Energy Technology Career AcademyBeta Class Luncheon

Mrs. Heather Spoon

March 28, 2010

The Energy Technology Career Academy’s mission is to prepare students for work, college and citizenship by engaging them in project-

based education enhanced by community partnerships and focused on energy

sustainability and efficiency.

Mission Statement of the Academy

The Project:Background Information

• Siemens and AIKCU issued an RFP for the development of a career academy with a focus on energy technology/facilities management.

• LWC submitted a proposal in response.• The proposal was accepted with Adair High

School, Russell High School, the Lake Cumberland Center for Technology, Chamber of Commerce, Green Mechanical and WindEnergy as partners.

.

ETCA Partners

Lindsey Wilson CollegeGrant Recipient

Adair HS

Lake Cumberland Center for

Technology

Business Partners

Russell HS

Why is Siemens interested?

• They are an international company focusing on energy efficiency.

• They have a strong interest in improving education and in improving the understanding of the impact of energy on the world.

• They have sponsored successful career academies that partnered with colleges.

• Small, personalized learning communities with a college-prep curriculum focused on a particular career theme

• Our academy’s focus is Energy Sustainability and Efficiency.

• Over 1,500 career academies in the United States…all of these are in URBAN areas, focusing on nursing, culinary arts, broadcasting, etc.

• THIS ACADEMY IS THE FIRST-EVER ACADEMY IN A RURAL AREA IN THE UNITED STATES!!!

• Career academies have proven to decrease drop out rates because students see that they can a use what they are learning after high school.

What is a Career Academy?

Goals of ETCA

• To prepare students for college, career and citizenship.

• To serve a broad range of students.

• To create a model for use in rural areas of Kentucky.

Scope of Pathways for Students

• Preparation for college in engineering, business or energy-related technical careers.

• Preparation for two year degree in engineering technology or industrial maintenance technology or two year degree in mechanical engineering at LWC.

• Preparation for two year college transfer program at community college and transfer to LWC or UK.

• Preparation for work.

• Graduated in 1993 from ACHS• Graduated in 1998 from University of Kentucky

with a BS in Mechanical Engineering• Started my career at the Corvette Plant in

Bowling Green, KY and stayed in Engineering for about 8 years

• Recently completed my Master’s Degree in Secondary Education (Mathematics)

• Became employed by Lindsey Wilson College in November 2008 as the Director of the Energy Technology Career Academy

A Little About Me

Roles Within an Academy

As director of the academy, I:– Teach the introductory course at both schools.– Coordinate guest speakers which have included a speaker

who retired from the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington, D.C., Geothermal business owner, East Kentucky Power representative.

– Coordinate field trips to Coal Power Plant in Somerset, KY, and the Biogas Landfill Power Plant near London, KY, and the Corvette Plant in Bowling Green, KY

– Develop curriculum for upcoming classes.– Work with the Lake Cumberland Technology Center to

develop classes that focus on energy sustainability and procure the required hardware needed to support the curriculum.

– Designed a logo for the academy.– Help with grant writing when opportunities arise that will

benefit LWC, our school district, and our community.

Our Logo…

• Ford PAS – Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies

Curriculum

• Partnerships: with state departments of education, postsecondary institutions, businesses, community-based organizations, and school districts

• Technical Assistance (TA): Support and guidance through outreach and networking assistance.

• Professional Development (PD): Renewal and advancement of teacher knowledge.

• Curriculum: Academically rigorous, interdisciplinary materials that provide students with knowledge and skills necessary for future success

Why Ford PAS?

• “At the high school level, well over one-half of new entrants

are deficiently prepared in the most important skills—Oral and

Written Communications, Professionalism/Work Ethic, and

Critical Thinking/ Problem Solving. College graduates are

better prepared . . . but too few are excelling. “

• “While the ‘three Rs’ are still fundamental to any new

workforce entrant’s ability to do the job, employers emphasize

that applied skills like Teamwork/ Collaboration and Critical

Thinking are ‘very important’ to success at work.”

The Conference Board, Corporate Voices for Working Families, The Partnership for 21st Century Skills, and The Society for Human Resource Management, Are They Really Ready to Work? (Washington, DC: 2006).

Look Who’s Talkin’…

Recently, at the National Governors’ High School Summit,

Bill Gates declared that the American high school, as currently

operated, is obsolete.-- Ford PAS Website

The 20 modules that make up the Ford PAS curriculum are organized into seven themes, each planned for project-based learning:

• Foundations in 21st-Century Skills • Working Toward Sustainability • Getting Smart About Business • Manufacturing for Tomorrow • Data, Decisions, and Design • Living in a Global Economy • Putting Math to Work

The Curriculum Structure

FordPAS Screenshot

Great tools for differentiation!

