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SUSTAINABILITY IN OUR SCHOOL (SOS): RENEWABLE ENERGY
Applicant and/or teacher sponsor:
Tobin Hahn
Community Members:
Steve Heckeroth, Michael Edwards
Partnerships Involved:
Real Goods Solar Living Center
Number of students affected:
160
Length of project:
1997-1998
Brief description of the project:
The purpose of this project is to educate students and the community
on alternative energy and sustainability by working towards making
the Middle School a model site of sustainable design concepts.
2. Connections
How does the project connect with our theme of people, history,
and place? How does the project interact with the community?
How will you evaluate or assess the community impact?
How does the project connect with other NCRCN members/sites?
I visualize this project as a component of a much larger theme
that was present at the NCRCN Conference as well as in the mission
statement of the grant. This is the theme of sustainability, which
appears in the form of recycling and composting projects, garden
projects, and habitat restoration projects to name a few. My specific
project, renewable energy, is congruous with other projects at
the site that promote a "greening" of the school and the surrounding
community. The goal of the project is to educate students and
the community on alternative energy and sustainability by making
the middle school a model site of sustainable design concepts.
Students will do an energy audit of the school and possibly their
home to get baseline data. At the end of the project, students
will assess the changes toward efficiency and sustainability that
have been made.
Ongoing communication about the project will be shared between
students and teachers at network sites. There will also be collaboration
among the network schools to work with larger corporations, such
as Real Goods, in providing educational opportunities.
3. Student Learning
How will the project improve student learning?
How will you evaluate or assess what students have learned? What
kind of data will you collect? Will you have an Action Research
question? How will students be involved in the evaluation of the
project?
How does the project invite student planning/student choice?
How will students share their project and learning with others
at their own site, other sites or within the community?
Will your project have a service learning component? If so please
describe.
Students will understand basic concepts in physics relating to
energy. Students will have hands-on experience in installing working
examples of renewable energy. There will be opportunities to learn
construction as well as research, organizational and public speaking
skills. Overall they will gain an understanding of the concept
of sustainability and how they can incorporate it into their life
to make a difference for their environment.
Students will be evaluated on their project work, reflective writing
and participation. A test on the scientific concepts will also
be given.
A question for action research: Will students be inspired to pursue
sustainable solutions based on the introductory material and data
collection about the school or home use of energy?
Research and projects will be primarily student driven within
the framework of the unit. Student projects will be shared with
the school and local community and other network schools.
There is a service learning component to the project in the work
students do to help the school district or their household identify
and implement energy savings. It is also a first step in educating
students in career skills and opportunities in alternative energy
field.
4. Support:
What kind of support would you like from the coordinator/TSA?
What kinds of funds will you need for the project? (staff development,
release time for planning, transportation, materials) Please supply
a general budget.
What other sources might provide additional funding for the project?
Coordinator will be used to assist in interdistrict video conferences
or seminars, to help with field trip arrangements and to make
connections within the community.
Budget:
Total $800
Staff development- Up to two release days to visit other sites
and plan with community members and other teachers. ($150)
Transportation- student and parent field trip to Real Goods Solar
Living Center in Hopland ($150)
Supplies- solar panels, solar kits, efficient light bulbs, energy
bike maintenance, carpentry ($500)
Other funding sources to be explored- DOE, local utilities, district
maintenance fund, Real Goods
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