 Digital Technology
This Merit Badge requires 2 sessions to complete.
The Pathways to Eagle preparation work items for the Digital Technology merit badge are: 5b, 6, 8c, 8d, 8e, 9
- Items in RED - MUST be completed before the session starts to make it possible to complete the merit badge at Pathways to Eagle. Bring proof of completion (item, written work, note, photo, etc.)
- Items in GREEN - Can be completed before the session starts or done during merit badge session.
- Items in BLACK - MUST be ready to demonstrate your knowledge of these requirements during the merit badge session.
Scouts are strongly encouraged to use a Merit Badge worksheet to show that they have done the preparation work for the merit badge.
Download the workbook for the
Digital Technology Merit Badge
in Adobe PDF format from the U.S. Scouting Service Project website.
Scouts MUST be able to discuss any items completed as preparation works or as written work.
Note: Some requirements contain items that fall into more that one category and are listed as the higher category.
NOTE: Scouts participating in the Digital Technology
Merit Badge Sessions MUST have a current, up-to-
date Cyber Chip and also MUST bring it to the
session. |
1. |
Show your counselor your current, up-to-date Cyber
Chip. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| a. |
Describe how digital devices are connected to
the Internet. |
| b. |
Using an Internet search engine (with a parent or
guardian’s permission), find ideas from at least
three different websites about how to
conduct a troop court of honor or campfire
program. Present the ideas to your counselor and
explain how you used a 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. |
| 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. |
|
The requirements listed on this web site are believed to be correct.
The official requirements can be found in the current edition of
"Boy Scout Requirements Book 2025"
Download the workbook for the
Digital Technology Merit Badge
in Adobe PDF format from, The U.S. Scouting Service Project website.
|
