Learning About Energy Is Empowering

Laurie Chason of Mosley High School, left, works on a project highlighting sources of energy, electricity, energy efficiency and conservation during the workshop’s Form of Energy to Energy Sources breakout session.

More than 150 teachers from northwest Florida and Alabama became students at the Empower Energy Education Workshop in June.

Empower was co-hosted by PowerSouth, the National Energy Education Development and area cooperatives, including Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative.

The Empower Energy Education Workshop is part of an initiative to promote a balanced approach to energy education in the classroom.

By empowering teachers to fully explore all forms of electricity generation, students are more likely to receive a reality-based education and become better decision-makers as adults.

NEED’s materials and programs are an integral part of the energy education process in more than 65,000 classrooms nationwide. These resources meet students’ diverse needs and learning styles, and are correlated to Next Generation Science Standards, as well as Alabama and Florida standards.

The NEED program:

  • Equips teachers, students and future leaders with knowledge and work skills.
  • Trains teachers to teach energy from a balanced perspective.
  • Reaches parents and community decision-makers.
  • Provides energy curriculum training vital to an understanding of energy.
Kristen Macomber participates in the Exploring Energy breakout session.
Wendy Chafin of Port St. Joe High School, left, and Michelle Gay of National Energy Education Development participate in Energy Roundup—an activity that helps students understand the energy sources we use today and will use in the future.

Empower attendees network with fellow educators and earn continuing education credits. They also receive a NEED Science of Energy Kit valued at $300, a class set of NEED energy information books at grade level, access to all NEED curriculum guides and supplemental resources.

Workshop registration, event lodging at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa and meals were covered, making the event free for the teachers.

Watch for details about Empower 2023.