The goal of the current project is to develop a collaborative infrastructure among academic, industry, and government stakeholders to deliver cutting-edge renewable energy education for the existing and future technician workforce. CERET is working to expand the popular Renewable Energy Certificate model, first pioneered by Madison Area Technical College, to reach a larger number of students and schools, thereby satisfying a national need for flexible delivery courses in renewable energy. The model features seasoned renewable energy instructors and a broad scope of renewable energy technologies that are relevant to many schools and students. Furthermore, CERET will help grow the next generation of renewable energy two-year college and high school educators by offering a series of Train the Trainer Academies. These academies will give educators from across the nation authentic renewable energy experiences taught by veteran industry installers and experts. Other schools will be able to use the CERET model as a stepping stone toward creating their own renewable energy courses and programs. By providing both online coursework and targeted short term face-to-face instruction, we will reach students in remote geographic areas who do not currently have access to renewable energy educational opportunities. Furthermore, participating instructors will be empowered with the academic background and technical skills to drive change in their home institutions. This model will serve as a touchstone for dialog about best practices in renewable energy education at two-year colleges and high schools.

This visionary project introduced the ground breaking CERET Renewable Energy Certificate. Delivering a combination of online and face-to-face renewable energy courses through a collaborative partnership, the project sought to increase the expertise of qualified renewable energy technicians. Certificate courses are developed and are taught by top experts in the field. To complement the online courses, the project also developed a series of web-based learning objects and digital teaching modules that give renewable energy instructors and students virtual access to renewable energy technologies and inquiry-based pedagogy. The certificate model created by this project addressed a major challenge in undergraduate education: Given limited human and financial resources how can two-year college programs evolve to address new and emerging disciplines such as renewable energy technology? The model developed in this project has brought seasoned renewable energy experts into the 2-year college classroom as teachers. Thus, the project has articulated both a vision and mechanism to make emerging renewable energy technologies available to two-year college faculty and students.

This pioneering project established the Consortium for Education in Renewable Energy Technologies (CERET) to facilitate implementation of a broad-based interdisciplinary approach to technical education in renewable energy technologies. This goal supported the vision of the consortium to embrace and mainstream renewable energy technologies through:

• development of a technically-competent renewable energy industry workforce
• fostering of the production of more energy from local agriculture and by-products
• encouraging the use of distributed energy generation sources
• promoting renewable energy understanding and knowledge

This project also:

• Established a technology demonstration site where business, industry, farmers, consumers, legislative and governmental leaders, trades people, students, and educators can learn about renewable energy technologies
• Worked with business and industry partners to provide hands-on training and new curriculum for skilled workers in renewable energy and distributed generation
• Encouraged the use of renewable fuels through demonstration projects and educational events

The University of Wisconsin Delta Program is a research, teaching, and learning community for faculty, academic staff, post-docs, and graduate students created to help current and future faculty succeed in the changing landscape of science, engineering, and math higher education. Through the teaching-as-research idea, the Delta Program supports current and future science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) faculty in their ongoing improvement of student learning. The Delta Internship Program gives participants practical experience to develop their skills, as they work in partnership with a faculty mentor. Madison Area Technical College has partnered with The University of Wisconsin to provide faculty mentors for UW graduate students completing their internships at the technical college campus.

Intern: Matt Damato, UW Department of Materials Science

Mentor: Barb Anderegg, CERET project director

Intern: Sara Kerr, UW Environmental Chemistry and Technology Program

Mentor: Ken Walz, MATC Department of Chemistry

Interns:
Adam Hoffman, Environmental Chemistry and Technology Program

Katie Cadwell, Chemical Engineering

Stephanie Britton, Materials Science

Mentor: Ken Walz, MATC Department of Chemistry

Student's interested in completing an internship, and faculty members wishing to serve as mentors may contact:

Introduction to Engineering Design is taught at both the UW and MATC campuses. The course engages students in hands-on, real-world engineering design projects. Working in teams with assistance from both UW and MATC faculty, students have constructed original solutions to various renewable energy challenges. Past projects have included the construction of a biodiesel reactor, a solar energy demonstration system, and several small permanent magnet wind turbines. See the sidebar on this page for more information about selected feature projects

Photovoltaic Technology

• Solar Powered Transit Shelter

Wind Power Technology

• Designing a Wind Turbine

Alternative Fuels Technology

• Biodiesel Reactor