EAST Final Written Report
Blake Allen, Megan Fuller, Fred Ginn, Sarah Goad
Part I: Explaining the Project
Introduction:
Our project was to introduce and educate others about using wind as a source of
energy. To educate others, we created PowerPoint slide shows and a web site for individuals to
look at. We not only looked at the benefits of NWACC using a wind turbine but we also looked
at the residential benefits as well.
Research:
To get all the needed information for this project, we had to contact outside sources and
members of our business community. We also found useful information from several websites
on the internet. Our group contacted Northwest Arkansas Community College (NWACC)
Physical Plant to request the total amount of electricity and electric cost for the school. We
also contacted the city of Bentonville to find out what the building ordinances were for
installing a wind turbine. Another member of our group also attended an informative meeting
at an Episcopalian church in Springdale. From this meeting important information was
gathered and very influential people were met.
Tasks:
Originally we were going to strictly focus on NWACC and the use of wind as power at the
school. We were going to create a sketch up model of a wind turbine for NWACC to use. In our
initial idea we were also going to develop a business template for other businesses to use if
they were interested in wind as a source of energy. Since then we have revised our idea to not
only include NWACC’s use of wind energy, but residential use as well. We have also included an
educational portion to our project. We felt that since kids today will one day lead our country
we should provide resources to for teachers to educate children on all possibility of using wind
as a source of energy.
Technology Used:
In developing our project, we relied heavily on the computer. We used Macromedia
Flash programs to create images and our web site; we used Microsoft PowerPoint to create a
slide show of information as well as a slide show of pictures. Other technology we used
included Microsoft Word, the internet to research information, telephones to contact outside
sources, calculators to determine correct data.
Community:
The long term affects of using wind as a source of energy will benefit the community
and environment for years to come. By educating others about these benefits, they have
become more interested in getting information to “Go Green” by using wind in their homes. By
using wind we will reduce our carbon footprint. By educating children about the use of wind as
energy, they will be able to implement these ideas across all nations.
Part II: Discussion of the group experience and skills developed
Individual Skills Developed:
Blake Allen: Improved his communication skills and talking to business professionals.
Megan Fuller: I learned more about web design and learned how to better use
Macromedia Flash programs. I also learned a great deal about wind turbines. At the beginning,
I didn’t even know what a wind turbine was. Now I can actually engage in a conversation about
wind turbines.
Fred Ginn: Learned how to use flash programs to make rotating images, and how to
calculate numbers from the NWACC electric bill
Sarah Goad: Got a better understanding of PowerPoint and gained general knowledge
of the topic.
Experiences and skills developed with working in a group:
As a group we learned that we all have something to bring and contribute to the group
and project. We were able to use each person’s strengths to benefit our project and help them
to improve on their weaknesses. By working as a group we developed a bond and we were
able to depend on each other and trust that each member would work to the best of their
ability. We were very fortunate to have a group that got along so well and everyone had the
same goals in mind.
Part III: How the project could be developed further
As a group we feel as though we have laid the foundation for another group to continue
to investigate NWACC using wind as a source of power. We feel that in the future another
group could develop a proposal for NWACC to purchase and use a wind turbine.
Part IV: Extras
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We used PowerPoint to create a slide show of information found.
We used PowerPoint to create a slide show of pictures.
We had hand outs of information and we also a “green”
Data sheets and tables were included in our PowerPoint and website
Contacts: Blake contacted NWACC Physical Plant and City of Bentonville, Sarah
attended a meeting where she got to meet very influential people such as Supreme
Court Justice, and the person in charge of energy.