Think Like a Programmer

Like the other "Thnk Like A..." Journeys, the plans for Think Like a Programmer are on GSUSA's Volunteer Toolkit, which many leaders find overly wordy and difficult to follow.  Therefore, I reviewed the Daisy, Brownie, Junior and Multi-level plans and have prepared this summary.  The references to page numbers come from the plans posted by Girl Scouts Farthest North.

Purpose: Solve Big Problems Step By Step:

On this Journey, Girl Scouts will do hands-on activities to learn how computer programmers think through problems. They’ll learn to follow and create algorithms, break big problems down into smaller ones, and persist when faced with challenges. 

Vocabulary:

Think Like an Engineer

Last year, GSUSA came out with three new "Think Like A...." Journeys.  The plans for them can be accessed on VTK or at the website of Girl Scouts Farthest North.  Unfortunately, those plans are long and repetitive and many leaders find them difficult to use.  

I reviewed the plans and prepared my own summary.  I hope you find it useful.

Vocabulary:

Brainstorming: is what happens when you and your troop get together to come up with ideas

Conflict:  is when people argue or don’t agree about something

Engineers are people who like to know how things work. They design and build things people use every day like computers, phones, roads, bridges and cars

Prototype is a sample when you want to show someone your idea.  It could be a drawing or something  you made to show what your idea looks like

The Purpose of the Journey is to learn to Think Like an Engineer and to use those skills to conceive, plan and carry out a Take Action Project. Girls carry out activities to learn engineering skills and spend some time at every meeting on the Take Action Project. Girls will learn to brainstorm to solve a problem, design prototypes, test them to see what does and doesn’t work, then improve their designs. 

What Is a Girl Scout Journey?

One thing that has changed since I was a girl is that Girl Scouts now have Journeys.

What is a Journey?

Journeys are Girl Scouts' service learning component, or leadership awards.  The original Journeys came out about nine years ago, when the current program started.  Rather than being a skill or activity-based award like badges, Journeys were supposed to teach girls to "discover" something about the world, to "connect" with resources and organizations in their community and to "take action"--to do something to make the world a better place.  

The publicity that came out when the Journeys did touted them as a whole new way to "do" Girl Scouts.  The number of badges was cut and the reasoning was that girls would be spending their time on these Journeys. Leaders' guides came with six to twelve lesson plans per Journey and spoke about badges, cookies and camping as being "side-trips".  Clearly GSUSA planned that girls would spend a good part of the GS year working on Journeys, and, for older girls, on the higher awards--the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards.  

The original Journeys have never been enthusiastically embraced by the membership.  Leaders who use the provided plans usually have unhappy girls.  GSUSA and the councils that train leaders have jumped onto the "adapt them" bandwagon.  Make the Journeys your own; just meet these very basic requirements.  

What Is the Purpose of a Journey?

GSUSA wants Girl Scouts to "Discover" problems in their community; "Connect with resources or organizations in their community and "Take Action" to create lasting solutions to problems.  These "Take Action" projects are different from service projects in that service projects are designed to meet an immediate need, but do not address the root cause of the problem.  Take Action projects are supposed to address that root cause either by the design of the project or some educational component.  Journeys are supposed to teach girls how to do Take Action Projects so that they will be prepared for the Bronze, Silver and Gold.

Take Action Project or Community Service?

In designing a Take Action Project, Girl Scouts are supposed to ask "Why" the problem exists, and to address that reason.  For example, if girls notice that kids are getting hurt on the playground, they could donate bandaids to the school nurse (community service) but that does nothing to address the root cause.  Maybe the are getting hurt because there isn't enough mulch, so they get mulch donated and spread it.  If the girls are concerned about global warming and notice that parents are sitting in the car line for five minutes with the engines running, they might make signs encouraging them to turn off the engines.  PIcking up litter in the park is community service; realizing that the reason the litter is there is because there are no trash cans and having one installed is a Take Action Project.

I'm Back in Brownies

Every now and then I'd poke around my Blogger account and find this blog.  It has been dormant for years because it has been years since I was a Brownie leader.  But...I'm back. This year I have a mixed troop of Daisies and Brownies so, I'll write about my Brownies here.