A Strategies Project - Seeding the Future: Creating a Green Collar Workforce Through Learning about Indoor Urban Farming Technologies and Alternative Energy Sources

该项目开发了一个跨学科和变革性的校内和校外科学教育和技术项目，让高中生和他们的教师参与：1)使用水培法生产食品；2)使用绿色能源技术（太阳能和风能）为水培系统提供动力。这个独特的项目整合了食品生产、父母外展的新模式、对绿色职业发展的关注，以及学习如何以及为什么使用替代能源技术的真实原因（种植自己的农产品在市场上销售）。该项目创造了一种可持续发展的方法，学生不仅回馈他们的社区，而且能够为学校提供持续的收入流，以便无限期地运营他们的室内城市花园。与波士顿青年环境网络的合作为青年提供了在绿色能源公司暑期实习的机会。该项目建立在学习递进模式的基础上，通过该模式，青年在项目期间逐步学习复杂的科学系统和经济原理。年轻人不是一次性的经历，而是长期的经历，建立他们在科学、经济和大学准备方面的知识和技能。该项目有可能直接影响数千名学生和2000多名学生（在教室里），至少60名学生在学年的夏季和周末接受重点和深度的学习体验。随着鼓励当地学校与当地农场合作的法律的通过，对当地种植的农产品的需求将会增加；在这种情况下，该项目将农场带到学校，让食物一年四季都能生长。因此，任何学校或非正式的学习中心都可以采用一种模式来种植自己的食物，同时在自己的项目中为年轻人创建一个生活和学习的实验室。

This project develops an interdisciplinary and transformative in- and out of-school science education and technology program that engages high school aged youth and their teachers in 1) the production of food using hydroponics, and 2) the use of green energy technologies (solar, and wind) to power hydroponic systems. This distinctive program integrates food production, a novel model of parental outreach, a focus on green career development, and an authentic reason (growing their own produce for selling at a market) for learning how and why to use alternative energy technologies. The project creates an approach to sustainability in which students not only give back to their community, but are in a position to provide a continuous revenue stream to the school in order to operate their indoor urban garden indefinitely. The partnership with the Boston Youth Environmental Network provides youth opportunities for summer internships with green energy companies. The project builds upon a learning progressions model in which youth gradually learn about complex scientific systems and economic principles throughout their years in the program. Rather than a onetime experience, youth are engaged in a long-term experience building their knowledge and skills regarding science, economics, and college preparedness. This project has the potential to impact thousands of students informally and over 2000 students (in classrooms) directly with a minimum of 60 students receiving focused and in depth learning experiences during the summer and on weekends during the school year. With the passage of laws encouraging local schools to partner with local farms, the need for locally grown produce will increase; in that context, the program brings the farm to the school in a way that allows food to be grown year round. Thus, a model is developed that any school or informal learning center could adopt to grow their own food while simultaneously creating a living and learning laboratory for youth in their own program.