Learning the science of renewable energy has never been easier for students and teachers with the introduction of STELR’s remote learning module on wind turbines.
The Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) has introduced the new module to its education program, STELR, through partnership with Orica, allowing remote and home-schooled students to create hands-on experiments.
ATSE CEO, Ms Kylie Walker said the wind turbine module was just the first of a new approach that will continue to support secondary school students throughout Australia to digitally access hands-on technology and engineering education.
“The online delivery of STELR’s wind turbine program is designed for remote learning and home schooling, providing a level of flexibility that is particularly needed right now but will stay relevant into the future,” Ms Walker said.
“It’s also exciting to collaborate with skilled science communicators like Lee Constable and Deadly Science creator and Indigenous STEM education mentor Corey Tutt, who are both champions for inclusive STEM education.”
Through the new module, students watch and learn as the presenters experiment with building their own wind turbines and talking through the physics of how they work. The students then analyse the results of the experiments from home.
Orica’s Chief Financial Officer Christopher Davis said the current global pandemic has accelerated rapid digitisation, and it’s important to respond and continue to introduce STEM to young people in an easy and meaningful way.
“There is a critical need to develop both the skills required for young people to participate in a digital future, and realise more sustainable economic growth,” he said.
“Wind and solar are now Australia’s fastest growing renewable energy sources, and we’re thrilled to sponsor the wind turbines as the first remote learning module in the STELR portfolio of STEM education resources.”
Further information on the remote learning wind turbine module.
See also a featured career profile on Australian Rosemary Barnes, a senior engineer working on wind turbines in Denmark.
MEDIA CONTACT
Justine.obrien@atse.org.au
0411 233 246
Background on the STELR program
STELR (Science and Technology Education Leveraging Relevance) is a national initiative of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering.
The primary aim of STELR is to address the problem of low participation rates in STEM subjects at the upper secondary school level. It does this by developing teaching modules relating these subjects to highly relevant issues affecting all students.
STELR equipment encourages both guided and open-ended research. It has been designed and developed in Australia specifically for STELR and is robust, simple and easy to use.
STELR has produced more than 20 curriculum modules comprising over 280 lessons, 100 hands-on activities, 30 career profile videos and 80 written career profiles. Many modules are supported by kits of Australian-designed and manufactured equipment to facilitate inquiry-based, hands-on, minds-on, problem-based learning.