Nuclear Curriculum Updates!
Author: Anthony Darby; Published: Feb 7, 2013; Category: Classroom presentations, Energy Education, Volunteering; Tags: energy education, STEM, students; Comments: Comments Off
Guest blog courtesy of DaNel Hogan, Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow and the NEED Project
One of my favorite things about the NEED Project is the fact that they use real classroom teachers to develop, update, and improve their energy education curricula. The NEED Teacher Advisory Board is regularly asked to weigh in on what is working and how it can be improved based on their experience using the activities in the classroom with their students. I just had the pleasure of helping with such an update of the Intermediate Grade Level Energy from Uranium and the Secondary Grade Level Exploring Nuclear curricula. The entire team at the NEED Project works hard to keep the data and information up-to-date in the curricula. With the recent tsunami in Japan, which caused a nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, it was definitely necessary to update the nuclear curricula to provide details about what happened during this event. Given that this is something students are certain to ask about, it is important that the current curricula reflects what we now know about this accident. Beyond the updates to the background information, you will also notice changes to some of the activities that reflect improvements based on classroom use and also on grade level appropriateness. Check out these updated pieces of curricula (and and thanks for continuing to work toward our goal of creating an energy literate citizenry!
Energy from Uranium(Intermediate)
Exploring Nuclear Energy (Secondary)
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Energy Education Happening Globally at SPE Events!
Author: Anthony Darby; Published: Nov 9, 2012; Category: Energy Education, Volunteering; Tags: activities, classroom, energy education, Energy4me, Petroleum, SPE, STEM, Teachers, Volunteer, volunteers; Comments: Comments Off
Did you know that Energy4me energy education events are held globally in conjunction with events, SPE sections, and SPE student chapters? Below is more information on upcoming Energy4me workshops and activities! Get involved!
Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) 2012 –http://www.spe.org/events/adipec/2012/pages/schedule/young_members.php
Education Week – 9-13 November 2012: This four day programme is for the benefit of the best undergraduate geosciences and engineering students from international institutions. It is anticipated that some 60-80 students will be selected to attend the program. Students’ expenses will be fully covered through sponsorships. The purpose of this programme is to give the students a clear insight into the industry that they are about to join; to allow them to return to their universities and colleges with a positive story to relate to their fellow students; and to provide opportunities for students to form new friendships and to work together on joint activities.
Teachers Workshop – 13 November 2012: Teachers’ workshop will be focused on educating the teachers about the energy world. SPE will ensure that educators will receive comprehensive, objective information about the scientific concepts of energy and its importance while discovering the world of oil and natural gas exploration and production. A variety of free instructional materials will be available to take back to the classroom.
Education Day – 14 November 2012: Education Day is an initiative to introduce students to the discipline of petroleum engineering, and the industry in general. Targeting High School Students, (Grade 10 to Grade 12), invited industry professionals will share their experience with students and deliver talks on topics of general interest and relevance to the industry. The students will be given free access to the exhibition area during ADIPEC. They will be able to see firsthand the high end technology used by engineers and the sophisticated software available for solving many engineering problems. It is hoped that they will leave the conference with a better understanding of what petroleum engineers do and their role in the broader community. Equally important, they will also become aware that a petroleum engineering career is full of challenges, teamwork and responsibilities.
Additionally, there will be “Education Days” at the below upcoming SPE events:
SPE Middle East Unconventional Gas Conference and Exhibition (UGAS) 28-30 January 2013 – http://www.spe.org/events/ugas/2013/index.php
SPE Middle East Oil & Gas Show and Conference (MEOS) 10-13 March 2013 – http://www.imexmanagement.com/show/70/meos-2013/
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Visit a Petroleum Museum… They Tell Fascinating Stories!
Author: Anthony Darby; Published: Sep 6, 2012; Category: Classroom materials, Energy Education, Volunteering; Tags: Children, Classroom Instruction, Education, energy education, Energy4me, Engineering, Engineering Careers, Environment, Petroleum, Student, students, Teacher, Teachers; Comments: Comments Off
Want to enhance your knowledge of the petroleum industry? How about a petroleum museum! At the museums, watch history come to life with interactive displays, informative guides, and live demonstrations. Some even have specific, focused, elementary, middle and high school educational tours. From Calgary to France to West Virginia, petroleum museums tell fascinating stories of oil discovery, production, to showcasing some of the modern uses of oil you might not know about.
