
The Learning Environment
EGEE 401 is conducted entirely on the World Wide Web. There are no set class meeting times, but you will be required to complete weekly assignments. Registered students in this course will need to navigate between several environments in the World Wide Web. These include:
- This site: This is the site (course content site) where all instructional materials for this class are located, including my notes and reading assignments.
- CANVAS: This is where registered students consult course calendar, communicate with instructors and fellow students, interact in Discussions, submit assignments, receive feedback from the instructor, take online quizzes and surveys, check assignment scores and course grades.
How to navigate between this site (course content) and CANVAS
- To get to this course content site from CANVAS, click on EGEE 401 Course Content (located in menu on left side of page).
- To access CANVAS from the course content site (this site), use the CANVAS link at the top of the page (see above).
Students who register for this Penn State course gain access to assignments and instructor feedback, and earn academic credit. Information about Penn State's Energy and Sustainability Policy Bachelor's program is available at the ESP Overview Page.
Topics of Study
What is "energy"? Technically defined as "the ability to do work," energy is the hot in heat, the glow in light, the push in wind, the pound in water, the sound of thunder and the crack of lightening. It is the pull that keeps us (and everything else!) from simply flying apart, and the promise of spring deep in an acorn. It is all the same, and it is all different. How does a gallon of gas move a car 20 or more miles? How can faraway falling water cause the lights in my house to operate? Before launching into our conversation about the energy industry and its changing role in our world, in Unit 1, we consider the fascinating essence of energy in nature, including its many forms and transformations. We'll review systems of measurement and other basics, like energy vs power and the first law of thermodynamics.
In Unit 2, we talk about the energy industry and the environment. We'll look at the current and projected impact of climate changes, and the role our use of energy has in these environmental consequences.
Unit 3 begins our study of the energy industry, with electricity demand and generation. How is electricity generated? How is it managed and distributed? What are the fuels and environmental impacts? We look at non-renewable and renewable fuel sources and consider feasibility and sustainability.
Unit 4 continues our study of the energy industry with an examination of fuels used for transportation, starting with how gasoline and diesel engines work. We examine a barrel of crude oil, the refining process and its many products, and consider the world's oil supply. We'll look at alternative fuel sources and again consider issues of sustainability and feasibility.
In Unit 5, we look at possible solutions to the energy industry and environmental conflict. Applying what you've learned, we examine ideas for technical, legislative and integrated solutions, including behavioral changes.
Course Assignments
EGEE 401 will rely upon a variety of methods to assess and evaluate student learning, including
- Lesson Activities Each lesson (except the Capstone) includes an Activity, based on assigned reading and utilizing models and data from a range of sources. You’ll need to follow instructions and answer the questions presented in the Activity associated with each lesson.
- Unless specifically noted otherwise, all of the information you need to complete a Lesson Activity is in the assigned reading and exercises for that Lesson. The correct answer(s) will be contained in the assigned reading and exercises. If you are aware of differing opinions that you would like to share, your thoughts are very welcome. Please explain and provide source.
- Discussion Forums For each unit, a topic is presented as a Discussion in CANVAS. Your participation in these Discussions is mandatory and will be a part of your grade.
- There are two due dates: one for your initial posting and one for when the Discussion closes (end of graded participation.) See CANVAS calendar for due dates (11:59 pm EST).
- Most topics involve your personal opinion and observations. Have fun here; put your best ideas out there. Read and reply to others. You’ll be graded not on right-or-wrong (do get the facts right), but on your level of engagement and original thinking.
- Capstone Project Using what you’ve learned in this class, you'll research and write Letters to the Editor or a Research Paper or, if you are a teacher, prepare a Lesson Plan to teach to others. You choose!