Hurray it is FRIDAY! Today Mike, Joe, Rick and Keith get to be the students while all the new WindSenators present on topics from WindWise.
We had some fantastic, creative presentations from all 5 groups - covering a range of important topics on wind energy science and technology. The PowerPoints you presented will be available to all WindSenators on the KidWind site.
Great job everyone - looking forward to a great year of wind energy science education. Don't forget you can find PowerPoint shows, PDFs, and other important documents at the KidWind website. Find all your supporting documents for workshops here: http://learn.kidwind.org/windsenators/proposals
(You will have to log-in as a WindSenator to access this page).
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Workshop Day-by-Day: THURSDAY
THURSDAY MORNING
After a long day on Wedenesday we had a late start on Thursday this gave teams some time to meet and collect their thoughts for their presentations on Friday. After that we had some more discussions on what it will be like to be a wind senator and then Andy gave a short lecture on wind energy and and the KidWind Challenge. Then we go to play a little with his large wind tunnel and the vernier data collection system. Fun Stuff---- once again I wish we had more time.
After that Steve Mudd from the Xcel -WindSource program gave a great talk on the selling wind power to customers. It was a really great presentation that I feel helped everyone understand what it means when you check that box saying you want to use wind power!
THURSDAY AFTERNOON
In the afternoon we had a lecture on small wind from Tim Olsen that tried to help the teacher understand the costs and challenges of installing small wind. It is clear that Tim has a great deal of experience in the wind industry and he was working hard to help the teachers understand the high costs but not make them too depressed about the market.
Ronald from AMEC came by and gave a talk about impacts to Wildlife from wind energy installations. Very nice clear presentation on what the impacts of this technology can be on a variety of wildlife. I wish we could do more on this and also have Christine do some presentations on what she does in this field.
After a long day on Wedenesday we had a late start on Thursday this gave teams some time to meet and collect their thoughts for their presentations on Friday. After that we had some more discussions on what it will be like to be a wind senator and then Andy gave a short lecture on wind energy and and the KidWind Challenge. Then we go to play a little with his large wind tunnel and the vernier data collection system. Fun Stuff---- once again I wish we had more time.
After that Steve Mudd from the Xcel -WindSource program gave a great talk on the selling wind power to customers. It was a really great presentation that I feel helped everyone understand what it means when you check that box saying you want to use wind power!
THURSDAY AFTERNOON
In the afternoon we had a lecture on small wind from Tim Olsen that tried to help the teacher understand the costs and challenges of installing small wind. It is clear that Tim has a great deal of experience in the wind industry and he was working hard to help the teachers understand the high costs but not make them too depressed about the market.
Ronald from AMEC came by and gave a talk about impacts to Wildlife from wind energy installations. Very nice clear presentation on what the impacts of this technology can be on a variety of wildlife. I wish we could do more on this and also have Christine do some presentations on what she does in this field.
Workshop Day-by-Day: WEDNESDAY
WEDNESDAY MORNING
As teachers walked in Mike showed a short video by Comedy Central on Cape Wind. Quite hilarious check it out here >> http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-august-7-2007/jason-jones-180---na...
Wednesday morning we gave the teachers a little more time playing with blades on their large and small turbines. We still feel like they do not have enough time to explore the equipment. I think next year I would plan on just dedicating one whole day to turbines.This hands-on experience is invaluable!
After that Gretchen from Vernier (http://www.vernier.com/ ) came by and show the teacher the power of their equipment to record voltage, current and power. Very cool stuff. Teachers did have to start the painful process of understand voltage, current, power and energy and too their credit they stuck with it trying to understand. While I think we could spend about another 2 hours on the subject I'm not sure where we would find the time.
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
We make the long trek to the National Wind Technology Center (http://www.nrel.gov/wind/). Teacher heard lectures from Walt Musial and Robi Robichard on Offshore Wind and Small Wind Systems testing. They also had an introduction to research conducted at NWTC.
While it was a long day I think that the teachers learned quite and bit and I always feel lucky to be in the presence of such expert researchers.
As teachers walked in Mike showed a short video by Comedy Central on Cape Wind. Quite hilarious check it out here >> http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-august-7-2007/jason-jones-180---na...
Wednesday morning we gave the teachers a little more time playing with blades on their large and small turbines. We still feel like they do not have enough time to explore the equipment. I think next year I would plan on just dedicating one whole day to turbines.This hands-on experience is invaluable!
After that Gretchen from Vernier (http://www.vernier.com/ ) came by and show the teacher the power of their equipment to record voltage, current and power. Very cool stuff. Teachers did have to start the painful process of understand voltage, current, power and energy and too their credit they stuck with it trying to understand. While I think we could spend about another 2 hours on the subject I'm not sure where we would find the time.
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
We make the long trek to the National Wind Technology Center (http://www.nrel.gov/wind/). Teacher heard lectures from Walt Musial and Robi Robichard on Offshore Wind and Small Wind Systems testing. They also had an introduction to research conducted at NWTC.
While it was a long day I think that the teachers learned quite and bit and I always feel lucky to be in the presence of such expert researchers.
Workshop Day-by-Day: TUESDAY
We started with some review of the day before and covering some basic logistics.
Mike showed a few videos
Turbines exploding >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nSB1SdVHqQ
Flying Through a Wind Farm >> http://www.geekosystem.com/wind-turbine-flyby/
Joe, Keith and Rick showed everyone how to make a PVC basic turbine and we shared our new bases and towers. Surprisingly a few people had never put those together!! It is also hard to believe that we have not had time to make blades and do some testing >> Wednesday morning!
