Renewable Energy
Class Expectations:
1. Come to class prepared. Most of the work will be done in class, but there will be some outside work.
2. Be prepared to contribute appropriately to class discussions.
3. Treat others in the class with respect. You may not agree with their viewpoint/opinion but you still need to respect their right to give it.
4. We will be participating in several fieldtrips during this course. You need to be on your best behavior. Remember you are a representative of Benson High School!
5. When working in cooperative groups, do your part! You will be individually evaluated on your participation and contribution to the group project.
6. Manage your in class work time so you complete projects and assignments on time! Late assignments will not be accepted unless there has been an excused absence.
7. Speak appropriately in the classroom or field; no swearing.
8. Dress appropriately when we go in the field. I will give you advance notice, so don’t come without a coat or appropriate footwear when we’re outside on a fieldtrip.
9. No cell phone use of any kind during class. Cell phones will be confiscated and given to the Principal.
Grading:
Your grade will be based on the accumulation of points in three main areas:
10% - Conduct/Behavior, Responsibility, Participation
50% - Tests, research projects
40% - Daily assignments, labs
The conduct portion of your grade will be determined on a point system. You will start with five points each day. Behavior/conduct in the classroom or in the field, preparation for class, and contributions in cooperative groups as well as class discussion will determine whether you lose any or all of the five points for each day.
The following grading scale will be utilized:
A 93-100% C 73-76%
A- 90-92% C- 70-72%
B+ 87-89% D+ 67-69%
B 83-86% D 63-66%
B- 80-82% D- 60-62%
C+ 77-79% F 0-59%
Course Content:
The philosophy of this new course is to increase your awareness of the careers, resources, and choices available in the renewable energy industry. This course is also intended to make connections with the industries in our area that play a role in the development of these energy sources. Thus we will take fieldtrips to several of these sites.
We will take class time to explore some of these energy sources in depth such as ethanol production, biomass, methane digesters, hydrogen fuel cell technology, solar energy, and wind energy. These content areas will include some lab experiments to better understand the production and use of these energy sources. A large portion of this course will focus on the production of ethanol in the Benson area. Benson High School received a grant in 2009 that allowed us to purchase some very expensive equipment. You will have the opportunity to use this equipment in your lab work related to ethanol production.
We will use specific sites on the internet as resources as well as information I have collected. For our work with solar cells, hydrogen fuel cells, and wind generators we will use a specialized kit which provides us with working models to better understand these energy sources.
It is important that this course is relevant to you, so, please share your ideas with me. What you get out of this course is directly related to what you put into it.
**If you are having difficulty in this class, come in for assistance. I am available before and after school!
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