L.E.A.P.: Localized energy awareness program through collaborative K-University STEM projects

As the world´s energy usage continues to rise while the natural energy sources continue to dwindle, it is becoming more important that the general public´s awareness of energy is increased. The National Academy of Engineering, NAE, has deemed this issue so important that five out of the fourteen Engineering Grand Challenges deal with energy. Raising awareness with children about energy consumption and generation issues will help create a sense of familiarity and potentially, a desire to follow career paths that deal with solving these future energy challenges. Introductory energy modules are being taught in K-12 classrooms in California, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania with support from the National Science Foundation, NSF, GK-12 Ph.D. Candidate Fellows of Drexel University and the Dragon´s Teach Program, which stems from the UTeach Program in the country. A Localized Energy Awareness Program, LEAP, has been formed through a K-University STEM collaborative project. Curriculum is being taken from the university level and broken down to each K-12 level to give insight into the topic of energy. In the new Next Generation Science Standards, NGSS, for science and engineering practices there are eight practices that should be taught at each level of K-12. Through these practices and the NAE Grand Challenges, energy awareness modules have been developed to bring into K-12 and Drexel University freshman engineering classrooms. The modules focus on the current energy usage situation, current active methods of energy harvesting including renewable and non-renewable energy sources, and modeling (drawing, building and computing depending on age group) new solutions and awareness for the energy crisis. Surveys are being used to gauge the effectiveness of our activities with the students, teachers, and participating undergraduate and graduate students. This is a work in progress and results of the surveys and work are still being processed.