Education Expert Speaks at Empowerment 2000 Conference
Carol Timms Relates Successes in Educational Improvement Through Energy Education

Champaign, IL. - "Through EnergyNet, students learn about energy but more importantly they learn skills that prepare them for life," says Carol Timms, President of Educational Dividends, about an educational project her company created and manages. Timms, a leading energy educator, told attendees of the Empowerment 2000 Conference how EnergyNet has grown from a project designed to integrate technology in the classroom to a model for educational improvement. She spoke at the conference of energy education leaders on June 15, 2000 in Madison, Wisconsin.

EnergyNet is a classroom project that integrates technology, standards-based learning and workplace skills by having students work to answer a real-world question: "How does your school use energy and how can you responsibly reduce the costs of energy in your school?" Students are motivated by this relevant and challenging project that allows them to apply their knowledge across disciplines.

Timms told conference attendees there are four components that make EnergyNet an effective teaching tool: 1. Correlation to Learning Standards; EnergyNet helps teachers share substantial content and meet required standards, 2. Relevancy; EnergyNet prepares students for life and the world of work, 3. Flexibility; EnergyNet allows teachers and students to develop the project to meet their needs, and 4. Successes with All Levels of Learners; EnergyNet teachers can choose goals and activities that are important and challenging to all students participating in the project.

Dari Scott of the National Energy Foundation says, "Carol Timms sees the big picture. She works to provide quality education and meaningful tools for the classroom. She has improved the delivery of the project making EnergyNet available to schools throughout the United States." Timms says advances in technology have allowed the project to provide necessary online training and high levels of support for teachers and students via the EnergyNet website and e-mail. The EnergyNet website is http://www.energynet.net.

In her presentation, Timms also encouraged energy educators to create "win-win" partnerships to support their educational projects. She says energy educators need to assess the opportunities available through their projects and to think creatively about partners, in and out of the energy industry, who may benefit from involvement in education.

Educational Dividends, based in Champaign, Illinois, uses insight into business and education to create innovative educational products that provide businesses with a way to invest in education while ensuring quality, balanced learning tools for teachers and students. Educational Dividends has managed projects in over 1,500 public and private schools since 1994.

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