The Consortium’s Professional Development team hosted a webinar earlier this month to unveil our planned Student Sustainability Design Challenge, a multi-district initiative the Consortium will launch in 2023-2024 in partnership with the Energy Innovation Center (EIC), to help educators engage their students in Project-Based Learning experiences focused on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
An orientation for teachers will take place at the Consortium’s offices in September, followed by a program kickoff in October at which participating educators and teams of their students will convene at the EIC. Teams are expected to return to the EIC in the spring to present their projects.
As part of the program, students will have the opportunity to connect with companies and community organizations that are working themselves in one or more area of sustainability. As part of their work, they’ll be expected to identify sustainability challenges within their communities.
Companies or organizations interested in the Design Challenge can contact Professional Development team members, Aaron Altemus, Sarah Brooks, or Christy Kuehn.
By working with these employers, students also will have the opportunity to expand their awareness of careers related to sustainability. Working on their projects throughout the year will help them build skills in creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking.
For educators, the Design Challenge offers the chance to engage with a peer network around PBL; connect with partnering companies and organizations; and support students in PBL through an initiative that provides career-learning opportunities.