After that we had Mike K give us a pretty intense lecture on Wind Resource Assessment. As a wind geek I was really into much of what he was sharing. I am sure for many others in the room it was a little too much. His Power Point is listed below and here is a link to the website with all the data he shared >> https://sites.google.com/a/rams.colostate.edu/csu-wac/
After that we had a short discussion about history of WindWise and KidWind. Then we moved onto a lecture from Dan & Dan at otherpower and buckville publishing.
Otherpower >> http://www.otherpower.com/
Buckville >> http://www.buckville.com/
It was really great stuff that many teacher were really into. Joe and Mike think we need to find a way to get them to Saint Paul for a training. Then I can go and not have to travel.
TUESDAY AFTERNOON 1-5
We trucked out to Vestas (http://www.vestas.com/) for the afternoon. WOW!!!! Quite the tour of a modern blade manufacturing plant. The wildest thing is that they make blades completely different than the LM Wind Power blade plant I have been to in North Dakota.
Vestas was very gracious to have us I think we were very lucky to get a tour.
We finally made it home at 5:30 and then a few of us hustled to New Belgium for a back stage tour. Quite a long and crazy day....hard to believe we have another long one tomorrow.
Mike showed a few videos
Turbines exploding >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nSB1SdVHqQ
Flying Through a Wind Farm >> http://www.geekosystem.com/wind-turbine-flyby/
Joe, Keith and Rick showed everyone how to make a PVC basic turbine and we shared our new bases and towers. Surprisingly a few people had never put those together!! It is also hard to believe that we have not had time to make blades and do some testing >> Wednesday morning!
After that we had Mike K give us a pretty intense lecture on Wind Resource Assessment. As a wind geek I was really into much of what he was sharing. I am sure for many others in the room it was a little too much. His Power Point is listed below and here is a link to the website with all the data he shared >> https://sites.google.com/a/rams.colostate.edu/csu-wac/
After that we had a short discussion about history of WindWise and KidWind. Then we moved onto a lecture from Dan & Dan at otherpower and buckville publishing.
Otherpower >> http://www.otherpower.com/
Buckville >> http://www.buckville.com/
It was really great stuff that many teacher were really into. Joe and Mike think we need to find a way to get them to Saint Paul for a training. Then I can go and not have to travel.
TUESDAY AFTERNOON 1-5
We trucked out to Vestas (http://www.vestas.com/) for the afternoon. WOW!!!! Quite the tour of a modern blade manufacturing plant. The wildest thing is that they make blades completely different than the LM Wind Power blade plant I have been to in North Dakota.
Vestas was very gracious to have us I think we were very lucky to get a tour.
We finally made it home at 5:30 and then a few of us hustled to New Belgium for a back stage tour. Quite a long and crazy day....hard to believe we have another long one tomorrow.
Workshop Day-by-Day: MONDAY
MORNING 8-12
Well things started out excellent with about 15 of our boxes missing from UPS. Being good teachers we were able to scramble and make do. Not that I want to do that again.
Got to meet all but one Wind Senator --- our Chilean teacher flight was cancelled so she should be coming later today. Very motivated and bright group of teachers I am psyched!
We took our first test using our clicker software and hardware >> TURNING POINT >> http://www.turningtechnologies.com/ We only had one glitch but seemed to work pretty well. Hope the WindSenators can give some feedback on the test.
Keith did a great into to energy and had some great links. Some other teachers shared some great ideas. I list some of the ideas I found below.
John Stewart >> http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-june-16-2010/an-energy-independent...
The Energy Detective >> http://www.theenergydetective.com/
Cool Schools >> http://www.coolschoolchallenge.org/
Energy Information Agency >> http://www.eia.gov/
MONDAY AFTERNOON 9-12
On Monday afternoon we spent probably too much time going over Wind 101 but I felt it was important to make sure people understand the basics. It was a lively and interesting discussion and I could not believe people we focused for that long on a Power Point.
The cool thing is that we finally we got our boxes and did some hands on! Joe and Rick did lesson # 6 from WindWise and teachers had a great time making weightlifting turbines. The winners were able to lift 25 washers!
We ended a long day -- with teachers heading out for dinner!
Well things started out excellent with about 15 of our boxes missing from UPS. Being good teachers we were able to scramble and make do. Not that I want to do that again.
Got to meet all but one Wind Senator --- our Chilean teacher flight was cancelled so she should be coming later today. Very motivated and bright group of teachers I am psyched!
We took our first test using our clicker software and hardware >> TURNING POINT >> http://www.turningtechnologies.com/ We only had one glitch but seemed to work pretty well. Hope the WindSenators can give some feedback on the test.
Keith did a great into to energy and had some great links. Some other teachers shared some great ideas. I list some of the ideas I found below.
John Stewart >> http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-june-16-2010/an-energy-independent...
The Energy Detective >> http://www.theenergydetective.com/
Cool Schools >> http://www.coolschoolchallenge.org/
Energy Information Agency >> http://www.eia.gov/
MONDAY AFTERNOON 9-12
On Monday afternoon we spent probably too much time going over Wind 101 but I felt it was important to make sure people understand the basics. It was a lively and interesting discussion and I could not believe people we focused for that long on a Power Point.
The cool thing is that we finally we got our boxes and did some hands on! Joe and Rick did lesson # 6 from WindWise and teachers had a great time making weightlifting turbines. The winners were able to lift 25 washers!
We ended a long day -- with teachers heading out for dinner!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
FREE-Fabulous Resources for Energy Education
Some of you have asked for the FREE (Fabulous Resources for Energy Education) website. It is at:
http://www.uni.edu/free-ceee/
Please let me know if I can help you with anything.
Pat
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Transportation question
Hello,
I'm coming in on the train Sunday morning. I haven't found transportation to CSU yet.
If you have any suggestions I would really appreciate them.
Pat
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