Wednesday, February 17, 2021
For a career, that is? With the constant demand for energy, especially clean energy, jobs in the field are not likely to go away any time soon. In fact, jobs in the energy field are diverse, ranging from lineworkers and electricians to engineers and mapping technicians. For students interested in the field, how can educators help them get more information?
Educational Resources
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) in conjunction with the Wisconsin Energy Workforce Consortium (WEWC) have designed a 2020-22 STEM-Energy Pathway template. The STEM-Energy page on DPI’s website offers the pathway as well as other energy career resources for both students and teachers.
The Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program (KEEP) provides K-12 teachers with a wide array of energy curriculum by special topics, activity guides, and grade levels. KEEP also offers educational videos, field trips and speakers (by CESA), hands-on resources, and more! Here is a short list of KEEP career-themed activities:
- Careers in Energy 9-12
- Get That Gasoline 5-8
- Catch That Wind 5-8 (9-12)
- Siting for Solar 5-8
KEEP is the state chapter of the federal Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD), which has additional resources at its Get Into Energy website, including these curriculum options:
- Air Pressure Experiments K-8
- Atoms & Molecules Experiments K-8
- OSHA 10 Certification 9-12
- Energy Careers 9-12
- See full list
Into the Outdoors, an educational network that brings science and adventure together, also features a series of videos on energy and sustainable science that may interest future energy workers!
Energy Providers and Associations
Energy providers work hard to attract students interested in energy careers. The American Transmission Company (ATC), a Wisconsin-based company that owns and operates the high-voltage electric transmission systems, offers a video panel of experts in electric transmission system operations, engineering, environmental management, and vegetation management. ATC’s website also has a Learning Center that can answer questions related to high-voltage power.
For students interested in renewable energy, the Midwest Renewable Energy Association provides specialized career resources and labor market information that can help students create realistic plans for their future career. Plus, they offer scholarships for those pursuing degrees and/or relevant credentials in renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainability, or clean technology
Want to plug into current jobs in energy? Look no further than the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development’s “Focus on the Energy Industry.” It gives you a sense of what’s happening in the real world and is an exciting way to engage students.
Photo by Zbynek Burival on Unsplash