Programming Merit Badge Pamphlet Programming Merit Badge

Programming


Requirements were REVISED effective January 1, 2017, and a minor editorial change was made in 2022.

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To see the requirements, without the changes highlighted, Click here.

For the previous requirements, Click here.


In 2022, the only change made was in the note following requirement 5a. The URL was revised due to the name change from Boyslife to Scoutlife.

  1. Safety.
    Do the following:
    1. Show your counselor your current, up-to-date Cyber Chip.
      Earn the Cyber Chip
      Earning the Cyber Chip can help you learn how to stay safe while you are online and using social networks or the latest electronic gadgets. Topics include cell phone use, texting, blogging, gaming, cyberbullying, and identity theft. Find out more about the Cyber Chip at www.scouting.org/cyberchip.
    2. Discuss first aid and prevention for the types of potential injuries or illnesses, such as eyestrain and repetitive stress injuries, that could occur during programming activities, including repetitive stress injuries and eyestrain.
  2. History.
    Do the following:
    1. Give a brief history of programming, including at least three milestones related to the advancement or development of programming.
    2. Describe Discuss with your counselor the history of programming and the evolution of programming methods and how they have improved over time languages.
  3. General knowledge.
    Do the following:
    1. Create a list of 10 popular programming languages in use today and describe which industry or industries they are primarily used in and why.
    2. Describe three different programmed devices you rely on every day.
  4. Intellectual property.
    Do the following:
    1. Explain how software patents and copyrights the four types of intellectual property used to protect a programmer computer programs.
    2. Describe the difference between licensing and owning software.
    3. Describe the differences between freeware, open source, and commercial software, and why it is important to respect the terms of use of each.
  5. Projects.
    Do the following:
    1. With your counselor's approval, choose a sample program. Then, as a minimum, modify Modify the code or add a function or subprogram subroutine to it. Debug and demonstrate the modified program to your counselor.
      The Programming merit badge website, http://www.boyslife.org/programming www.scoutlife.org/programming, has a number of sample programs that you could use for requirement 5a. However, you have the option of finding a program on your own. It's a good idea to seek your merit badge counselor's guidance.
    2. With your counselor's approval, choose a second programming language and development environment, different from those used for requirement 5a and in a different industry from 5a. Then write, debug, and demonstrate a functioning program to your counselor, using that language and environment.
    3. With your counselor's approval, choose a third programming language and development environment, different from those used for requirements 5a and 5b and in a different industry from 5a or 5b. Then write, debug, and demonstrate a functioning program to your counselor, using that language and environment.
    4. Explain how the programs you wrote for requirements 5a, 5b, and 5c process inputs, how they make decisions based on those inputs, and how they provide outputs based on the decision making.
  6. Careers.
    Find out about three career opportunities that require knowledge in programming. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required. Discuss this with your counselor and explain why this career might be of interest to you.

BSA Advancement ID#: 153
Scoutbook ID#: 144
Requirements last updated in: 2017 & 2022
Pamphlet Publication Number: 35710
Pamphlet Stock (SKU) Number: 655193
Pamphlet Revision Date: 2022

 
Worksheets for use in working on these requirements: Format
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Blanks in this worksheets table appear when we do not have a worksheet for the badge that includes these requirements.


Page updated on: March 04, 2023



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