EnergyNet Empowers Students at Alan B. Shepard High School
Real world, interdisciplinary project focuses on more than energy savings at school

Champaign, IL. - Students in the EnergyNet project at Alan B. Shepard High School had their first taste of reality based learning when they were fired from their jobs. Math teacher Dmitri Cooper says it was not an easy decision to make, but students were not taking the class work seriously and brought back data that was obviously wrong. So, Cooper and June Hagberg, a science teacher who co-leads the EnergyNet project, handed out pink slips. Not your typical day in the classroom. Cooper says, "Because of the design of the project we were able to make a real impression on the students. EnergyNet team members began asking for their jobs back and took ownership of the project. Students were more motivated to do their work right."

EnergyNet¸ a project designed and managed by Educational Dividends, is a model for bringing real world, interdisciplinary learning into the classroom. EnergyNet allows students to apply their math, science, language arts and technology skills in a real world situation. The classroom environment shifts from "teacher-centered" to facilitated learning where the teacher guides students on an educational journey by encouraging them to ask questions.

Cooper and Hagberg have seen their students move from a bumpy start to a polished finale. They believe this type of learning offers many benefits for their students. Educational Dividends president Carol Timms says, "Part of our company mission is to provide students with relevant projects that challenge them to take responsibility for their education. In a quickly changing, competitive world, students need to be able to find answers and solve problems. We provide effective tools that actively achieve results in the classroom."

EnergyNet, the company's model project, has seen six years of successes which are documented in Best Practices- a publication that verifies the exciting improvements that can happen in education. EnergyNet's Best Practices is available to view or download on-line at EnergyNet's web site at http://www.energynet.net/best_practices/index.html. For more on Educational Dividends contact Sharla Sola by calling the toll free number 877-359-9444.

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