IL Wind for Schools
Tim Montague
Illinois Wind for Schools Program now accepting applications for 2012-2013 school year.
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http://www.wiu.edu/news/newsrelease.php?release_id=9430
IL Wind for Schools to Target Wind Energy Education in Middle/High Schools
January 4, 2012
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MACOMB/NORMAL, IL --
A new program designed to incorporate wind energy topics into middle and high
school classrooms is slated to begin during the 2012-2013 school year. Illinois Wind for Schools (ILWFS) -- an
initiative sponsored through a partnership with the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (IIRA) at
Western Illinois University, the Western Illinois
University Department of Engineering Technology, the Center for Renewable Energy at
Illinois State University, and the College of Education at Illinois State
University -- will offer curriculum development resources, teacher professional
development, on-site technical assistance and instructional equipment to middle
school and high school teachers across the state.
All training, curriculum and equipment will be offered at no charge to schools
selected for the program, made possible through Illinois Department of Commerce
and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) grant funding.
IIRA Wind Energy Program Coordinator Jolene Willis noted the ILWFS program
addresses specific Illinois Learning Standards goals in mathematics, including
estimation and measurement, as well as data analysis and probability.
"It also encompasses specific science goals that include inquiry and
design; concepts and principles; and science, technology and society,"
explained Willis. "Participating teachers will be required to attend the
on-site workshop and maintain communication with Illinois Wind for Schools staff,
providing evaluation and feedback of the lab activities, curriculum and
equipment throughout the 2012-13 school year," she added.
Matt Aldeman, senior energy analyst for the Center for Renewable Energy at
Illinois State University, said the program's purpose is to engage Illinois
teachers and students in energy education, specifically targeting wind energy.
"We hope to educate students about wind energy principles, and position
the next generation of career and technical professionals to enter the growing
U.S. wind industry. We will also be able to provide technical assistance to
Illinois school administrators about renewable energy integration in school
facilities," Aldeman said.
According to Willis and Aldeman, through an application process, three to five
middle and/or high schools will be selected as ILWFS partner schools for each
school year. The ILWFS program includes on-site training workshops at each
partner school for all participating teachers, curricula and lesson plans,
equipment for hands-on activities and basic supplies. Continuing professional
development units (CPDUs) will also be offered for all teacher-training
sessions, which are required to participate in this program.
Willis noted the program will begin with an early summer 2012 teacher workshop
held on site at each partner school. Topics of the workshop will include
fundamentals of wind energy, principles of wind turbine operation and ideas for
integrating wind energy into the existing curriculum. During summer 2012, all
participating schools will receive a classroom set of experimental model wind
turbines, equipment with which to build and test the model wind turbines, a
pack of experimental weather balloons, a model wind tunnel and customized lab
activities and a comprehensive wind energy curriculum, she added.
Aldeman said the wind energy curriculum will focus on lesson plans in five
distinct areas including: energy and electricity; wind and weather; turbines
and engineering; environmental considerations; and economics. In the fall of
2012, the ILWFS staff will install scientific weather instrumentation on the
school grounds at each partner school. Teachers and students will then be able
to easily access data collected by the weather instrumentation using any
Internet connection. Wind energy lessons will be integrated into the existing
curriculum at teachers' discretion throughout the school year, and the program
will conclude in spring 2013.
The ILWFS staff is currently working with three schools in a pilot phase:
Ridgeview Community Unit School District (CUSD) #19 located in Colfax (IL),
Elmwood (IL) CUSD #322 and Fulton County CUSD #3 in Cuba (IL). A weather
station has already been installed at each pilot phase location, and curriculum
workshops have been provided for teachers, Aldeman added.
"I am so impressed with how it encompasses biology, physics, chemistry and
so many other fields," said Roger Alvey, superintendent at Elmwood CUSD
#322 and a former science teacher. "It has relevance to everyday life, and
it is hands-on learning."
Willis said that middle school and high school teachers in Illinois public
school districts who are excited to teach project-based learning curriculum and
have an interest in cross-curriculum implementation are encouraged to apply by
Thursday, March 1. Eligible disciplines include math, science, agriculture,
industrial technology, engineering and related subject disciplines.
Applications and guidelines will be available later this month at the Illinois
Wind for Schools website at www.ILWFS.org.
Schools selected for the program will be notified by April 2.
For more information, contact Jolene Willis at (309) 298-2835 or Matt Aldeman
at (309) 438-1440.
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Tim Montague
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