The focus of the field trip would be highlighting the renewable energy research on campus including the new Kegonsa Research Campus Solar Array. Teachers would participate in the Agrivoltaics field trip that we run for visiting school groups. This begins with a mapping activity that leads to a discussion about land use and how we make decisions about our resources. Then we introduce the basics of agrivoltaics and why we would be interested in researching it in Wisconsin. The last activity is to experiment with mini solar panels to see how things like angle, height, and spacing affect power output and shading. After that we would do a quick tour of the building to showcase the other sustainable research going on. Finally, we would end with sharing classroom resources that are available and ready to use for teachers. We offer this field trip to elementary through high school students so the content is relevant to teachers of all grade levels. Additionally, we align our resources to current state standards so it is easy to see where things might fit into a curriculum. Finally, our activities are hands-on, collaborative, and based on real research so teachers will be able to connect and learn just like their students.
Link to PPT slides from session.
