School Case Studies

This page displays some of the latest Case Studies uploaded by participating Schools and Institutions. You can add your own stories through your Community Profile page

Participating Schools

346

Name:

Mulberry School for Girls

Location:

London

Site Description:

A girls' comprehensive school in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, we have had a Power Predictor for over 12 months, using it to evaluate our school for a solar photovoltaic system. The Power Predictor, a symbol of our aspirations, has been gently whirring above our heads since July...

October

It’s quietly gathering data which will allow us to calculate how much electricity we can expect to generate annually in central London by installing a solar photovoltaic system or wind turbine. We had a sneak preview in the Summer by climbing onto the roof, extracting the memory chip and (back in the lab) analysing 24 hours worth of data. However, we will be able to analyse and extrapolate with much more precision by waiting a few more months….

Our project has 3 main strands and there has been plenty of action in all areas since the start of term.

i) energy generation

We established this aspect during our STEM and sustainability theme week in July. Sarah led a group of students from years 7 to 10 in researching and building a working, scale model of the 2-storey walkway where we hope to instal our solar photovoltaic system. The model demonstrates how we will generate electricity to power pumps, fans and lights in the grow-rooms. The model is now on display to inform the rest of the school. The students also oversaw the positioning and installation of the Power Predictor.

During the past half term Kelda, Akta from greentomatoenergy, and Alan from Miller Construction UK have been busy negotiating with Miller and other stakeholders within the school (ongoing!). There are many logistical considerations (including siting, funding and a structural survey) to take into account when installing a photovoltaic system and associated educational equipment. The structural engineer has now successfully completed his survey.

ii) growing

The growrooms have been thoroughly cleaned and sterilized for a fresh start to the year – essential for successful indoors growing. Deborah and science technicians Avi Khadaroo and Thuy Huynh-Bentham spent a couple of messy afternoons splashing around in Milton’s solution and removing whitewash from the windows (put in place to limit solar radiation through the glass during the summer). The hydroponics systems were professionally cleaned.

During October, every year 7 student (210 in all, ably supported by science technician Sobia Razzaq) planted a seed in small rockwool plugs soaked in seed-friendly mineral solution. These are now germinating and growing-on inside propagators to keep them warm. The seeds are heritage varieties of leafy vegetables, chosen for their nutritional value, historical interest and visual appeal, and students are able to learn about the importance of preserving genetic diversity at first hand. Varieties include Red-leaved Perilla, Orange Fantasia Beet Leaf Chard, Strawberry Spinach Amaranth, Black Tuscan Palm Tree Cabbage and ‘Red Russian’ Kale. You won’t find these in your local supermarket….

iii) enterprise

Daniel has established a small group of year 11 Business students to develop our food enterprise. They have had initial meetings to plan and to consult with Paul Osborne who runs the Mulberry Diner where Hospitality and Catering students cook for staff. Their plan includes e-sales to staff and supplying KS3 Food Technology lessons. They also met with a reporter and photographer from the East London Advertiser which resulted in a great article with photo in our local paper.

Name:

Stradbroke Business & Enterprise College

Location:

Suffolk, United Kingdom

Site Description:

The Power Predictor is installed on top of a broadband mast approx 60' high and is close to the single storey flat roofed school building but with no significant trees close by.

Name:

Monkton Coombe School

Location:

Bath, United Kingdom

Site Description:

Martyn Creeth has been teaching Geography in the city of Bath, UK for over 20 years. One thing has always intrigued him: why pupils struggle to learn some simple topics, yet surprise teachers and parents with their enthusiasm and depth of knowledge in others. “The difference”, says Martyn, “is whether they want to learn, or whether they are supposed to learn”. Better Generation’s Power Predictor is a tool that can bring the fun back into learning about science, geography, maths, statistics and even business studies.

Creeth says, ‘I was sceptical at first. What was this going to do?’ he asked. It turned out that young people have a tremendous interest in the environment and in solutions to the energy crisis. With Power Predictor, they can try out all kinds of different scenarios and test theories on wind and solar energy solutions.

In Geography and Science lessons, teachers can use the Power Predictor to answer common questions such ‘How does a wind turbine generate electricity?’ The construction of the data logger will show pupils simple electronics and this leads to group projects where the pupils work together to design a circuit powered by a small solar panel or wind turbine.

With global warming and carbon reductions becoming increasingly important in today’s society, we realise the necessity of teaching children what causes the climate to change. Understanding why the wind blows and sun shines can be challenging, but the lesson plans include themes such as pressure change in a more accessible and enjoyable style. Using the Power Predictor in field projects would encourage children to get out and about. By moving the Power Predictor to different locations and viewing the graphs produced in the Power Reports, pupils would be able to see how topography affects the wind and solar energy available. The graphs could also be used between Geography and Mathematics forming cross-curricular links to teach how data can be analysed and what happens when different methods are used.

Monkton Combe Prep School chose to use the Power Predictor to help teachers discuss in their lessons geographical questions such as ‘What is the global energy situation?’ and ‘How does the future look for our current methods of energy supply?’ Studying the steps taken to develop and produce the Power Predictor will also demonstrate how to set up a business from scratch and market a successful product. Information that will be of real benefit to the Business Studies Department in Monkton Combe Senior School. Mr Creeth said there has been a gradual change in the attitude of young people to Geography, Maths and Science seeing how the subjects inter relate and now that they can experience how they work in the real world. ‘The enthusiasm they bring to the lessons is just extraordinary. They are truly interested in the solutions and they learn more and learn it faster than ever before. Power Predictor has truly changed the way we teach and the way they learn. It has been a tremendous help.’

The fact that the school educates the pupils from 7-18 means that the data collected can be used across a number of departments in both the 7-13 age group and the 13-18 age group as well. An interesting possible spin off from the data collection is the supporting role it can play in helping Monkton become a ‘Green Business’ by demonstrating the possibility of alternative energy sources for the school to use. This in turn can be of great benefit when looking into future development projects where an ‘environmentally friendly approach’ would be required. The fact that the data is easily accessible and that there are model predictions opens the way for a multitude of possibilities.

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