Partnerships in Educational Resources for Renewable Energy Technologies

该项目通过提供由该领域顶尖专家开发和教授的一系列在线可再生能源课程的协作基础设施，在现有的两年制大学和高中课程中增加合格的可再生能源技术人员的专业知识。该系列课程可以很容易地整合到现有的两年制大学课程中，包括介绍可再生能源、能源管理、替代交通、光伏、太阳能住宅设计、风能和生物质能课程。在北美能源从业者委员会和其他行业认可的认证机构能够认证这些课程之前，学院将为他们颁发证书。该项目包括工业和可再生能源协会的专家，他们将制定一个审查程序，并在证书上加盖批准印章。为了补充在线课程，该项目正在开发一系列基于网络的学习对象，使学习者能够虚拟地访问可再生能源技术和基于探究的教学法。该项目计划举办一个大型暑期学院，向其他教员介绍和推广在线课程和学习对象。最后，它正在开发一种在线课程的替代方案，通过学院提供的一系列类似的面对面可再生能源研讨会，这将成为其他学校和技术学院系统可以采用的模式。这个项目解决了本科教育中的一个主要挑战，即两年制大学课程如何改变以反映新兴技术，在这种情况下是可再生能源技术？该项目使用一个简单但实用的模型，使来自全国各地的知名专家小组和虚拟实验室经验可供每个人使用。它提供了基础设施和愿景，将新兴的和不同的可再生能源技术整合到一个有凝聚力的结构中，两年制大学可以很容易地接受。该模式还包括一项条款，将经验丰富的可再生能源教师立即带入两年制大学课堂。最后，通过以学习者为中心的交互式学习对象，它包含了前沿的教学法。该项目使教师和机构能够利用快速发展的跨学科技术来振兴教育项目并创造新的项目。因此，它是两年制大学作为变革代理人的有力典范，以满足新兴经济和劳动力发展需求。这种模式的一个关键特点是现有的两年制大学课程的演变，为可再生能源技术人员提供了新的途径。课程和学习对象提供了使用创新的、以学习者为中心的策略接触该领域专家的机会。这些策略提供了一种灵活的方式来跟上新的发展，因为它们很容易根据新技术进行放大或缩小。

The project is increasing the expertise of qualified renewable energy technicians in existing 2-year college and high school programs through a collaborative infrastructure for delivering an online series of renewable energy courses developed and taught by top experts in the field. This series, which can be easily integrated into existing 2-year college programs, includes introductory renewable energy, energy management, alternative transportation, photovoltaic, solar home design, wind power, and biomass courses. Until the North American Board of Energy Practitioners and other industry-sanctioned accrediting agencies can certify these courses, the College is issuing certificates for them. The project includes industry and renewable energy association experts to develop a review process and a stamp of approval that will be noted on the certificate.To complement the online courses, the project is developing a series of web-based learning objects that give learners virtual access to renewable energy technologies and inquiry-based pedagogy. The project plans to conduct one large summer institute to introduce and promote the online courses and the learning objects to other faculty. Finally, it is developing an alternative to the online courses through a similar series of face-to-face renewable energy workshops offered at the College that will serve as a model that other schools and technical college systems can adopt. Intellectual Merit This project addresses a major challenge in undergraduate education, namely, how do two-year college programs change to reflect new and emerging technologies, in this case, renewable energy technologies? The project uses a simple, but practical model that makes a prestigious group of experts from around the country and virtual laboratory experiences available to everyone. It provides the infrastructure and the vision to bring emerging and disparate renewable energy technologies together into a cohesive structure that two-year colleges can readily embrace. The model also includes a provision to bring seasoned renewable energy teachers into the 2-year college classroom immediately. Finally, it includes cutting-edge pedagogy through learner-centered, interactive learning objects. Broad Impact This project empowers faculty and institutions to take advantage of the rapidly developing interdisciplinary technologies that can revitalize educational programs and create new ones. As such, it is a powerful model of the two-year college as an agent of change to meet emerging economic and workforce development needs. A key feature of this model is the evolution of existing 2-year college programs to provide new pathways for renewable energy technicians. The courses and the learning objects provide access to experts in the field using innovative, learner-centered strategies. These strategies provide a flexible way to stay abreast of new developments as they are easily scaled up or down for new technologies.