In late May/early June Central Victoria Solar City conducted four professional development sessions across the region for teachers and educators interested in a hands on learning opportunity for students around renewable energy technology. The workshops were presented by teachers Phillip Scoles from Castlemaine Secondary College and Bruce Stevens from Swan Hill Primary School. Phillip and Bruce have worked with the CVSC project to produce two excellent curriculum units showcasing the science of solar technology through the building of model solar cars and boats. The workshops were a huge hit with participants who enjoyed the added bonus of making their own solar powered vehicle. Here’s what a few had to say:
‘Best PD I have been to this year – practical, useful info finally! Big thanks to Phillip, Bruce and Daniel.’Elizabeth Cook, Manangatang P-12 College
‘A great fun time, really inspired to get into the activities with the children. Thanks.’Claire Duckworth, Sunbury West Primary School
‘At my school we inherited a box of electrical bits and pieces, which included some small solar cells, but no instructions on what to do with it all. Having attended the workshop and seeing what fully functioning solar energy is I can now see some possibilities and beginnings using the equipment that we have and a direction that we can follow.’Fiona Cooper, Hepburn Primary School
Please scroll down the page to find the following:
Project DVD highlighting the model solar car and boat programs running at Castlemaine Secondary College and Swan Hill Primary School
Case studies for the school solar programs
Primary and secondary solar technology curriculum units
Below: Workshop participants learn to make their own solar boat
SOLAR MODEL CAR AND BOAT
PROJECT DVD
SOLAR MODEL CAR AND BOAT
PROJECT-BASED WORKSHOP
FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY TEACHERS
(and other educators)
VELS Aligned
Are you interested in attending a free, project-based learning, professional development opportunity that instills an interest in solar energy technology in students?
Central Victoria Solar City, together with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, has supported the development of curriculum units that teach solar energy concepts through project-based learning. The units have been trialed and tested at Castlemaine Secondary College and Swan Hill Primary School. Two highly qualified and passionate teachers helped design the units and the workshop they present will equip you to teach solar energy technology in a highly engaging and fun way.
WHO SHOULD COME?
Primary Teachers (G4-6)
Secondary Teachers (Y7-10)
Specialist teachers in: science, maths, environmental and social science
Tertiary teachers and researchers in education and sustainability
Youth service workers
All individuals interested in developing Solar Energy education activities for children and teens
PRESENTERS
Phillip Scoles, Head of Science, Castlemaine Secondary College (model solar cars)
Bruce Stevens, Science & Technology teacher, Swan Hill Primary (model solar boats)
DATES & VENUES – All workshops will run between 10am–2pm
Gisborne – Mon 28 May, The Barringo Room, Macedon Ranges Shire Offices, 40 Robertson Street
Daylesford – Mon 4 June, Duke Street Meeting Room, Hepburn Shire Offices, Duke Street
Bendigo – Tues 5 June, BRIT, City Campus, Building P, P1.49 Library Seminar Room, Hargreaves Street
Swan Hill – Wed 6 June, Council Information Centre, Cnr Curlewis and McCrae Street
Central Victoria Solar City and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development have joined in partnership to demonstrate how schools, teachers and students can create, and learn about, renewable energy and energy efficiency. Through building retrofits, the installation of solar infrastructure, and classroom activities and projects, CVSC and the Department hope to inspire the next generation of engineers, town planners, site managers and financiers of renewable energy.
As part of the partnership two schools, Swan Hill Primary School, and Castlemaine Secondary College, have been chosen to showcase the possibilities of energy efficiency and renewable energy generation in education.
At the launch at Swan Hill Primary, Grade 6 students raced their boats to many cheers as teachers, students and invited guests looked on.
Central Victoria Solar City has provided funding for the installation of fixed and tracking solar infrastructure at Swan Hill Primary School. Using software students will regularly monitor and report on their school’s energy generation. Central Victoria Solar City is also funding Swan Hill Primary’s model solar boat challenge, which teaches students how clean technology works through the building of solar racing boats. Castlemaine Secondary College have been able to purchase materials, including new class sets of solar panels, to create model solar cars that they race in the Victorian and National Model Solar Cars Challenge. CVSC also provided support to share these exciting projects with other schools. A learning guide on how to develop a solar boat and solar car will be available from the CVSC website in the next fortnight, as well as on the Department of Education’s intranet. A video case study showcasing the projects and activities of the two lighthouse schools will also be available on the website in the coming weeks.
If you would like to read case studies about Swan Hill Primary and Castlemaine Secondary College’s Solar Boat and Solar Car racing challenges, please click on the images below.
If you would like to download the curriculum units for Swan Hill Primary and Castlemaine Secondary College’s Solar Boat and Solar Car racing challenges, please click on the links below.
