Teachers put new school energy initiative through its paces
Ahead of the launch of Explore Renewables, a unique new region-wide school initiative aiming to bring renewable energy to life across North East classrooms, the scheme is being put to the test by teachers in the region.
Bydales School in Redcar, has been involved in the Explore Renewables project since work began last year. As a specialist technology college, school teachers from the science, mathematics and design departments are sharing their expertise to help teachers and pupils across the North East get to grips with renewable energy in the classroom.
Free curriculum-based teaching materials have been perfected with support from teachers at the school, to ensure that the scheme reinforces the key stage three curriculum, and covers core topics within the maths, science, geography and design and technology syllabus.
A “Solar Thermal Trolley” manufactured by North-East based eaga Renewables and designed by the Centre for Design Research at Northumbria University, will also offer children a genuine hands-on learning experience.
Testing out the scheme with teachers in the North East will ensure that the scheme is extremely versatile, easy to use for teachers and applicable to pupils of all learning abilities. Teachers at the Macmillan Academy in Middlesbrough have also been involved in the project, providing advice on how to create pupil-friendly activities and lessons featuring renewable energy.
Tony Hobbs, Headteacher at Bydales School said, “Explore Renewables is a unique new project which we have been keen to be involved with. As a specialist technology school we take a special interest in renewable energy and Explore Renewables is a great way of encouraging all middle and secondary school pupils to explore maths, science, technology and geography in a hands-on way.”
Mark Taylor, Project Manager for Explore Renewables at NaREC said, “We are keen to encourage all middle and secondary schools in the NorthEast to sign up to this free project. Funded by ONE NorthEast, participating schools will have access to a range of lessons and activities which will unlock the mysteries of renewable energy and help them to gain practical experience across a whole host of subject areas, such as data gathering and measurement.”
Bydales School was one of the first schools in the country to generate power using a hydrogen fuel cell through a project launched in February. Their ‘Sustainable School’ project has seen pupils and teachers work on various projects to help the school become more eco-friendly, including the installation of wind turbine and solar technologies. Bydales School will be sharing its experiences of using renewable energy in the classroom at the launch of Explore Renewables on the 29th April, at the Centre for Life.
This free initiative, available to all publicly-funded middle and secondary schools is one not to be missed so teachers should sign up fast to ensure their school is involved. Teachers should visit www.explorerenewables.co.uk for more information.
The project is being delivered through the North East’s Centre for Excellence for New and Renewable Energy, NaREC, in partnership with eaga Renewables and the Centre for Design Research at Northumbria University.
By summer 2008 all middle and secondary schools participating in the scheme will have their own specially designed mobile renewable energy unit which they will be able to use together with an interactive website and specifically written key stage three curriculum support materials. Together these tools will encourage practical measurement and data-recording activities and help children to understand the impact and relevance of sustainability in everyday life.
The project will allow children to witness first hand how renewable technology can be applied in their schools – and by inference in their own homes. Explore Renewables will also transform two selected schools in the North East into flagship sustainable schools which will have their carbon footprints, and energy bills significantly reduced through the installation of full scale renewable energy systems.
The three-year project will build up a unique network of children and teachers in schools across the North East who will be able to interact through www.explorerenewables.co.uk.
Schools will be able to share data and information with other classes using the same technology elsewhere in the region, and arrange collaborative class projects.
Schools involved in Explore Renewables will also be able to access live data feeds from the flagship schools and a permanent renewable energy unit at the New and Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth. Other interactive science learning centres in the region will be offered their own version of the mobile unit for use in exhibits and learning activities.
All publicly-funded middle and secondary schools in the North East are eligible to participate in the scheme. Schools wishing to sign up to Explore Renewables must register their interest as places will be issued on a first come first served basis and all schools must be registered before the launch event on 29th April. School representatives can find out more information and secure their school’s involvement now by registering on the website at www.explorerenewables.co.uk
Explore Renewables is being implemented by Blyth-based NaREC, the North East’s Centre of Excellence for New and Renewable Energy, in partnership with eaga plc, and The Centre for Design Research at Northumbria University, with funding from One Northeast.
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Photograph Caption: Headteacher Tony Hobbs, with Bydale’s Staff and Explore Renewables Project Partners on the Bydales Renewable Energy Viewing Platform.
(L-R Tony Hobbs, Headteacher, John Coles, Head of Science, Mark Taylor, Project Manager at NaREC, Seana Rice Director of Specialist College, Richard House, Science Teacher, Matthew Lievesley from the Centre for Design Research, with Steven Caseley Managing Director of eaga Renewables.)
For further information please contact:
Louise Harrison
Marketing Manager
Direct Dial: 01670 357 621
Email: louise.harrison@narec.co.uk
