Building the
Energy
Workforce of
the Future
“Public education
isn’t important
because it serves the public,
it is important
because it
creates the public.”
-- Benjamin Barber
What is the Good News?
More AP Courses Offered
Writing Scores Are Among The
Nation's Best
Texas 8th grade students are among the
Nation's best in writing. The proportion
of 8th grade students scoring at the
highest two levels of writing
achievement is the 3rd highest in the
nation.
TAKS Scores Are Up!
Texas Is Best in the Nation in
Proportion of Students
Taking Advanced Math Courses!
Texas's public high schools are
offering more and more challenging
courses. Since 1996 the proportion
of schools offering Advanced
Placement (AP) courses has
increased by 32%!
It is No. 1 in the nation in the
proportion
of students taking calculus, AP
calculus, and AP statistics.
When scores were expected to
drop in spring 2004 due to the
release of a more rigorous TAKS
exam, Texas third graders in fact
exceeded expectations, scoring
91% passing in reading.
- Statistics provided by Friends of Texas Public Schools
Even Better News!
• Project Based Learning can push
achievement higher.
• Students learn better when they
are doing project- and problembased applied learning set in the
context of the environment,
according to Closing the
Achievement Gap: Using the
Environment as an Integrating
Context for Learning.
• Project based learning improves
test scores by as much as 92% and
reduces discipline and
management challenges by as
much as 95%.
Exciting Projects from the Energy
Industry in Engineering and Design
Innovative Projects from
Deep Ocean Rigs and Platforms
• The OEC is a private, nonprofit organization
• OEC Mission Statement: ‘The Offshore Energy
Center is dedicated to expanding the awareness of
the vast energy resources beneath the world’s
oceans, and to chronicle the unique heritage and
technological accomplishments of the industry that
discovers, produces and delivers these resources in
a safe and environmentally responsible way’
Three Initiatives
Ocean
Star
Hall of
Fame
Education
Outreach
Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum
The Offshore Energy Center and the
American Association of Drilling Engineers
(AADE) provide a FREE Mobile Exhibit
entitled the Knowledge Box
•
•
•
Grades 6 through 12
– Interactive technology
– Teacher guides
– Hands-on activities
– Posters and multimedia
presentations
6 hour training class equips teachers
30 day use policy following training
class
Educational Programs Guide
• Aligned with National
Science Education
Standards
• Program topics include:
– History of petroleum use
– Principles of petroleum
geology
– Career information
– Petrochemistry
– Environmental science
Project E3: Expanding Energy Education
• Correlated to
National Science
Standards
• Project-based
learning with an
offshore energy
theme
Impact of Programs
• 245,000 visitors since 1997
• > 850 teachers trained
– “Playing with Petroleum” (5-11 yrs)
– “Knowledge Box” (11-18 yrs)
• “Knowledge Box” > 175,000 students
reached since 2001
Recommendations for Systemic Change
• Research from the Cultural Change Working
Group indicates the following:
– “Ongoing promotion is essential, as individual
campaigns often only have short term impact on
behavioural change.”
– “Using education in schools is key to educating the
young . . .”
– “Building partnerships with key allies will give a
campaign greater impact and credibility as well as
access to new audiences.”
– “Understand your target audience.”
– “Consistency and continuity are key.”
The 2005 Energy Bill: Important Resource for Change
• Sec. 133 Public Energy Education Program
a. IN GENERAL. Not later than 180 days after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall convene an
organizational conference for the purpose of establishing
an ongoing, self-sustaining national public energy
program.
b. PARTICIPANTS. The Secretary shall invite to
participate in the conference individuals and entities
representing all aspects of energy production and
distribution. . .
Together we can work to keep Houston the Energy
Capital of the World!
For the Energy
Industry!!