Engineering Energy Efficiency

With the recent focus on STEM, one of my tasks is to be aware of relevant curriculum that schools can use.  I have found that Concord Consortium has created several real-world situations problem solving sites.  The one I am focusing on today is: Engineering Energy Efficiency. This project investigates the educational value of computational models and simulations within the design process. Students design and build an energy-efficient scale-model house with the aid of simulations and probeware. (http://www.concord.org/projects/engineering-energy#cc1)

Attention: This module immediately gets a student's attention as it is a real-world problem that has no absolute solution.  Students are able to use their skills to solve something meaningful.  The interactions are real, using interactive tools the replicate what professionals use.  Students use computers to solve problems which often gets their attention.










Relevance:  This simulation is directly relevant to a real-world problem.  With all of the emphasis on green technologies, there is a need to learn how to build energy efficient housing.  The project uses the skills students have in math, science, and engineering

Confidence:  There are many steps the students go though in building their models.  Students are guided through each step, gradually building their skills need for the project.  This gradual build-up of their skills and working towards the final product should give the students the confidence they need to be successful.

Satisfaction:  There is satisfaction in completing a project with an unique solution and being able to present that solution to peers.  If the student goes thorough all of the steps, they should design a final product they are proud of and can demonstrate a meaningful answer to a real problem they could face as adults.