Using Learning Objectives

Dear Scouts and Scouters,

Our programme is based on helping young people progress in theSPCIES. There are a set of learning objectives associated with eacharea of the SPCIES. These help provide a focus for programmeplanning and reviewing. This document shows how the learningobjectives for each section can be linked to activities to help youthmembers achieve the personal progression badges.

Learning objectives are a great tool to ensure we run a variedprogramme that covers all areas of the SPCIES and incorporates theinterests and skills of all youth members. They can help get everyoneinvolved in an activity. Instead of an activity, such as a hike, consistingof a youth leader and followers, each member of the small group(Lodge, Six etc) can use the hike to fulfil their own objectives, such asplanning a healthy diet by making a balanced lunch or exploringnature along the way. This way each young person can takeownership for a part of the activity.

This guide explain shows how in planning and reviewing, both youthmembers and Scouters can use the learning objectives. We hope thistool will help show how the SPCIES can practically fit into yourprogramme.

Yours in Scouting,

David ShallooChief Commissioner (Youth Programme)

Learning Objectives: Connecting Activities to the Beaver Scout Trail Badges

Every human activity is directed at achieving objectives, be it makinga cup of tea to buying a house! In the Beaver Scout programme weuse objectives to help guide us to make sure we help run beneficialscouting adventures. These are called learning objectives.

There are 36 of them, and they are connected to the SPICES. As theSPICES are a very broad idea covering the development of youngpeople, the learning objectives help focus the programme ontangible age appropriate outcomes. For example, the ‘Social’ canmean practically anything involving interactions between people, solearning objectives, such as ‘Be welcoming and include others in thethings I do’ or ‘Be a Friend’ are much more useful to work with.The six members of the Fox Lodge help the Beaver Scouts to run aprogramme which engages with all six of the SPICESto advance in the Beaver Scout Trail Badges. By picking one or twomembers of the Lodge, and using the ideas associated with themthey progress in that area.

For example, when we make andfollow tracking signs, Fionn (Social)helps us understand different formsof communication and Star(Intellectual) helps us work in ateam. Afterwards, the BeaverScouts could then colour inthese dots on their trail map.

The learning objectives sheets in this document are designed to helpthe Scouters connect the SPICES and the activities you do. These arenot meant for the Beaver Scouts. Each sheet is the learningobjectives for the areas of the SPCIES, with the relevant character.These learning objectives are marked off according to activitiessuggested in the Beaver Scout book. So, if your Colony organises afield sports day you can check which of the learning objectives arerelevant, such as Being considerate to others(Social), Be active (Physical), and Be open toChallenging myself (Intellectual).The intention is not to discuss it in theseterms with the Beaver Scouts, but you couldhelp them see that the sports day is aboutthem being active outside and trying theirbest, you could tell them that they are likeZena and Star, respectively, and they can mark those areas of on theirtrail map!

Most importantly, this is a tool to help you understand that byrunning an active programme the Beaver Scouts are making progressin the SPICES anyway! This is nothing extra or new, it is just a way ofassisting you connect your activities and the SPICES. Using thesesheets you can help the Beaver Scouts mark off their trail map andget their Beaver Scout Trail Badges.

Learning Objectives: Planning and Reviewing with the Travel Cards

Cub Scouts achieve their Adventure Quest Awards by makingprogress in the SPICES. They can do this by using their travel card.On each of the travel cards, there are ‘Learning Objectives’ whichare marked off when reviewing activities. By trying to complete asmany as possible through activities and adventure skills, you canrun a beneficial cub scouting programme that covers all of theSPICES. The Atlantic Six can help us understand and use theLearning Objectives in planning and reviewing. This document isdesigned to supplement this process by showing which of theLearning Objectives are relevant to the activities in the AdventureQuest Book.

The travel cards are a review andplanning tool. Firstly, at the end of aprogramme cycle, a Scouter can sitwith a Six and quickly decide onwhich cards are relevant and markoff the appropriate objective. Forexample, they might have learned some Sign Language, so they canmark off Communication on Sarah’s (Social) card and Respectothers on Conor’s (Character) card. After a few programme cycles,the Cub Scouts will have marked off many of the items on theirtravel cards. However, there will be probably be some objectiveswhich are remaining. When planning the next activity in their Six,with the help of a Scouter, they can organise an activity the willhelp them achieve the remaining objectives on the travel cards; forexample, if the Six needs to some from Phil’s (Physical) card theycould play the ‘Roman Games’.

The learning objective sheets in this document are designed to helpthe Scouters connect the learning objectives on the travel cards tothe activities being planned and reviewed. Scouters can refer to it ifthey are unsure which travel cards and what objectives are relevantto an activity. For example, if the Pack has just made River Boatsfrom the Land of the Nile, the Scouter can scan down the sheet andsee items on Phil’s (Physical) and Isabelle’s (Intellectual) cards arerelevant. Then, when the Scouter is helping a Six review, they canguide them in marking off their travel cards.

This resource is a tool to help Scouters understand that by runningan active programme the Cub Scouts are making progress in theSPICES anyway! This is nothing extra or new, it is just a way ofassisting you connect your activities and the travel cards. Thesesheets are a reference to help use the travel cards whenplanning and reviewing activities.

