Duke Energy Foundation sponsors 14 teachers to attend STEM-focused environmental workshop in Colorado
Keystone, Colorado (PRWEB) July 17, 2015 -- Keystone Science School is grateful for the generous support of the Duke Energy Foundation which sponsored 14 teachers from Duke Energy communities in Florida and Ohio to attend Key Issues Institute in Keystone, Colorado.
The week long professional development session was held from June 23-27, 2015. During the program, the teachers explored local environmental issues both outside and inside the classroom. Key Issues provides teachers with best practices in how to engage students in interactive, hands-on activities that make science come to life through meaningful learning experiences. This program inspires scientific inquiry, leadership development, and civic engagement, thereby motivating students to be active members of the community.
The Key Issues framework, an interdisciplinary curriculum set that brings the process of inquiry to the study of environmental issues, is designed to promote a collaborative approach to scientific investigation and problem solving. For example, in a lesson called Triangle Triage, teachers guide their students through a decision using a sustainability grid that compares the economic, environmental, and social impacts of the choice before them. The lesson is designed to explore the concept of sustainability from all sides of a topic, from bottled vs. tap water to organic vs. conventional farming. Triangle Triage shows students first-hand that in dealing with real-world issues, there is often no “right” answer, but there may be a solution that does the most good for the most people.
“Bright futures begin in the classroom, and every child deserves a fair chance at academic success,” said Stick Williams, president, the Duke Energy Foundation. “An investment in our teachers is an investment in building a diverse workforce for the future.”
Thanks to the partnership and support of the Duke Energy Foundation, Keystone Science School is able to bring environmental issues and a passion for learning into classrooms across the country. In the last 18 years, Duke Energy Foundation has sponsored 88 teachers to attend Key Issues, and in turn those teachers have reached over 13,000 students.
About Keystone Science School
Since 1976, Keystone Science School has taught scientific principles and leadership skills to young people, teachers, and community members through engaging hands-on field experiences. KSS was founded on the belief that leaders should approach decision-making with a healthy respect for scientific inquiry, collaboration, and civic engagement. We know that today's youth are our future leaders - the ones who will develop policies and make decisions that impact our world. With that in mind, we've created interactive science education programs that help students become familiar with scientific and critical thinking skills and encourage them to be engaged citizens. For more information, visit http://www.KeystoneScienceSchool.org and follow @KScienceSchool on Twitter.
About Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to address the needs vital to the health of its communities. Annually, the Foundation funds more than $25 million in charitable grants, with a focus on education, environment, economic and workforce development, and community impact. Duke Energy has long been committed to supporting the communities where its customers and employees live and work, and will continue to build on this legacy. More information is available at: http://www.duke-energy.com/Foundation or follow @DukeEnergy on Twitter.
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Nora Simmons, Keystone Science School, http://www.KeystoneScienceSchool.org, +1 970-455-4231, [email protected]
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