Energy Decisions Are Hard - Switch Classroom Can Help!

To “go green,” we must “go honest” so that we can address and solve the real energy challenges before us. - Dr. Scott Tinker

How will developing countries source the energy they need? How can we increase energy efficiency? Where will we get the raw materials for solar and wind development?  Can we have “clean coal?” Is it possible to scale up the use of wind and solar energy to reduce CO₂ emissions? These are the hard questions that the curriculum of Switch Classroom can help you address in your classes. 

We launch this blog in October as we observe National Energy Month. This annual event began in 1991 to raise awareness of the importance of finding sustainable solutions to our country’s growing energy needs. The energy landscape in the U.S. has changed considerably since the early 1990’s with the development of shale gas and the growing use of solar and wind power. Addressing the growing energy needs for developing countries has its own challenges. How do we, as educators, provide a balanced exploration of the energy choices both we and the next generations will face?  Dr. Scott Tinker, founder of the Switch Energy Alliance, calls on us to be honest about the benefits and challenges of each energy source. 

Through this blog, we will provide ready-to-use teaching strategies, share our own use of Switch Classroom, and provide the latest insights from energy experts and educators.  

We will provide teachers with useful information on how to:  

• use Switch Classroom to deliver unbiased information on all types of energy
• develop project based learning using the Switch Classroom resources 
• have meaningful conversations with your students about energy poverty and energy justice 

You will also get to meet experts: 

• entrepreneurs who are creating solutions to meet the energy needs of our increasingly energy dependent world
• industry professionals who will share the latest technology 
• representatives from private organizations and government who guide our energy policy 

Switch Classroom was created by teachers for teachers. The Switch Energy Alliance Teacher Advisory Council (TAC) developed the curriculum for Switch Classroom with you in mind! Each member of the TAC brings many years of experience and expertise and we are your partners in providing vital energy education to students. Energy decisions are hard!  They will impact our health, economy, environment, and security! We need to equip the citizens of tomorrow with the information needed to make these hard decisions. Join us in this journey as we explore the energy future!  

Lynn Kistler 

Chair Switch Energy Alliance Teacher Advisor Council 

Upper St. Clair High School, Pittsburgh, PA 

Science Teacher: Environmental Science, Physics, Chemistry