Knowledge Is the New Power?

Writers: Laura Lozon, Sarah Straub, Sage Trudeau, & Jordan Yamada 

RPI Environment and PoliticsProfessor Kelly Grindstaff

Narrative

Troy High School

RPI

Aims, Location, and Organization

• Work with local middle school students

• Use college students to volunteer at their local middle school

• YES • Allowing the 2 parties to come together• Providing the logistics, organization, and resources to both

parties

Potential for Scaling Up and Out

• Starting small we learn how to teach it right

• Use the connectivity of the internet to distribute learning material

• Cheap and beneficial to everyone involved.

• Tailor program to focus on an area’s energy sources

Related Projects and Involved Organizations• Youth Energy Initiative• The National Energy Education Development (NEED)

• The US Department of Energy• KidWind

Rationale• It is important to realize that these students will soon inherit this world

and they need to understand how it is powered.

• The youth can have an impact on the energy consumption of their homes.

• Energy conservation has a direct correlation to saving money and there is every reason to, at the very least, learn and try.

• Middle school students are at a perfect age to understand the environmental issues and have an interest in learning and making a difference.

Project Design and Context• Our organization will be called YES (Youth for Energy Sustainability).

We will be developing and promoting sustainability with energy education materials that outreach groups in colleges around the country can use to teach middle school students.

• Because our project is education-themed, we will require little very funding for material distribution and lab material.

• YES will start locally in Troy Middle School but we plan to expand and cater the presentation to any of the local energy issues in other area.

• Because the ‘green’ movement is popular amongst many people, especially students, this may improve the reception to our project.

• Energy efficiency will save money in the home, school and community.

Key Phases1. Assess approximate interest in energy education from college students

2. Acquire funding for our project from US Government and related groups

3. Develop an energy education presentation1. Inform about energy and its role in society; the current issues2. Discuss actions that can be taken and sustainability methods 3. Perform an interactive sustainability lab to interest the students4. Discuss the future along with the future role of energy

4. Distribute materials to interested college students using the internet as a medium

5. Monitor progress of outreach groups by surveying and keeping in contact

Sample Curriculum• Goal:

• Each student will create a flyer that explains an environmental issue in simple terms and provide suggestions for improving the problem. The flyer should be something that could easily be mass produced and distributed.

• Objectives:

• Learn sustainability issues faced by society today.

• Learn how to portray an idea in a manner that it is accessible to as many people as possible.

• Apply prior knowledge and continue research on issues pertaining to sustainability

Stakeholders• Students of the proposed age group

• College Students

• Parents/PTA

• Students of other age groups

• Energy Companies

• Green Tech Companies

• School Officials

Summary• Through exploring energy issues students will become familiar

with forces external to their community and how to use them in the development of a sustainable future.

• Youth for Energy Sustainability offers an alternative perspective on energy issues to middle school students.

• YES will link together the knowledge of college students with the interest of these younger students.

Works Cited

Alvia, Mario, and Laurie Guevara-Stone. "Teaching Cuba's Energy Revolution." Solartoday.org. Solar Today, Jan.-Feb. 2009. Web. 31 Oct. 2012.

"America's Home Energy Education Challenge." America’s Home Energy Education Challenge. U.S. Department of Education, 24 May 2011. Web. 19 Oct. 2012. <http://www.ed.gov/blog/2011/05/americas-home-energy-education-challenge/>.

The Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies. Digital image. Rensselaer Alumni Association, n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2012. <http://alumni.rpi.edu/s/1225/2col.aspx?sid=1225&gid=1&pgid=1213>.

Girl Holding CFL. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2012. <http://image1.masterfile.com/em_w/02/08/36/619-02083617w.jpg>. Green Image. Digital image. Calvin.edu, n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2012.

<http://www.calvin.edu/admin/provost/images/headers/things/sustainable/sustainable_energy.jpg>. Hiskes, Jonathan. "Coal Coloring Book Teaches Kids All about Dirty Energy." 8 Comments 19 Aug 2009 10:19 PM Share on Reddit

Share on Stumbleupon Share on Email Share on Print Coal Coloring Book Teaches Kids All about Dirty Energy . Grist, 19 Aug. 2009. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. <http://grist.org/article/2009-08-19-coal-coloring-book-teaches-kids-about-dirty-energy/>.

Hiskes, Jonathan. "Middle School Teacher Responds on Real Energy Education for Kids." Middle School Teacher Responds on Real Energy Education for Kids. Grist, 22 Aug. 2009. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. <http://grist.org/article/2009-08-21-middle-school-teacher-responds-on-real-energy-education-for-kids/>.

Hu, Winnie. "Schools Cut Their Energy Bills." The New York Times. The New York Times, 15 Aug. 2011. Web. 27 Oct. 2012. <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/15/education/15energy.html>.

Markham, Derek. "KidWind Makes Renewable Energy Education Fun and Engaging." KidWind Makes Renewable Energy Education Fun and Engaging. Tree Hugger, 25 Oct. 2012. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. <http://www.treehugger.com/gadgets/kidwind-makes-renewable-energy-education-fun-and-engaging.html>.

Mother Earth News Editors. "Alternative Energy Education." Alternative Energy Education. Mother Earth News, Mar.-Apr. 1981. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. <http://www.motherearthnews.com/nature-community/alternative-energy-education-zmaz81mazraw.aspx>.

NEED Logo. Digital image. NEED, n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2012. <http://www.spe.org/atce/2011/pages/education/images/NEEDlogosmall.gif>.

Pimental, Ken. "NBC Right Now/KNDO/KNDU Tri-Cities, Yakima, WA |Tempe Union High School District Links Learning with Innovative Sustainability and Energy Education Program to Enhance Student Success." Tempe Union High School District Links Learning with Innovative Sustainability and Energy Education Program to Enhance Student Success . NBC, 2012. Web. 27 Oct. 2012. <http://www.kndo.com/story/19653287/tempe-union-high-school-district-links-learning-with-innovative-sustainability-and-energy-education-program-to-enhance-student-success>.

Troy Middle School. Digital image. Http://www.pthsd.k12.nj.us/sch/bms/images/schoolplanesm.JPG. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2012. <http://www.pthsd.k12.nj.us/sch/bms/bmsHome.htm>.

Valena, Gracie. "US Targets Kids with Energy Education Program." Environmental News. Earth Times, 25 May 2011. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. <http://www.earthtimes.org/energy/us-targets-kids-energy-education-program/902/>.

Thank YouAny Questions?