Educators GEAR UP for Greenpower
High School and Middle School Utah teachers from around the state ramped up for Greenpower at a recent workshop. The Greenpower Electric Car Challenge is a STEM project-based program that leverages the excitement of motorsport to inspire students from elementary school through college and university to excel in STEM education. Founded in the UK in 1999, this highly successful initiative emphasizes applied learning, sustainability, teamwork and technological literacy.
Hosted at Edith Bowen Laboratory School in Logan, UT, GreenpowerUSA and Utah State University’s GEAR UP program provided 11 Utah middle and high schools educators an electric car building workshop. Teachers will take those real-world engineering skills back to the classroom to challenge their students to compete in Greenpower.
Eric Packenham, Director of Gear Up, observed that “this STEM initiative has allowed us to further our interdisciplinary approach to learning where the rigorous academic concepts are connected to real-world lessons for our students, teachers and parents.”
Thirty-two teachers were tasked with connecting Greenpower to new Electric Vehicle and Roadway (EVR) research being conducted on the USU Innovations Campus. The Greenpower battery powered vehicles will provide students with applied physics, mathematics, computer programming, digital prototyping, problem solving, leadership and teamwork.
Hunstsville City Schools Greenpower instructor, Mike Evans, and Siemens intern, Sean Webb, conducted the workshop. “At the workshop, the teachers strategized on applying the Greenpower hands-on experience in their technology, engineering and design curriculum,” Gayle Bowen, STEM Coordinator, explained. “As Greenpower kit cars are integrated in the classroom, students develop a deeper understanding of math and science through problem-solving and real world challenges.”
The teachers are excited to have their students participate in the electric-powered race car project.Greenpower met the teachers’ objective of providing relevance for the students while they are having fun.
Greenpower is looking for motivated teachers interested in bringing this challenge to students of all ages. Take a look at some of the project resources available and get involved at http://www.greenpowerusa.net.
