Lighting up learning

Highlights and insights from the 2023 Empower Energy Education Workshop

The 2023 Empower Energy Education Workshop brought together K-12 educators from across the region. They explored the intricacies of energy education through a series of lessons involving everything from a homemade solar s’mores oven to a miniature, bustling energy marketplace, teeming with trade, negotiation and strategy.

In an increasingly tech-driven society, the complexities of electricity generation and distribution often fly under the radar. The simple act of turning on a light triggers a chain reaction of processes, supply chains and human efforts.

Pioneer Electric sponsored 10 teachers, including Brittany Carpenter, a first grade teacher at W.O. Parmer Elementary School, and Keshia D. Williams, a high school science teacher at the Virtual Academy with Selma City Schools, to attend this conference. This event, a collaboration with PowerSouth Energy Cooperative and other sister cooperatives across Alabama and Florida, went beyond traditional professional development, leaving attendees genuinely inspired.

“A lightbulb or a toy car, everything runs on energy,” Carpenter says. “If I could help my kids understand that from a young age, wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

The conference offered her a roadmap for doing just that. The solar oven activity makes the seemingly complex subject of solar power generation understandable to her first graders, while also encouraging their curiosity and respect for the environment.

“This will be something new I can bring into the classroom and tie into our curriculum that has real-world applications,” Carpenter says. “Adding a fresh perspective like this to my classroom will get the kids excited to learn. It’s also exciting me just thinking how I will incorporate these fun, hands-on activities into the reading and math curriculum.”

A poster project helps educators visualize different methods of energy production.

Bridging theory and practice

Carpenter’s favorite experiment during the workshop simulated extracting oil from the ocean floor. She can adapt this activity in her classroom to offer her students an age-appropriate learning experience.

“We’ll do our hypothesis, ‘What do you think’s gonna happen when we do this?’” she says. “And then we’ll reflect on the activity, writing a simple report based on students’ thoughts and observations.”

On the other end of the teaching spectrum, Williams’ high school students are more familiar with the scientific principles of energy, but the practical applications can often escape them.

“We played a game where we represented different countries and attempted to balance our energy needs and resources. It was a simulation of our global economy demonstrating the financial and logistical considerations involved in energy production, distribution and consumption,” Williams says. “That helped me gain a better understanding of the global dynamics involved — it’s much more than just a flip of the switch.”

Making it personal

Reflecting on recent tornadoes in Selma and the power disruptions they caused, Williams envisions opportunities to relate her students’ direct experiences with broader energy concepts. By connecting their everyday lives to their education, she hopes to broaden their understanding of energy distribution and the utility sector.

“We can discuss what caused their homes to lose power, leaving them unable to heat their water or turn on their TVs,” Williams says. “By tying their personal experiences to these activities about the pow- er grid, we can help them grasp the larger picture and the critical role energy plays in our lives.”

While learning and networking with fellow educators and expert presenters, Williams and Carpenter learned ways to address the limited real-world exposure faced by many students, particularly those in Title 1 schools. These schools serve low-income families and receive federal funding to provide extra educational services for children.

“My mission is to bring that world into the classroom, to make learning relevant and to show my students the exciting and accessible opportunities that await them in the world of STEM,” Williams says.

Pioneer Electric — an ally in the classroom

The conference also introduced teachers to a partner in their educational journey — Pioneer Electric. The co-op enjoys visiting classrooms to help conduct experiments and demonstrate safety measures, a prospect that thrilled Carpenter.

“The kids always love visitors,” she says. “Everything’s more exciting when somebody else is in the classroom. They listen better and the lessons really sink in. It’s a treat.”

By supporting these teachers, Pioneer Electric is investing in a future where energy is not seen as a mysterious force, but a marvel to be understood, appreciated and conserved.

“Seeing the teachers’ enthusiasm for these hands-on experiments is inspiring,” says Christi Scruggs, communications director at Pioneer Electric. “They are not just teaching their students about energy, but also nurturing curiosity and critical thinking, which are valuable skills for our future energy leaders.”

Many jobs in the utility industry are in STEM fields and require precise measurements and attention to detail.

Armed with fresh insights, an Energy of Science toolkit, a host of resources from the National Energy Education Development Project, and renewed zeal, these educators are now poised to energize the forthcoming generation. 

Teachers take part in exciting projects designed to expand their knowledge of power generation and distribution.