Teacher Resources
Education about responsible and sustainable energy generation and consumption is the key objective behind Schoolgen. Genesis Energy believes that by talking and interacting with students we have a real chance to cultivate environmentally-aware thinking and behaviour; not just theirs, but that of the people around them -friends, teachers, parents and the wider community.
Since Schoolgen began in 2006 Genesis Energy has created a comprehensive programme that includes 40 free teaching resources (see the Teacher's Resource Table) that explore electricity generation, climate change, energy efficiency and renewable energy, particularly solar energy. The resources can be used in a variety of ways, but particularly in the context of student Inquiry Learning . Our most recentresources include the Schoolgen Posters and the 'Kiwi Kids Discover the Sun' e-book.
The Schoolgen resources have been developed to align closely with the New Zealand Curriculum. We have created resources to support and empower teachers and engage students in a range of subject areas although there are particularly strong links to Science.
The strong links to the key curriculum areas of the New Zealand Curriculum are:
- The Vision: Schoolgen encourages our young people to become actively involved citizens contributing to the well-being of New Zealand.
- The Principle of Future Focus: Schoolgen addresses issues of sustainability which includes energy issues and global climate change.
- The Values: Schoolgen encourages, models and explores values such as innovation, inquiry and curiosity; ecological sustainability, and community participation for the common good.
- The Key Competencies: Schoolgen resources encourage the engagement of a wide range of the key competencies such as thinking, using language, symbols and text, managing self, relating to others and participating and contributing .
The Schoolgen site provides a large database of Electricity Generation Data from all of our Schoolgen Schools, Glossaries, Teacher-led Activities (lesson plans), Student Fact Sheets and Independent Student Inquiries. The Teacher's Resource Table provides an overview and access to all of the Schoolgen learning resources.
The Schoolgen website provides up-to-date data (tables and graphs) recording the amount of electricity generated by photovoltaic panels in Schoolgen Schools. Some of the Schoolgen activities focus on developing students' skills in interpreting this data and building their understandings of how fluctuations in power generation are related to a range of factors and variables. Even if your school does not have the solar panels you can still use the electricity data from other schools on the Schoolgen website in your classroom.
The Activity Developers
The Schoolgen activities were developed by Lift Education in partnership with a number of experts from the education sector. We would particularly like to acknowledge the contribution of the following people:
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Dr Gillian Turner, senior lecturer in physics and geophysics, Victoria University of Wellington
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Rex Bartholomew, senior lecturer in science education, Victoria University of Wellington
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Pam Jones, educator for Enviroschools
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Sue Campbell, primary school teacher
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Judith Morrogh, secondary school social science teacher
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Sarah Edwards, secondary school science teacher
