In Tech & Learning’s July 2011 issue, there is an article in their News & Trends section titled “It’s so Easy Teaching Green.” This article outlines three different projects carried out by students at schools across the country that actually improved the school’s energy efficiency. Students didn’t just observe wind turbines being built and placed or solar panels being installed. The students actually got hands-on experience implementing these green technologies. Anne Seifert, a coordinator for K-12 STEM education in Idaho Falls says, "It motivates students to apply real-world science to learning in the classroom."
I think it is amazing that students are learning such advanced science at such a young age, and I really think these projects seem like a win-win for everyone involved: the students learn advanced science topics in a way they will always remember, the school saves money, and the local power companies get to be a part of the community and perhaps even recruit some future employees. Along with all those benefits, it also educates young citizens about the importance of saving energy and protecting our environment.
When I was a senior at Great Falls High School, students in an advanced physics class did a similar project with solar panels. Unfortunately, the teacher initiating the project was not as ambitious as some of the project designers mentioned in the article, and the project did not have as much of an impact as it could have.
Zuger, S. (2011, July). It's so Easy Teaching Green. Tech & Learning, 31, 12.
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