Course Materials
Overview
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Module 1: History and Organization of the
Industry
Module 2: Safety
Module 3: Electric Power Generation
Module 4: Electric Power Transmission
Module 5: Electric Power Distribution
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Module 6: Career Exploration
Module 7: Hot Topics in Energy
A.
B.
C.
History of the U.S. Energy Industry and
Infrastructure
The Energy Industry: Structure and
Organization
Energy Flow: Generation, Transmission, and
Distribution
A.
B.
C.
Regulatory/Procedural/Security
Preparing for Hazards in the Workplace
Hazards and Response
A.
B.
C.
Conventional Electric Power Generation
Systems
Overview of Generation Fuel Sources
Overview of Emerging and Alternative
Generation Technologies
A.
B.
Introduction to Electric Power Transmission
Transmission Governance, Stability and
Emerging Technologies
A.
B.
C.
Introduction to Electric Power Distribution
Distribution Governance, Stability and
Emerging Technologies
Natural Gas Distribution
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Each module is divided into units.
A module’s table of contents presents the flow of
the entire module in a unit-by-unit fashion.
While the teaching materials vary, each unit
contains the same major components in the
same sequence.
 Unit Overview
 Learner Expectations
(Student learning objectives)
 Teaching Strategies
 Pacing Chart for Lesson Delivery
 Complete Student Text for the Unit
 Teaching Resources
Example Unit Sequence
 In this unit you will follow Shawn and Brianna as
they look for ways to reduce their electricity bill
and find out how electricity is generated,
transmitted, and distributed to consumers.
Along the way, they’ll discover ways the utility
industry has changed to become more efficient
in the production, transmission, and distribution
of power.
 This unit traces the evolution of the power industry,
from the discovery and harnessing of electricity to its
status as a consumer product. We begin with a very brief
look at the properties of electricity and continue with a
discussion of some of the inventors who commercialized
its use. Next, we examine the economic principles
behind the commercialization and the economic
regulation that developed from a system of investor
holding companies. The unit concludes with an
investigation of environmental regulations and
methods for reducing toxic emissions.
 Describe the process of electric metering
and billing for energy consumption.
 Explain the flow of energy from
generation through distribution to the
customer.
 Discuss the history of the United States energy
industry/infrastructure.
 Discuss environmental laws and regulations that
impact the energy industry (local, state, and
federal) and explain importance of proper
documentation to ensure compliance.
 Explain the role of regulatory bodies
in the energy industry.
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Throughout this unit and the rest of the course,
students will be asked to complete short
activities, worksheets, laboratory activities, and
to answer a variety questions. It is recommended
that they keep a spiral notebook or composition
book in which they can collect data, record
answers, take notes and so forth. Keeping
documentation is a skill required in
many jobs in the energy industry.
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This unit presents many opportunities for small group
discussion. Allow students to work on the Critical Thinking
exercises in groups. Give them time for reflection and
research, if needed. Collaborative learning allows you to
work with smaller groups of students….Based on your
interaction with the small groups you can determine which
concepts, if any, need to be reviewed or re-taught before
continuing to the next lesson. Additionally, it gives
students the opportunity to develop
interpersonal skills required by industry.
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PowerPoint presentation with outlines
Activity materials—student handouts,
lab worksheets, vocabulary exercises,
guided note-taking
Review questions and quizzes
Answer keys to activities, critical thinking
exercises, review questions, quizzes
Links to supplemental resources
Equipment list for discretionary activities
1. Title Slide: The Science Behind Cleaner Air
2. Monitoring Particulate Air Pollution
a. Many developing countries do not have air
monitoring sensors, so it is difficult to estimate the
amount of pollution
b. Particle pollution is one-tenth the diameter of a
human hair (PM2.5 = 2.5 micrometers or less in
diameter)
c. Suspected of contributing to millions of premature
deaths around the world each year
1. Discuss the types of information found in an
electric bill.
2. Describe the major components of a generating unit
and the energy conversions that occur in each.
3. Describe how power plants have become more
efficient over the years.
4. What is the purpose of the transmission system?
5. What does a transformer do? Why is this important?
6. What is the relationship between current,
voltage, and power?
Module 6—Career Exploration
contains:
 Overview of working in the
energy industry (conditions, job
descriptions, education
requirements, links to outside
resources)
 Career Profiles (descriptions of
specific jobs within the industry)
 Extension Activities (activities
that can be done by individual
students or as a facilitated group
exercise)
Sample Career Profile
Modules 6 and 7 (in development)are webSample Career Profile
based
Energy
Efficiency/Conservation
 Alternative Energy
 Emerging Technologies
 SmartGrid and Time of Use
Technologies
 Energy Regulatory Issues
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Email: EIF@cord.org