The following is taken from the Session 7 presentation on SET Abilities during the 2012 4-H Science eAcademy:

“Recent research suggests that learning science requires fluency in multiple aspects of conceptual understanding, practices of science, and identification with the scientific community. While 4-H programs have historically emphasized the development of science process skills (which refer to measurable behaviors and transferable abilities reflective of processes involved with scientific reasoning), there is movement towards more authentic engagement in scientific and engineering practices, as outlined in the new Framework for K-12 Science Education. Science and engineering are human enterprises. To be scientifically literate, youth need to jointly understand scientific and engineering concepts, be able to engage in scientific and engineering practices, and see themselves as consumers of and contributors to the scientific community. This session introduces a number of pedagogical frameworks for engaging youth in science and engineering, including 4-H SET Abilities, Exploratorium’s science process skills, and the NGSS scientific and engineering practices.”

Through 4-H Science, Engineering and Technology, youth are engaged in Scientific Inquiry as well as the Engineering Design Process.  This program not only helps youth understand content but also encourages them to do so through hands-on learning practices.  Despite the challenges faced in the past program year, the Kentucky 4-H SET program, through the efforts of volunteers and 4-H Professionals have worked to increase STEM related programming to all audiences. Through educational programming such as a Statewide 4-H PosSTEMbilities Project Group, National 4-H STEM Challenge, Aerospace, Biotechnology, Computer Science, Electricity, Geospatial Technology and Robotics, Kentucky 4-H SET programs have reached over 34,000 Youth and close to 3,000 volunteers.  In addition, Leadership development, career exploration, decision-making skills, youth voice and personal development are important parts of the Kentucky 4-H Youth Development program and are offered through state 4-H Teen Leadership Boards.  In 2015-16, the first Kentucky 4-H Science, Engineering and Technology Leadership Board was organized.  In its sixth year (2020-21), this Board was made up of 13 youth and 3 advisors. The goal of this Board is to develop an educational program that provides youth opportunities to: master technical skills and creative abilities; explore careers in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics; develop leadership abilities and character; build self-confidence; improve public speaking and presentation skills and share knowledge with others.  This year’s SET Leadership Board worked virtually to develop high quality STEM opportunities for KY 4-H youth as well as other youth and adults throughout the Commonwealth and on a National Level at the Virtual National Youth STEM Summit.  Graduates from the SET Leadership Board are going on to pursue their passions as they further their education in areas such as Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Aviation Technology (pilot), Pre-Veterinary/Vet School and Computer Science to mention a few.

County 4-H Programs are constantly providing Positive Youth Development experiences to enhance life skills for participating youth.  These skills will not only help them in relation to STEM fields, but also allow them to make better, more analytical decisions in all aspects of their lives.

Examples of this type of skill development come from many parts of the Commonwealth.  

Clay County 4-H (Alissa Ackerman):  

“As society continues to experience technology advances, it is difficult to imagine a world without everyday computer and phone devices. These conveniences are made possible with the skills and knowledge of individuals behind the scenes in science, engineering, and technology career fields. According to County Health Rankings, the unemployment rate for Clay County is 7 percent compared to the statewide rate of 4 percent. Research also indicates that STEM related occupations are on the rise (Fayer, Lacey and Watson, 2017). Therefore, in a complex society that is ever-changing, it is crucial to provide learning opportunities that prepare youth on how to solve real world issues and become career ready. Through the Kentucky 4-H Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) program, youth have the opportunity to achieve these goals. For the first time, Clay County 4-H has a youth member, Emma, that serves on the Kentucky 4-H SET Leadership Board.

The Kentucky 4-H SET Leadership Board creates a positive learning environment for high schoolers to explore career options, build leadership skills, work with youth across the state and develop project ideas for leadership events. Emma recently helped prepare for a 4-H Summit workshop related to STEM. Members presented a lesson and activity that reached over 70 youth across the state. Emma explained, “So far, this opportunity has helped me work on my leadership skills and is helping prepare for a future in the STEM world.” The SET Leadership Board also provides opportunities for those to connect with individuals of similar career interests. Emma described, “A former board member is currently in the field of bioengineering, which is what I am interested in, this will help me get a better idea of what the field will be like.” 

Emma currently serves as the Board’s Historian, which involves several responsibilities. The Kentucky 4-H SET Leadership Board allows members to serve for a total of 4 years. Emma plans to apply again, as she continues to have positive learning experiences.”

Russell County 4-H (Christy Martin):

During the COVID19 pandemic when schools were shut down to in-person learning, Russell County 4-H provided opportunities for youth to explore different science concepts through the “Science in a Box” program.  Science is loved by many youth because it offers a hands-on method of exploring sometimes complex scientific concepts.  

Over the course of six months, six kits of learning materials on various topics were provided to 19 4-H youth.  The youth received learning packets of information and hands-on science or art-related projects to complete related to the month’s subject.  In October the youth learned about the sun’s energy and how it drives all life forms and transitions into different forms of potential and kinetic energy; the youth made nature sun prints and built a solar oven from a pizza box to make s’mores.  In November, the youth learned about leaves and photosynthesis and how the sun’s energy gets converted in the leaves of plants to make sugars as well as is the main driver of the oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange cycle.  The youth made a leaf coaster to go with this project box.  In December, the youth learned more about trees and created an oil pastel piece of art.  In January, the youth learned about flowers and their role in food production; they made a flower bookmark.  Also as part of this kit, the youth learned simple coding by using Braille to write their name and learn more about the anatomy of the human eye.  In February, the youth explored the water cycle with some water Olympics experiments to learn about the cohesive properties of water.  The final kit in March provided greater knowledge of bees, honey production, and pollination.  The youth were able to taste honey from four regions of the USA, practice “pollinating” paper flowers using Cheetos dust on their fingers, and made a three dimensional wood bee puzzle to learn more about the anatomy of insects.

As the youth completed the projects, the families e-mailed pictures to the agent.  At the end of the program, an adult associated with the youth completed a survey that indicated that the families had completed about 75% of the projects.  One parent said that participating in the Science in a Box program “gave my child something to look forward to. It sparked an interest in the things around her and made her curious about how things work.”

Knott County 4-H (Dora Centers):

“Knott Co 4-H partnered with Knott Co GEAR Up to reach 8^th and 9^th graders with a STEM based learning opportunity.  The project reached 331 youth throughout the six elementary and two high schools. The GEAR UP representatives distributed the projects making them available at every school location throughout the county. 

The STEM brown bag project gave the youth parameters and goals to build a bridge with the highest capacity.  The outcomes ranged from 7 to 53 units of weight.  The designs of structures contributed to the varying results.  Their materials included typical household items; straws, Q-tips, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners and scotch tape.  The units of weight were measured in candy pumpkins.

The 4-H STEM project included a career connection to engineering.  The career connection component gave youth the chance to learn about attributes of engineers.  Youth then identified which of those attributes they were already proficient at and utilized during the lesson.   Those responses included, “good communication skills, understand the scientific method and principles, structure planning, decision making, creativity and understanding social content. QR code and google forms were utilized to gather responses and data virtually.

GEAR UP promotes collage and career readiness. This will be an ongoing partnership this year.”