[SEMCO] Free Renewable Energy Institute

[Richard Lawrence]

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Contact: Richard Lawrence, 508.457.7679, richardl at reliance.org

(Please Forward to Educators)

Free Renewable Energy Content Institute Offered for Educators

Cape & Islands Self-Reliance, Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research
Reserve and the Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical School have partnered
together to offer a two-week long Renewable Energy Content Institute for
High School Teachers this summer.

This Institute will be offered weekdays from Monday, July 19th through
Friday, July 30th at the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in
Waquoit, MA.  It is free of charge and open to all Massachusetts educators
(public, private, non-traditional, and college) on a first come-first serve
basis.  Educators wishing to better understand renewable energy concepts;
learn why renewable energy education is important and timely; and get ideas
on how to effectively teach the Massachusetts Learning Standards through
fun, hands-on activities are strongly encouraged to attend this institute.

“Renewable energy is being talked about in the news a lot these days, “ says
Richard Lawrence, Education Coordinator for Cape & Islands Self-Reliance.
“This content institute provides an opportunity for teachers to delve deep
into the issues surrounding renewable energy development, stay up to date
with this rapidly emerging technology, and learn how to successfully
integrate these concepts into their science curriculum.”

Participants are eligible for up to 87.5 Professional Development Points
(PDPs), and graduate level college credit will be available for a fee.
Teachers will receive over $300 worth of materials, books, and resources to
effectively teach about renewable energy. The content of the institute is
designed around the high school science and engineering standards, but
activities and information can be applied to various grade levels and
subject areas.

This content institute is one of five renewable energy based content
institutes around the state that are being funded this summer by the
Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust as part of their Education and Public
Outreach Program.

Content Institutes are conducted in conjunction with the Massachusetts
Department of Education, who is sponsoring 35 additional institutes on
various topics this spring and summer. Nearly 1,000 K-12 teachers are
expected to participate in this year’s programs. Details on all of the
institutes can be found on the Department of Education’s Web site at
www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/cinstitute/.

Since 1995, 9,000 people have taken advantage of these spring and summer
courses to sharpen their instructional skills and knowledge in the academic
subjects included in the state’s learning standards.

"These institutes are specifically geared toward helping educators improve
their content knowledge and skills in the subject matter they teach,” said
Education Commissioner David P. Driscoll. “We encourage all educators to
take advantage of these free opportunities as well as other professional
development activities."

Teachers interested in attending the Renewable Energy Content Institute
should contact Self-Reliance at 888-808-0120 or visit our website at
www.reliance.org. Space is limited, so teachers are encouraged to register
as soon as possible.

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