s lifetime.
b. Describe the kinds of computers or devices you imagine
might be available when you are an adult.
3. Do the following:
a. Explain to your counselor how text, sound, pictures,
and videos are digitized for storage.
b. Describe the difference between lossy and lossless data
compression, and give an example where each might
be used.
c. Describe two digital devices and how they are made
more useful by their programming.
d. Discuss the similarities and differences between computers,
mobile devices, and gaming consoles.
e. Explain what a computer network is and describe the
network’s purpose.
4. Do the following:
a. Explain what a program or software application or
“app” is and how it is created.
b. Name four software programs or mobile apps you or
your family use, and explain how each one helps you.
c. Describe what malware is, and explain how to protect
your digital devices and the information stored on them.
5. Do the following:
a. Describe how digital devices are connected to
the Internet.
b. 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 websites. Share what
you found with your counselor, and explain how you
used the search engine to find this information.
c. Use a Web browser to connect to an HTTPS (secure)
website (with your parent’s permission). Explain to
your counselor how to tell whether the site’s security
certificate can be trusted, and what it means to use this
kind of connection.
6. Do THREE of the following. For each project you complete,
copy the files to a backup device and share the finished
projects with your counselor.
a. Using a spreadsheet or database program, develop a
food budget for a patrol weekend campout OR create a
troop roster that includes the name, rank, patrol, and
telephone number of each Scout. Show your counselor
that you can sort the roster by each of the following categories:
rank, patrol, and alphabetically by name.
b. Using a word processor, write a draft letter to the
parents of your troop’s Scouts, inviting them to a
troop event.
c. Using a graphics program, design and draw a campsite
plan for your troop OR create a flier for an upcoming
troop event, incorporating text and some type of visual
such as a photograph or an illustration.
d. Using a presentation software program, develop a report
about a topic approved by your counselor. For your
presentation, create at least five slides, with each one
incorporating text and some type of visual such as a
photograph or an illustration.
e. Using a digital device, take a picture of a troop activity.
Send or transfer this image to a device where the picture
can be shared with your counselor.
f. Make a digital recording of your voice, transfer the file
to a different device, and have your counselor play back
the recording.
g. Create a blog and use it as an online journal of your
Scouting activities, including group discussions and
meetings, campouts, and other events. Include at least
five entries and two photographs or illustrations. Share
your blog with your counselor. You need not post the
blog to the Internet; however, if you choose to go live
with your blog, you must first share it with your parents
AND counselor AND get their approval.
h. Create a Web page for your troop, patrol, school, or
place of worship. Include at least three articles and two
photographs or illustrations. Include at least one link
to a website of interest to your audience. You need not
post the page to the Internet; however, if you decide to
do so, you must first share the Web page with your parents
AND counselor AND get their approval.
7. Do the following:
a. Explain to your counselor each of these protections
and why they exist: copyright, patents, trademarks,
trade secrets.
b. Explain when it is permissible to accept a free copy of a
program from a friend.
c. Discuss with your counselor an article or a news report
about a recent legal case involving an intellectual property
dispute.
8. Do TWO of the following:
a. Describe why it is important to properly dispose of
digital technology. List at least three dangerous chemicals
that could be used to create digital devices or used
inside a digital device.
b. Explain to your counselor what is required to become
a certified recycler of digital technology hardware
or devices.
c. Do an Internet search for an organization that collects
discarded digital technology hardware or devices for
repurposing or recycling. Find out what happens to that
waste. Share with your counselor what you found.
d. Visit a recycling center that disposes of digital technology
hardware or devices. Find out what happens to that
waste. Share what you learned with your counselor.
e. Find a battery recycling center near you and find out
what it does to recycle batteries. Share what you have
learned with your counselor about the proper methods
for recycling batteries.
9. Do ONE of the following:
a. Investigate three career opportunities that involve digital
technology. Pick one and find out the education, training,
and experience required for this profession. Discuss
this with your counselor, and explain why this profession
might interest you.
b. Visit a business or an industrial facility that uses digital
technology. Describe four ways digital technology is
being used there. Share what you learned with
your counselor.
Resources:
Scouting.org Merit Badges - Requirements
boyscouttrail.com Merit Badges