IESRE offers workshops for teachers and/or students. Currently, we offer a 1- or 2-day workshop on solar power/energy. This hands-on workshop integrates concepts of solar power as an alternative renewable energy source with the interaction of the sun and Earth's atmosphere and surface, as required in a middle- or secondary-school Earth science course. Participants can build an inexpensive but very reliable pyranometer (to measure solar power at Earth's surface) and (in the 2-day workshop) a solar-powered car kit.
At these workshops, participants will learn about basic electricity concepts -- current, voltage, and power -- as they apply to solar power. They will review fundamentals about solar power, Earth and atmospheric science, weather, and science. The hands-on approach teaches some basic technology skills (a little soldering is required), helps to correct misconceptions, and fosters a sense of ownership of information that is required to teach and learn more about these topics.
For more information about IESRE and its workshops, contact Dr. Brooks at brooksdr@drexel.edu.
Description and sample agenda for solar power/energy workshop