ETCA's Curriculum Map

Student

Sophomore

Introduction to Energy

Engineering

Technical/ Vocational

Business/ Economics

Junior Year

Junior Year

ETCA's Curriculum Map

Senior Year

Choose two of the following• Intro to Engineering LCTC

CAD/CAM• LCTC CNC Programming

• LCTC Electrical Circuits Lab I • LCTC Electrical Circuits Lab II LCTC – Lake Cumberland Technology Center

• Business of Energy (College credit)

• Markets Without Borders (College credit)

Senior Project (required)

Choose one of the following• Chemistry I (College credit)• Physics I (College Credit) • LCTC CAD/CAM• LCTC CNC Programming• LWC Internship (College credit)• Industry Co-op• Energy Issues: Math Modeling

Approach (College credit)• Functions & Algebra (College

credit)• Calculus I (College credit)

Here’s what other students are saying about the FordPas Curriculum….

www.youtube.com/fordpas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iI2SztYHYk

Comfort Zone…

At the Corvette Plant…

A Classroom Snapshot• Experiment Preparation and Research• Experiments• Presentations• Peer Reviews• Reflections• Assessments (little “homework”, mostly in-class quizzes

and tests)• Guest speakers• Field trips• Group work (very few individual assignments)• Videos (www.thefutureschannel.com) and FordPAS

recommended videos• Keep up with the ETCA by visiting

http://lwcenergyacademy.blogspot.com

Real-life Case Study Presentations

Environmental issuesThere is a minimal risk of wind turbines injuring birds or other animals.In general birds live in harmony with wind turbines.Wind turbines are designed to be operated with high standards of safety.Wind turbines could potentially interfere with television reception just like other things could, but its not likely.Wind turbines are designed to last for over 20 years needing a few replacement parts. But usually the main structure stays together.Turbines could be damaged by lightning strikes.

The blades of the turbine are attached to a hub that is mounted on

a turning shaft. The shaft goes through a gear transmission box

where the turning speed is increased. The transmission is

attached to a high speed shaft which turns a generator that makes

electricity

On Average with 12 mph winds, a 10 kilowatt wind turbine generates 10,000 kilowatt-hours which is enough to power a typical household

Wind turbines can be used to produce electricity and to power a water pump. They can

also be used with a power grid to make the power more efficient

There are over 50,000 wind turbines worldwide and the vast majority has been operating safely since they were built. Wind Turbines have Great

Reliability!!

Power (kW) .625 Area(m2) V(mph) V (m/s)

34426.8 .625 4932.5 5 2.2352

275414.2 .625 4932.5 10 4.4704

929689.1 .625 4932.5 15 6.706

2203461.1 .625 4932.5 20 8.941

4303346.2 .625 4932.5 25 11.176

7436182.3 .625 4932.5 30 13.4112

11808382.1 .625 4932.5 35 15.6464

17626506.2 .625 4932.5 40 17.8816

Advantages• Wind is plentiful and renewable• Cheapest way to produce energy on a

large scale• Generates no pollution (diminish green

house effect)• Can be used as a form of energy in

remote areas where they are not connected to power grids

Disadvantages• More expensive than coal or even

nuclear energy• Takes up 2 acres of land• Hazardous to birds and bats• Wind speeds must be between 12 mph

and 55 mph• Many people say they are unsightly

and unappealing • Only efficient 60-85 percent of the time

Formula is P=.625*A*V3

A=area of blade rotationV= wind velocity( speed)

Based on a blade of 130 feet

Power generated by a wind turbine

Based on a 50-Megawatt wind farm, the installation cost is $1,000/kilowatt and

operations and maintenance will cost

$65/kilowatt-hour

• Students learn how important teamwork will be in the workplace.

• Once the student completes the required academy courses, he/she is eligible for a scholarship to Lindsey Wilson College.

• Because the students each have a personal account with Ford PAS, they are eligible for scholarships, overseas educational experiences, and Ford internships.

• Students meet people in local businesses and learn what they do to contribute to both the community & energy sustainability.

• Dual credit classes are being offered at both sites via LWC.

How Does the Academy Help Adair County and Russell County Students?

Student Reflections

“Of all my classes at RCHS so far, the Energy Academy is where I have developed the skills and abilities deemed most important for the real world.”

--Rachel Johnson

“Real life applications and studies are what schools have lacked for a long time, but not anymore. This Energy Academy is as real as you get.”

--Emily Holsinger

“The ETCA academy has taught me many things about life and about my future. I have focused my dreams and set plans on the future based on classes provided by this program. I have become a better public speaker, and better able to establish interpersonal relationships with my peers.”

--Lauren Haynes

Student Reflections

“Beyond the accumulation of instructive knowledge, I’ve also learned about myself – the strengths and the weaknesses. … I need to learn to use leadership to encourage team participation instead of playing the hero and carrying my fully capable group members’ responsibilities. The ETCA has taught me not to give up on things just because the solution isn’t always staring you in the face. Mrs. Spoon has encouraged us to be independent thinkers and to exhaust all resources before we give up on something. Those lessons apply to both life and educational situations.”

-- Travone Taylor

“Before taking this class, I used to be so nervous when we had to do Power Points. … Now, after taking this class, I have more confidence in myself and can speak in front of a group more easily. You actually learn about the things you need to know in life.”

-- Candace Mullins

Looking Ahead…

• During Spring Break 2010, a 3.2 kW solar array will be installed at each high school as a result of receiving the ARC grant

• Both Engineering classes built our own solar panel (80W) for less than $100. I plan on building one of these panels in each Engineering Class. We would like for this to grow into a local business in the future.

• Incorporating Wind Power into the curriculum • Continue to improve the Blog for the ETCA and

gain followers, including students of the Academy

Questions?