Paul+Steiner

=E2T2 Portfolio: Renewable Energy & Energy Transfer Grade 8=

Summary
//Enrichment Science students tend to be struggling learners, either with academics or motivation. Our project centered around renewable energy sources and energy transfer within the environment. Students designed and built an iWeb page that connected energy transfers that occur within 4 types of alternative energy. The starting point was to have the students view renewable energy and energy transfer from a personal standpoint and in turn as a way to "save the planet".//

Lessons, Units, and Resources

 * ~ Unit Topics & Daily Student Lessons ||~  ||~   ||
 * [[file:Before, during & after reading.doc]] || [[file:DoubleEntryDiary.doc]] ||  ||
 * [[file:3Energy_EfficiencyReading2.pdf]] || [[file:3Energy_EfficiencyReading2.pdf]] || [[file:4ExamplesReading2.pdf]] ||
 * [[file:1WhyRenewableEnergyReading.pdf]] || [[file:1WhyRenewableEnergyReading.pdf]] || [[file:2Distribute&CentralizeReading.pdf]] ||
 * [[file:RE#1assessment.docx]] || [[file:R.EnergyScavengerHunt2011.doc]] || [[file:1ConsumptionReading2.pdf]] ||
 * [[file:Renewable Energy Rubric.doc]] || [[file:Renewable Energy Collage.doc]] || [[file:Renewable Energy1-2.docx]] ||
 * [[file:Renewable Energy Rubric.pdf]] || [[file:Why Renewable Energy Rubric.pdf]] || [[file:Wind Energy Rubric.pdf]] ||
 * [[file:Solar Hot Water Rubric.pdf]] || [[file:Your Choice Rubric.pdf]] || [[file:References.pdf]] ||

Blog Entries
//Embed RSS feed here//

Summative Narrative
The project was a success due to the fact that students made real-life connections to our town and learned that renewable energy isn't that difficult to use on a small scale. The students in Pro-Science often struggle with going past knowledge level/DOK 1 style of learning but were able to surpass this when having time to focus on the topics at a slower pace. Although only by email, the students saw the big picture and looked at their science lessons in a whole new light. We incorporated active reading strategies by communicating with a local renewable energy camp located in Garfield County. The information provided by local engineers kept the students slightly out of their comfort zone and appreciated the knowledge and support from their 8th grade science teacher. This was kind of neat for me due to the fact that they often commented by saying things such as "Wow! Teachers know a lot about their subject – Mindra M. & Trevor R.".

From a standards and benchmark point of view, locating and summarizing information was also a struggle. After surveying students it was apparent that the most common issue was their difficulty with summarizing the main points of each form of renewable energy. Just changing the words by supplying synonyms was the number one way students attempted to form a summary. Even with continuous modeling it still remained difficult for their lack of confidence with science knowledge, researching and writing skills still lingered. Communicating with professionals outside of G.C.M.S. caused students to make an extra effort at showing what they know. They knew that people outside of the classroom would be reading and evaluating their learning which ultimately gave them incentive to focus more than they normally may. Instructionally speaking, the biggest pitfall was time. Students were asked to focus on one page of their iWeb until it was completed. This occurred at varying rates depending on reading skills.

Our field trip stops added to student confidence for local professionals were impressed with the questions and feedback given by the students. Both male and females alike were able to highlight the forms of energy transfer taking place and described each using technical language. The students came back with a more positive feeling that they can succeed and do well in science classes in the future. Several parents were impressed with the way that their son/daughter informed them about the Rio Grande Rift and its potential for our town and community. Others were caught off guard, in a good way, when their student presented renewable energy as a way to save money and not in the usually “save the planet” fashion. After conducting minor research, completing small-scale lab activities and visiting several local residences the students viewed renewable energy with a whole new perspective.

Literature Review
//Copy and Paste from Word//