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www.Energy.ilstu.edu
The Energy Learning Exchange (ELE) is a statewide public-private partnership of universities, community colleges, K-12 schools, companies, labor unions, and other public and private organizations working together to further Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) learning. The mission is to prepare students for career pathways in energy and provide Illinois companies with a superior
energy workforce in the future. Illinois State University is the leading entity of the ELE through its Institute for Regulatory Policy Studies,
Center for Renewable Energy, and Center for Mathematics, Science, and Technology.
Careers In Energy Week
Partnerships with the Industry
ELE mailed Careers in Energy school kits to nearly 300 middle
and high school teachers that had participated in energy education
workshops through Illinois State University. Kits included Careers
in Energy Week posters, an “Are you Ready to Get Into Energy?”
flyer, a t-shirt for the teacher, pencil sharpeners and pencils for
students, and a “Get Into Energy” notebook. Teachers were
encouraged to visit www.Energy.IllinoisState.edu/careers/ to
access resources for use in classrooms, including energy careers
data, presentation files, videos, and curriculum links. On the site,
teachers could request a speaker on an energy topic of their
choice to present to their classrooms. Energy companies and
organizations were contacted to help fill the speaker requests again
this year. Emails were also sent by Illinois Pathways and other
organizations to encourage teachers to visit the ELE website to
utilize resources, order a kit, and schedule a speaker. This is our
second year to participate in this event, part of a nationwide effort
by the Center for Energy Workforce Development.
ELE has brought together representatives from across the state to
discuss future workforce needs at meetings, and industry members
have served as judges and sponsors for student challenges. ELE
also administers the Illinois Energy Workforce Consortium,
comprised of utility companies and energy organizations in the
state, and participates on the group’s task forces for Education
and Career Awareness. Through the Consortium, Governor Pat
Quinn declared October 13th to 19th as Careers in Energy Week
in Illinois, and the ELE assisted the Consortium with mailing
information packets regarding the week-long event to nearly
1,000 high school principals and administrators across the state
including a Careers in Energy Week event poster, an “Explore
Exciting Careers in Energy” information booklet, and an “Are
You Ready to Get Into Energy?” flyer. Some of the companies
and organizations have also planned additional activities, including
speaking about careers in energy to classrooms, and hosting tours
of their facilities.
Dr. David Loomis (Institute for Regulatory Policy Studies and Center for Renewable
Energy at Illinois State University), presented to students at Urbana Middle School
for Careers in Energy Week. Students also participated in a hands-on activity using
Kill-A-Watt meters to determine watts used in a variety of household appliances.
A student presents his energy project at the IL FFA Convention’s AgriScience Fair
to judges Patrick Bulpitt (Exelon), Sherrie Gary (Ameren Illinois), and Dr. Willy
Hunter (Center for Mathematics, Science, and Technology at Illinois State University),
for a student challenge coordinated with the Agriculture Learning Exchange.
Energy Learning Exchange Lead Organization: Illinois State University, Dr. David Loomis, 309-438-7919, www.Energy.ilstu.edu, [email protected]
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www.Energy.ilstu.edu
Next Generation Science Standards Curriculum
Teacher training workshops were held
for middle and high school STEM
teachers (science, technology,
engineering and mathematics). Funded
through a grant from the Illinois School
Board of Education (ISBE), the
Illinois Mathematics and Science
Partnership Program, Summer
Workshop/Institute (WIP 5), focused
on energy concepts and utilized Next
Teachers in the NGSS workshop enjoyed the field trips including Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
in the context of career clusters as
visiting the Prairie State Generating Company’s coal mine.
defined by Illinois Pathways.
The goal of the program was to develop instruction on energy-related lessons for students.
Classes and field trips were designed to help teachers comprehend major principles of
energy in Illinois as well as real-world applications. A two-week workshop was held in the
summer of 2013 and again in 2014, with a number of one-day follow-up sessions and field
trips including visiting the Nicor Gas Ancona Storage Center, Prairie State Generating
Company, Exelon Clinton Power Station, Ameren Technology Applications Center/
Substation, Danville Area Community College Wind Technician Program, Grand Ridge
Energy Center, Solar House in Urbana, and Illinois State University to view the Solar Car,
Wind Turbine, and Renewable Energy Lab. Participants also attended the Illinois
Renewable Energy Conference and the Teachers in the Lead: New Illinois Learning
Standards for Science Conference, both events hosted by Illinois State University in 2014.
