Addressing one of the Engineering Challenges in Pre-College Programs: Modernizing the Electric Grid

摘要

The Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management's (FREEDM) System Center, an engineering research center, precollege program at North Carolina State University was revised for the summer of 2016. The modification was to not only teach about renewable energy technologies and the importance of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), but also educate precollege students about the electric grid and how FREEDM is addressing challenges of modernizing the grid through research and technologies. High school students apply to the Young Scholars (YS) program and are selected to participate in the four-week summer program at the Center. The program includes engineering educators and electrical engineering graduate students providing content and hands-on activities. Additionally, industry tours provide students the opportunity to learn more about different workforce environments that are involved in the electric grid, renewable energy technologies and engineering preparation and careers. Finally, weekly webinars, social activities to promote collaboration and inclusion in addition to interaction with both undergraduate and graduate students at the Center provide a balanced summer educational experience. The goal of the program is to promote higher level thinking skills, problem solving, and innovation and learning the engineering design process. Subject matter experts present on topics such as microgrids, solar farms, electric vehicles, battery storage, and careers. Students work with Arduinos and 1/10 scale model electric vehicles to design a solar charging station to charge the vehicle enforcing knowledge of battery technologies. Students also work with wind turbines to calculate energy consumption, and learn introductory coding and programming. During the program, students select a research project, which they work on developing a demonstration project. In addition to the project, students learn how to create a research poster and deliver a "Perfect Pitch" about their research. Upon conclusion of the program, students participate in a symposium event demonstrating their research projects to faculty, administrators, students, staff, parents and teachers. Students worked on projects that included smart use of smart meters, autonomous problem solving and adaptability to quickly and efficiently maintain power distribution, and batteries researching the future-wet versus dry batteries. A comparison of pre and post program survey results for the pre college program indicated that students had a better understanding of engineering and energy related topics. The goals of the newly revised program included: 1. Establish curriculum that is aligned with the program's goals and vision. 2. Create a team with relevant content knowledge within and outside the Center interested in the program. 3. Purchase equipment and supplies for activities that are engaging and can be replicated in schools. 4. Stimulate the interest of the YS through exposure to engineering tools and technologies. 5. Foster collaboration with other centers, institutes and industry on and around campus. 6. Provide YS with a greater understanding of the social relevance of engineering. 7. Provide Young Scholars with an understanding of engineering careers and the necessary courses and pathways.