Teaching with the Edge Method

This is a four step method for teaching a skill. It is sometimes called Scouting's Teaching EDGE.

EDGE is very basic, but it really does work. It will help Scouts learn and retain skills and can be used at every level from Cub Scouts through Scouts BSA.

What is the EDGE Method?

The EDGE method is a four step method for teaching a skill:

• Explain

• Demonstrate

• Guide

• Enable

Explain

First explain what you will be doing. Tell them the steps involved. Visual aids might be helpful for this step. Use questions to gauge their understanding.

Demonstrate

Show them how to do the skill. Demonstrate the steps using the actual materials. Describe what you are doing.

Guide

Let them practice the skill. Guide and coach them as they try to do it themselves. This step will take the most time.

Enable

Enable them by letting them do the skill themselves without any intervention.

Example of an Teaching EDGE Exercise

At a meeting, the SPL did an exercise with paper airplanes to help the participants understand the Teaching EDGE:

• Explain: They explained how they would make a paper airplane.

• Demonstrate: They got out a piece of paper and showed them how to make the paper airplane.

• Guide: They gave each of them a piece of paper and described each step. As they described the step, they did it with their pieces of paper.

• Enable: They gave them each another piece of paper and told them to make a paper airplane on their own.