For instance, at the Houston Museum of Natural Science’s Energy exhibit, the Exploration gallery features the latest techniques used to search for hydrocarbons, from magnetometers and gravimeters to seismic vibrator trucks. In the Geology in the Field interactive, gaze across a barren, mountainous landscape, and watch as holographic illusions of two petroleum geologists materialize and explain what they are doing in the middle of nowhere. A massive Vibroseis truck interrupts them, sending its booming vibrations deep into the rock below.
At the Indonesian Oil and Gas Museum, the exhibits display how important the role of oil and gas is as the source of energy, for fuel, lubricants and petrochemical products. There’s even an oil tree that symbolically displays at its branches various products resulting from the refinery processes of oil and gas.
Check out our full petroleum museum listings HERE. Have plans to attend one on the list? Share your experience with us by Joining the conversation on Facebook— www.Facebook.com/Energy4me. You can also connect with us on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/Energy4me!
Energy4me to Share Resources at Energy Event
Author: Anthony Darby; Published: Jul 3, 2012; Category: Classroom materials, Energy Education, Volunteering; Tags: activities, energy education, Lesson Plans, students, Teachers; Comments: Comments Off
Across the world, throughout the year, there are an abundance of energy-themed activities and events taking place: one of them is Energy Day 2012.
Energy Day is a free, family-friendly festival later this fall that celebrates and highlights the importance of energy in our daily lives. The day-long festival takes place at Hermann Square in front of City Hall in Downtown Houston, Texas, USA. There will be energy exhibits, live music, food, contests and fun for all ages. In 2011, the first annual Energy Day attracted more than 12,000 attendees.
Energy4me will participate in the event by sharing energy activities from our Energy4me Kit, excerpts from our Oil and Natural Gas Book, classroom resources and more!
Helping will be volunteers from the SPE Gulf Coast Section including young professionals who volunteer their time regularly educating the public about energy and putting a face on the industry.
Learn more about Energy Day 2012 by visiting www.EnergyDayFestival.org.
Does this sound like a fun experience? Attending? Join the conversation and discuss with us on Facebook— www.Facebook.com/Energy4me. You can also connect with us on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/Energy4me.
SPE Education Day, Bangalore Section ( A Young Professionals Initiative)
Author: Anthony Darby; Published: Feb 28, 2012; Category: Classroom presentations, Education outreach, Energy Education, Engineering Careers, Volunteering; Tags: Children, Classroom Instruction, Education, Engineering Careers, Volunteer; Comments: Comments Off
Recently, the Young Professionals (YP) committee of SPE Bangalore Section organized an education day at Kendriya Vidyalaya in DRDO, Bangalore. The event was organized to guide school students interested in mathematics and science towards a career in the oil and gas sector which is one of the most exciting and challenging sectors.
Students were treated to a day of energy education by the SPE Bangalore Section.
A team of seven people from SPE Bangalore section presented various options available to the students in oil and gas industry. The event received such overwhelming response that it had to be done twice to accommodate all the students. A total number of 150 students benefitted from the event.
The event began with the secretary of SPE Bangalore Section, Palvi Mech enlightening students about The Society of Petroleum Engineers, what it does and how it helps in the growth of oil and gas sector. This was followed by an overview of oil and gas sector by Jonathan Minz, Ashish Verma and Michelle Vishwanathan. The students were quite eager and enthusiastic throughout the presentation and repeatedly asked questions at regular intervals.
Teachers are now interested in making the initiative a yearly event.
The overall event of around three hours was a new and exhilarating experience for the future budding engineers and scientists of Bangalore. It was a great success and the students were made aware of the various career options available to them in oil and gas industry. The students and teachers of Kendriya Vidyalaya especially appreciated the effort put by the YP committee and want this event to be a yearly calendar event.
Are you interested in holding a similar type of initiative? Find more information on how to do so here: http://www.energy4me.org/spe-volunteers/
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