Renewable Energy for Schools
Illinois Wind for Schools incorporates wind energy into classrooms
with curriculum, instruction, design, and experimentation activities with
data collection on school grounds. Lesson plans focus on energy and
electricity, wind and weather, turbines and engineering, environmental
considerations, and economics. To date, 15 schools have participated
with training, curriculum and equipment at no charge to the schools
thanks to grant funding provided by the Illinois Department of
Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The team is a partnership of
Illinois State University’s Center for Renewable Energy and College
of Education, with Western Illinois University’s Illinois Institute for
Rural Affairs and College of Business and Technology.
Illinois Solar for Schools was developed through the Center with
funding provided by the Illinois Green Economy Network. Events
Matt Aldeman
were coordinated with five community colleges to recruit and select 13
demonstrates a model middle and high schools, then materials and instructions were presented
wind turbine to a class. to teachers.
Renewable Energy for Schools is a new program being developed by the Illinois State
University and Western Illinois University team to provide teachers with instruction for
presenting a wide range of renewable energy curriculum in their classrooms.
Smart Grid for Schools
A Smart Grid for Schools program offers an opportunity
for students to learn about new Smart Grid technology
being rolled out by utility companies in the state. The
program provides workshops for teachers, curriculum for
their classrooms, and engages K-12 students with Smart
Grid in a fun, hands-on way that incorporates Next
Generation Science Standards. Schools can schedule to
have an interactive display of simulated household rooms Teachers enjoyed the Smart Grid training
in the life-sized room exhibits.
with electrical appliances and a Smart Grid meter for
students to manipulate electrical usage to see how it affects the overall energy consumption
in the house. Table top models also display an electric grid with smart grid functionality.
Energy in Illinois Outreach Efforts
The Energy Learning Exchange has exhibited at events throughout the state including the
Illinois Science Education Conference, Science in the South, IL FFA State Convention,
STEMfest at Northern Illinois University, STEM 8th Grade Career Expo by the
Bloomington Area Career Center, and STEM Night at Urbana School District 116.
ELE MEMBERS:
Lead
Entity
Founding
Member
Advance Renewables Sustainability Consulting
AGL Resources
Alliance Pipeline
Ameren Illinois
Argonne National Laboratory
Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives
Career Preparation Network, Ed for Employment 060
Caterpillar, Inc.
Chicago Public Schools, Early College and Career Ed.
College of DuPage
College of Lake County
ComEd
Constellation New Energy
Cook County Workforce Investment Board
Danville Area Community College
DuPage Workforce Board
Eastern Illinois University
Economic Development Council of the B-N Area
EDP Renewables
EDP Renewables
EMB Consultants, Inc.
Exelon Corporation
Exelon Generation
Geronimo Energy
Homewood-Flossmoor Com. H.S. Dist. 233
IBEW-NECA Technical Institute
Iberdrola Renewables
Illinois Business Roundtable
Illinois Chamber of Commerce
Illinois Commerce Commission
Illinois Community College Board
Illinois Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
Illinois Department of Employment Security
Illinois Energy & Recycling Office
Illinois Energy Association
Illinois Green Economy Network
Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs, WIU
Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Municipal Electric Agency
Illinois Solar Energy Association
Illinois State Board of Education
Initiative for Sustainability and Energy, NU
Integrys Energy Group
Invenergy
Kankakee Community College
Lake County Workforce Investment Board
Lewis & Clark Community College
Maestros Ventures, LLC
Mainstream Renewable Power
McHenry County Workforce Investment Board
MidAmerican Energy
Midwest Fiber
Midwest Generation EME, LLC
Midwest ISO
Mt. Carmel Public Utility Company
National Corn to Ethanol Research Center, SIU
North Shore Gas
Northern Illinois University
Northwestern University, ISEN
NPL
Office of Governor Pat Quinn
Peoples Gas
Peoria JATC Local 34
PJM Interconnection
Pontiac Township High School
Prairie State Generating Company
Primera Engineers
PROactive Strategies, Inc.
River Valley Workforce Investment Board
Robert M. Fletcher Company
S&C Electric Company
SEIU Local 73
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Sustainable Strategies
Teamsters Local 786
Three Rivers Education for Employment System
Trane/Ingersoll Rand
University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Chicago
Urbana School District #116
Utility Workers Union of America, Local 18007
WES Engineering
Western Illinois University
Workforce Boards of Metropolitan Chicago
Workforce Investment Board of Will County