Crean Awards Record SheetsThere are different ways of keeping track of your personal scouting journeythrough the Crean Awards. You can use a the Crean Award Record Sheets inthis document. The PL/APL should look after the Record Sheets for the patrolmembers - this will mainly be the Discovery, Terra Nova, and Endurance AwardSheets. During a Patrol Corner discussing Badgework (check out this resourceon Patrol Corners: goo.gl/N4eer1), the patrol will talk about recent activitiesand see how they helped the scouts achieve a section of the award. If thePL/APL and scout are happy that the scout completed that requirement theymark the date on the sheet. At the Patrol Leaders’ Council, the PLs/APLs assestheir personal progress with each other and with the Scouters; and, then markit of on the Endurance or Polar sheet which is kept by a PL or a Scouter. Pleasenote that these are intended to help asses progress in each scout’s personaljourney, and should, therefore, not be put on the wall or shared with others.

Emma did her patrol presentation at a Patrol Corner in Feb

Laura, the PL, reminded Sarah that she helped at the bake sale when asked

Shane is keeping track of all the Patrol & Troop events he helps with

All the Patrol participated in a Community Project organised by Mark, the APL, for his Polar Award and Chief Scout Award

Using Learning Objectives to build your Venture Scout Programme

Your Venture Scout Programme is based around making progress inthe different areas of the SPICES. We use the SPICES to help guideus to make sure we run varied and interesting scouting adventures.The Fiontar Awards, Suas and Trasna, help us focus on this aim. Thesix areas of the SPICES are broken down into 36 learning objectives.As the SPICES are a very broad idea, the learning objectives helpfocus the programme on tangible outcomes. For example, the‘Social’ can mean practically anything involving interactionsbetween people, so learning objectives, such as ‘Get involved inyour community’ or ‘Try to understand other cultures’ are muchmore useful to work with.

The Venture Scout Programme is based on these steps:Preparation (once a year)• Use the SPICE Wheel• Each Venture Scouts choose 18 objectives to progress towards,

these should define their role on activities throughout the yearPlan• The Crew or Unit begins to plan a programme cycle• Each Venture Scout has an objective• Crews generate activity ideas which will allow each member to

achieve their objectives• Executive combines ideas and decides on Venture Activity

Programme

Do• Activity Crews are formed• Prepare and practice skills• Do the activitiesReview• Review the activity as a Venture Unit• Evaluate how you progressed towards your objectives• Plan a new cycleThe learning objectives sheets in this document are designed to helpyou to connect our objectives to the activities you plan. On the grids,one for each of the SPICES, there are learning objectives marked offaccording to a selection of activities. So, if you organise an overnightkayak/canoe trip the grid suggests it would help Venture Scouts withPhysical objectives (Making time for physical activity; Getting medicalhelp when you are not feeling well), Intellectual (Able to learnsomething from every new situation; Plan, carry out and review aproject; Know what qualities you bring to a team), Character (Try yourbest in everything you Do; Embrace the Scouting Spirit); Emotional(Confidence to deal with all that life can throw at you); and, Spiritual(Positive impact on the environment). There’s something in this oneactivity that will help everyone in the Crew.

This document is designed to help you plan and review using thelearning objectives in a practical way. It can be used by the Crew oreach of you individually to mark off the objectives you can reach byplanning, doing, and reviewing different activities. There are blanksections on the grid which will allow you to add your own activitiesand mark off the objectives you think are relevant using the samplesfor inspiration.

The learning objective grids are designed to supplement the currentplanning and reviewing tools. They link activities and objectives tohelp you achieve your Suas and Trasna awards.Print them out, and give them a try!

The learning objective grids are designed to supplement thecurrent planning and reviewing tools. They link activities andobjectives to help you achieve your Suas and Trasna awards.Print them out, and give them a try!

The Rover Challenge: Using Learning Objectives to build your Rover Scout Programme

Your Rover Scout Programme is based helping you develop asindividual in a holistic manner. The six areas of the SPICES helpwork towards that goal! As the SPICES are a very broad idea, theyare broken down into 36 learning objects which help focus theprogramme on tangible outcomes. For example, the ‘Social’ canmean practically anything involving interactions between people,so learning objectives, such as ‘I respect the social intergration ofother cultures’ or ‘I make a positive contribution to society’ aremuch more useful to work with.

The Rover Scout Programme is based on these steps:Plan• The Crew or Unit begins to plan a programme cycle by picking

one of the ASSES to do a project in• Each Rover Scout brings their own goals, such as achieving a

learning objective or taking on a new role• Crews plan a project which will allow each member to achieve

their objectivesDo• Prepare and practice skills• Do the activitiesReview• Review the activity as a Crew• Evaluate how you progressed towards your objectives• Plan a new cycle

The learning objectives sheets in this document are designed tohelp you to connect your objectives to the activities you plan. Onthe grids, one for each of the SPICES, there are learning objectivesmarked off according to a selection activities. So, if you organise asign language course the grid suggests it would help Rover Scoutswith Social objectives (Develop the skills attitudes needed to buildand maintain meaningful and appropriate relationships andfriendships; I use my communication skills effectively; I recognisemy roles within society) Physical objectives (I understand thatsociety is richer because of physical differences), Intellectual (I amresponsible for my own learning), and Character (I accept myabilities and be content with them while striving to be the best thatI can be). There’s something in this one activity that will helpeveryone in the Crew.

This document is designed to help you plan and review using thelearning objectives in a practical way. It can be used by the Crew oreach of you individually to mark off the objectives you reach byplanning, doing, and reviewing different activities. There are blanksections on the grid which will allow you to add your own activitiesand mark off the objectives you think are relevant using thesamples for inspiration. After a few uses, each Rover Scout or theCrew will become aware of the areas they are progressing in, andthe ones that might need more attention. This information can helpyou plan the next activity or programme cycle to meet thoseobjectives.

The learning objective grids are designed to supplement thecurrent planning and reviewing tools. They link activities andobjectives to help you achieve your Rover Scout Challenge.

Print them out, and give them a try.