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Energy
        page 12                                                                                                Electronic Edition: www.teachingtodaywi.com


                     Electronic programs Sparking interest in High-Demand Careers at

                     Hudson High School


                                                                                ponents,  the  fundamentals  of  electricity,   and rewarding.”  Students work in teams to
                                                                                renewable  energy,  and  basic  robotics.  Stu-  design and develop an original solution to a
                                                                                dents  in  the  class  build  and  solder  together   valid open-ended technical problem by apply-
                                                                                an AM/FM radio, practice the techniques of   ing the engineering design process.  Students
                                                                                wiring  outlets  and  lights,  work  on  a  renew-  perform  research  to  choose,  validate,  and
                                                                                able  energy  project  involving  how  wind   justify  a  technical  problem.   After  carefully
                                                                                energy creates electricity, and perform simple   defining the problem, teams design, build, and
                                                                                robotic activities, programming small robots   test their solutions while working closely with
                                                                                to  perform  simple  tasks. This  is  a  practical,   industry professionals who provide mentoring
                                                                                hands on class where different tasks and proj-  opportunities.  Finally, student teams present
                                                                                ects are emphasized.               and defend their original solution to an outside
                                                                                   Many  students  then  advance  to  the   panel. The culminating event is an open house
                                                                                yearlong  PLTW  Digital  Electronics  course,   where students present their project and pro-
                                                                                a  project-based  course  that  takes  a  logical,   posed solutions, often including prototypes, to
                                                                                systematic  approach  to  understanding  how   engineers in business and industry and local
                                                                                digital  circuits  work.  This  course  is  taught   post-secondary leaders.
                                                                                hands-on  beginning  with  basic  concepts,   Electronics courses are popular electives.
                                                                                circuit design and analysis, testing, and pro-  Each  course  has  enrollment  between  25-30
                                                                                totype construction. Most classroom activities   students,  and  multiple  sections  are  offered.
                                                                                involve  information  on  new  concepts,  prob-  Each year, hundreds of Hudson High students
                                                                                lem-solving activities using the new concepts,   have an opportunity to build skills in this area.
                    One of the electronics engineering labs at Hudson High School
                                                                                computer simulation, and circuit construction   These  courses  build  skills  for  high  demand,
            As a Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Dis-  (PLTW website)               (wiring). Some activities will be taken to the   high wage jobs and STEM careers.
        tinguished High School, Hudson High School   According  to  Derek  Sciacca,  a  25-year   printed and soldered circuit board stage. Stu-  Hudson  is  located  in  the  northwest  of
        is  proud  of  its  electronic  programs  and  the   teaching veteran at Hudson High and current   dents also have the opportunity to earn three   the state, on the St. Croix river on the border
        spectrum  of  student  opportunities.  PLTW   electronics  teacher,  “When  we  look  at  the   college credits in this course.   of  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota.  Hudson  High
        courses are described as “developing the in-  courses that we offer, there are a wide variety   Many  students  continue  in  the  PLTW   School is a public secondary school serving
        demand,  real-world  knowledge  and  skills   of applications for electronics, so students get   pathway and choose an electronics application   grades  9  through  12  with  an  enrollment
        necessary  to  thrive  beyond  the  classroom.   a lot of exposure. We cater to a wide variety   for  the  Engineering  Design  &  Development   between 1850–1900 students.
        PLTW  Distinguished  Program  recognition   of  interests  and  abilities”.      Students  begin   capstone course taught by Dan Weiland, who
        celebrates  districts  and  schools  committed   with  the  Electricity,  Electronics  &  robotics   has also served over 20 years at Hudson.  He
        to  helping  students  own  their  education  by   semester-long  course.  This  course  explores   adds,    “We  find  multiple  ways  to  integrate
        increasing  student  access,  engagement,  and   the  makeup  of  the  atom,  different  forms  of   electronics into our curriculum throughout the   hudsonraiders.org
        achievement  in  their  PLTW  programs”.   electricity,  AC/DC  circuits,  electronic  com-  PLTW  courses.  Students  find  it  challenging


        osseo-fairchild Energy Education program


        Continued from page 9
            This  pathway  starts  with  an  introductory   NABCEP (North American Board of Certified   community  members.  Social  studies  and  eco-
        course called “The Foundations of Electricity”.   Energy  Practitioners)  —  PV  Associates  exam   nomics are imperative, as incentives and policies
        Upon successful completion, students move into   upon  completion.  This  exam  helps  students   are key to our sustainable future. Marketing and
        our “Photovoltaics” course, where they install,   become  immediately  employable  and  begin  a   finance are invaluable to determine the return on
        maintain,  gather  data                               career  in  sustainable   investment of a PV array. Chemistry? Physics?
        from,  and  uninstall                                 energy.           It’s  everywhere.  I  could  really  go  on  and  on
        a  large-scale  photo-                                    I  must  mention   about the advantages of energy education, but
        voltaic  array.  Further   “Energy  education  iS  general   the  true  highlight   I’m sure you get the idea.
        educational   offer-  education.  This  is  no  longer   of  the  Energy  Edu-  Finally, I feel compelled to cut to the heart
        ings  in  this  program   an  ‘option’  for  our  educational   cation  Program.  It   of  the  situation:  energy  education  IS  general
        included  “PV  and   system,  but  rather  a  require-  truly   encompasses   education. This is no longer an “option” for our
        Battery   Storage,”                                   all  forms  of  educa-  educational system, but rather a requirement. If
        “Alternative  Energy   ment.  if  we  truly  believe  in  a   tion.  Math?  Check.   we truly believe in a more sustainable future for
        Sources,”  and  “Sus-  more sustainable future for our   The  calculation  of   our planet and a healthier future for our loved
        tainable   Energy   planet and a healthier future for   electricity   requires   ones, it starts with our students now.
        Integration.”   These   our loved ones, it starts with our   all  sorts  of  math   I  am  passionate  about  helping  other  dis-
        additional   courses                                  (especially  algebra).   tricts implement an energy program. If you are
        allow   students   to   students now.”                English?  You  bet.   interested  in  this  area  of  curriculum,  but  are
        understand the storage                                Writing   technical   unsure where to start, please reach out.
        of  energy,  wind  tur-                               manuals  and  follow-
        bines  and  hydroelectric  power,  along  with  the   ing product installation instructions is an integral
        integration  of  renewable  energy  sources  into   part of installing a system. Speech? Absolutely.
        today’s modern architecture. This is a 3–4 year   Students are required to not only interact with   www.ofsd.k12.wi.us
        program,  with  the  goal  of  students  taking  the   others during installation, but also with staff and
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