VEEP PV's Clean and Green Summer Institute in Montpelier

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On July 12th VEEP kicked off its 2010 Summer Institutes with PVs Clean and Green at the U-32 School in Montpelier.  During the three-day training, teachers learned about the basics of energy production, and got to experiment with hands-on activities to bring PVs into the classroom.  Participating teachers also received materials kits at a reduced cost, thanks to support from the Environmental Protection Agency. The 12 teacher participants were from all over Vermont, and teach a wide range of grades and subjects, from 2nd grade to college level classes, and from earth science to art classes. Regardless of their location and educational focus the teachers came together with the common goal of gaining knowledge in order to spread information about photovoltaics.

In the workshops, Fran and Andy use a “guided self discovery” teaching approach. This allows the teachers to make discoveries at their own pace and culminates in understanding rather than memorization. Brian Tonks, a high school physics teacher from the Sharon Academy reflected on the approach, “I was reminded about how important taking it slow is…allowed the time to reflect on the data in compassion to inferences”.  

Next step- the classroom, as teachers bring the PVs Clean and Green curriculum this fall, with support from VEEP staff.  VEEP will hold two more Summer Institutes this summer, an additional PVs Clean and Green in Burlington August 16-18, and a Wind Works training at U-32 on July 21-23.