Clarification Needed
M. Konigsdorffer (mkonigsd@SURFSOUTH.COM)
Thu, 2 Sep 1999 22:59:16 -0700
I know that someone on this list will have the straight answer to my
question.
Tonight at roundtable, one of the scoutmasters who went to a Leadership
Development course for OA out West somewhere this summer, came up with
what the rest of us thought was off the wall. Now we want the truth or
further enlightment.
He said that National was putting out a self study guide via Internet
and CD ROM for both Scoutmaster Fundamentals and for Cub Leader Basic.
This self study guide would REPLACE any training put on by the districts
and would therefore equalize training for all leaders nationwide
--everyone gets the same information in exactly the same format. Outdoor
skills would continue to be hands on. Now here is the clincher, we would
all then be subject to a test that we would all have to pass before
National issued a trained patch. The test would be a mix format
(multiple choice, short answer, essay) and each CD ROM or Internet
access would randomize the tests from a bank of 1000's of questions. One
would have to answer about 100 or so to qualify for your position. He
also mentioned there would be different levels that you would have to go
through (Step 1-4)for further training "opportunities"
Also mentioned that ALL merit badge books will be done away with because
of the access on the Internet and that National is losing tons of money.
In the year 2000 one would need Internet access and a credit card to get
the books.
I want to make any clarification before it hits the streets in my
district as the real thing. If this is all true, then we really are in
for big changes training wise. If people don't come to hear real people
how much more likely are they going to do it solely on their own? We
already have self-study guides, but they are a poor substitute for
experience.
Waiting with baited breath: You can e-mail me privately.
Melissa
DTC
