Windmill Design

1. SCI 321 - Windmill Design &
Testing
• Each student designed and constructed a small windmill
according to specifications
• The windmills were tested for performance

2. PV System Installation
• Students in the summer course will have the opportunity
to assemble and install a complete photovoltaic system
on the roof of one of the PSU science buildings.
• Data from the PV system will be constantly monitored and
made available over the internet and shared with the
solar monitoring program at the University of Oregon.
• PGE has a new program of donations of PV systems to
high schools. We expect to attract current and future
teachers to the course and explore how they may most
effectively use such systems for educational purposes.

3. Evaluation & Assessment
As part of the Science Cornerstone curriculum,
these courses will be subject to comprehensive
assessments based on a well established set of
learning objectives that have been developed by
University Studies and the Science Cornerstone
Project. These assessments are conducted
summatively.
We will conduct a midterm evaluation of each
of the courses to permit formative assessment and
revisions, and we will use the OCEPT survey for
prospective science teachers to assess the impact of
the course on changing students’ perceptions of
science education.

4. Action Research &
Assessment
Possible Research Topics:
1) The use of engineering as an integrative discipline for
prospective science teachers;
2) The role of field trips to promote student engagement;
3) The value of hands-on research in conveying the
scientific enterprise to prospective teachers;
4) The effect of standards-based pedagogy on changing the
epistemology of prospective science teachers;
5) The effect of pedagogy in teaching to diverse student
populations in upper-level science courses.

5. NASA Strategic Enterprises
Earth Science
• Applying Remote Sensing Research to Earth Science Problems
NASA’s remote sensing data on weather, cloud cover, ocean currents,
climatic changes, and ozone concentration, as well as petroleum,
volcanic, asteroid and seismic activity will be used throughout the
courses.
• Adapting Space Science Technologies to Earth Science Applications
Students in the second term course will build, monitor, and study
energy production through photovoltaics -- a space-based technology
with viable application on Earth.
• Increase Public Understanding of Earth System Science
Preservice teachers will be advised into these courses for both their
content and pedagogy. A particular outcome of the summer course
will be to create curricular materials suitable for K-12 students.

6. Outreach & Dissemination
• Summative Evaluation Report to Portland State University General
Education faculty and administration, Summer 2002
• Paper Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Oregon Academy of
Science, Winter 2002
• Panel Presentation at the Annual Showcase Meeting of the Oregon
Collaborative for Excellence in the Preparation of Teachers, Summer
2002
• Report to Portland General Electric for incorporation and
dissemination through PGE’s Solar Education Project
• Dissemination to the network of 45 teachers associated with the PSU
Horizons Project
• Publicity to local school districts and their science faculty for
Professional Development Units applicable for continuing state
teacher licensure

7. Acknowledgements
Funding Sources
• NOVA Program
implementation planning grant, 2001
• Portland General Electric
donation of a complete photovoltaic system
• Portland State University
support for PI time and travel, supplies
• OCEPT
(Oregon Collaborative for Excellence in Preparation of Teachers)
support for consultants, PI travel

8. Acknowledgements
Advisory Board
Dr. Dean Livelybrooks, University of Oregon, Physics Department.
Dr. Gilbert Yanow, Director, NSF California Chautauqua Field Center, Educational
Affairs Office, NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Dr. Walt Hellman, Physics Teacher, Hillsboro High School
Dr. Lorna Tran, College Success Skills Department,
Portland Community College
Dr. John Koroloff, Professor of Biology, Portland Community College
Collaborations for K-12 and Community Outreach
Portland General Electric (PGE)
The Horizons Project at PSU