Empowering the Next Generation of Energy Technicians Through Hands-On Wind & Solar Projects
Discover how the University of Arizona and presenter Ed Franklin is engaging high school students and educators in energy through innovative, hands-on learning experiences. This project brings wind and solar technologies to life through the KidWind PVC Wind Turbine Challenge and student-designed solar-powered water pumping systems.
In this webinar, presenters share how low-cost, accessible materials—combined with wind tunnels, sensors, and classroom-ready kits—were used to introduce wind energy concepts to agriculture programs across Arizona. Learn how educators were trained through professional development workshops, how regional competitions emphasized both learning and performance, and how students gained real-world experience by designing, building, and testing their own wind turbines.
The session highlights a complementary solar PV water pumping challenge, where student teams designed functional or decorative systems while exploring concepts like system design, wiring configurations, and energy performance. Insights from both activities demonstrate how project-based learning can deepen student understanding of renewable energy while building technical and problem-solving skills.
Whether you’re an educator, program leader, or industry partner, this webinar provides practical ideas for integrating renewable energy technologies into your curriculum and expanding student engagement across diverse communities.
View to explore scalable, hands-on strategies that prepare students for careers in the evolving energy workforce.
This is part of the CREATE Innovation series and runs approximately 30 minutes.
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