Partnerships in Educational Resources for Renewable Energy Technologies

该项目正在通过合作基础设施增加现有两年制大学和高中课程中合格可再生能源技术人员的专业知识，以提供由该领域顶级专家开发和教授的在线系列可再生能源课程。 该系列课程可以很容易地整合到现有的2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，太阳能家居设计，风力发电和生物质课程。 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，学院正在为他们颁发证书。 该项目包括行业和可再生能源协会专家制定审查程序和批准印章，将在证书上注明，作为在线课程的补充，该项目正在开发一系列基于网络的学习对象，使学习者能够虚拟访问可再生能源技术和基于调查的教学法。 本项目计划举办一次大型暑期研讨会，向其他教师介绍和推广在线课程和学习对象。 最后，它正在开发一种替代在线课程的办法，在学院举办一系列类似的可再生能源面对面讲习班，作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的一个主要挑战，即两年制大学课程如何改变以反映新的和新兴的技术，在这种情况下，可再生能源技术？ 该项目使用一个简单但实用的模型，使来自全国各地的专家和虚拟实验室的经验提供给每个人。它提供了基础设施和愿景，将新兴和不同的可再生能源技术整合到一个两年制大学可以欣然接受的有凝聚力的结构中。 该模式还包括一项规定，即立即将经验丰富的可再生能源教师带入两年制大学课堂。 最后，它包括通过以学习者为中心，互动学习对象的尖端教学法。 广泛的影响这个项目授权教师和机构利用快速发展的跨学科技术，可以振兴教育计划，并创造新的。 因此，它是两年制大学的一个强大模式，作为变革的推动者，以满足新兴的经济和劳动力发展需求。 这种模式的一个关键特征是现有的2年制大学课程的演变，为可再生能源技术人员提供新的途径。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访问该领域的专家。 这些策略提供了一种灵活的方式来跟上新的发展，因为它们可以轻松地根据新技术进行扩展或缩小。

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.