Pre-Work Force Energy Curriculum

K-12 Outreach Program

A pipeline of STEM students interested in power and energy is needed to meet the growing future demands for “green” industries. The Pre-Work Force program provides an introduction to power/energy fundamentals and technologies to increase awareness and interest by providing hands on projects coupled with math, science, and critical thinking concepts. The program is broken down into two components, an elementary program and a high school program.

Elementary School Program:

SOLAR KIT LESSONS: (15 Modules)

Solar Cell Inquiry
Sunshine Timer
Parts of a Solar Panel I
Parts of a Solar Panel II
Build a Simple Ammeter
Solar-Powered Battery Charger
Positioning Solar Panels I: Explorations with Tracking
Positioning Solar Panels II: Explorations with Stationary Panels
Properties of Solar Radiation: Reflection, Transmission, and Absorption
Properties of Solar Radiation: Direct and Diffuse Light
Power Maximum: An Electrical Determination
Calibration Curve for a Radiation Meter
Solarize a Toy
Solar Cells as Control Devices
Solar-Powered Electrolysis of Water and the Hydrogen Economy

Platform that allows high school students to learn energy efficiency through graphic simulation tools.

High School Program: (4 Modules)

- Building Energy Efficiency Module
- HEED- Students investigate energy efficiency for an average home and design/simulate a zero energy home.
- Design a Watt Meter-Students use a microcontroller with a current transformer to design a power meter.
- Build a PV House-Students design and build a model home powered by solar panels
- Understanding Energy-Energy Audit
- Smart Grid Module
- Intelligent Switches- Students code a microcontroller to switch a relay and send a wireless signal to a computer.
- Demand Response- Students use a microcontroller to measure power, read energy data and switch a relay on and off to simulate control over appliances.
- Power-Line- Students use a microcontroller to measure power, read energy data and switch a relay on and off to using existing power lines.
- Lighting Module
- Incandescent Light Efficiency- Students compare incandescent and compact florescent lamps. Students wire the lamps and measure the light power, light output, and heat to determine light efficiency.
- LED Control- Students use a microcontroller to power HV-LEDs. Also, students will measure the power, light output, and heat to determine light efficiency.
- Solar/Wind Module
- Solar PV Demonstration- Students integrate a standalone solar PV system.
- Wind Demonstration – Students design and build a wind turbine and integrate into a standalone system.
- Hybrid Renewable- Students design and integrate a solar PV and Wind turbine into complementary system.
- HOMER-Students simulate a hybrid renewable system using solar and wind and perform a cost analysis based on various geographical locations.