Practical Energy Education (138)

PracticalEnergyNetwork (PEN)We are establishing PEN: an internationalnetwork of extra-curricular clubs in secondaryschools, to teach students the science andengineering behind energy generation.PEN will allow students to:• Learn practical energy and design concepts• Build useful, hands-on projects• Design new, locally adapted energy solutions

Problem:- Substantial energy shortages in the developing world. - Lack of local energy innovation. To overcome this, students need to gain: • Knowledge of energy principles • Confidence in creative engineering and design • A DIY community and mindset for innovation Our goal is to empower students todesign and innovate their own creative solutions to energy challenges.

PEN Club ComponentsEnergy primerOpen-source “recipe book” with projects designed to teachfundamentals of energy technologies and encourage experimentationOnline forumDIY web community forproject sharing, downloadsTeachers’ workshopsNetwork for young engineersWorldwide collaboration through internet forums, competitions, andinternational conferences

PEN Innovation PENExisting local educators disseminate hands-on energy curriculum

PEN Community Impact• Promotes hands-on science education• Encourages local innovation• Provides a local support network for energy-related projects• Enables international collaborationsAllows students to:• Foster an understanding of renewable energy• Gain practical design experience and confidencePEN will reach 180 students internationally in Year 1 – Existing contacts : Ghana, Iceland, India, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, USFuture expansion unlimited! – Official channels (Peace Corps, UN, Suame Magazine, MIT) – Grassroots clubs

PEN Project Feasibility• Team members experienced with energy education in developing countries• Preliminary curriculum available – Content generation underway (finish book by September) – Develop, test, and refine curriculum : gather D-Lab technologies, field work at IDDS Ghana (July), etc.• First PEN Club set to begin in August – Community Partner (Tanzania) in place and ready!• Interest from additional mentors and community partners: – Engineers and educators from Suame Magazine, Ghana – US Peace Corps volunteers – MIT Development Lab (D-Lab) – Global Cycle Solutions, Tanzania – Interest from UN Millennium Villages in Tanzania, Nigeria – Possible connection with Instructables and DIY community

Practical Energy Education (138)

by Kate Mytty

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