Hello from America's heartland! Do you need assistance teaching energy concepts and issues?   Do you want to develop a deeper understanding, to increase your confidence? Do you want activities you can use in your own classroom? Do you prefer activities and discussions instead of lectures?

If you answered "yes!" to these questions, we have courses that are a good fit for you! Our Fabulous Resources for Energy Education (F.R.E.E.) were developed in response to the needs of educators in Iowa.  We are very pleased to share our professional development, activities, and physical materials with you in the form of on-line courses.

In the Spring of 2015 two courses are available.UNI Energy Basics, available February 4, 2015 to May 2, 2015. Must register by April 1, 2015Learn the factors that influence the Earth's energy balance and discover how the flow of energy from the sun to the Earth influences our climate, from Ice Ages to Global Warming. Develop working definitions of energy that your students will understand. Expand your understanding of energy, power, and work. Compare and contrast the Scientific Method/Inquiry with the Engineering Design Process and the 5 E's Learning Cycle. Discover energy activities and resources to use in your classroom. Read and discuss the book Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard by Chip and Dan Heath.

UNI Solar Energy, available March 2, 2015 to May 2, 2015. Must register by April 1, 2015Build a model solar car and use it to answer inquiry questions about balance, circuits, and solar cells. Use what you've learned to build a super solar car using the Engineering Design Process. Explore the changes in the sun's daily path across the sky with a pinhole solargraph, data, and graphs. Learn how to add solar energy to your home or school.

Professional Development WHERE you want it, WHEN you want it!Both courses are offered on-line. Take them at school, or at home in your PJ’s! Take them as a MOOC (Massive Open On-line Course) for FREE! If you need graduate credit,

each course is one graduate credit for just $100 each. We’re making you an offer we hope you can’t refuse!

See sample videos of the courses at http://www.uni.edu/ceee/education/free-fabulous-resources-energy-education/professional-development

Registration InformationTo sign up for the $0, free, no cost, MOOC:

Visit my CourseSites Instructor Home Page at: https://phigby.coursesites.com

Click on the title of the course you want to take. Click on “Self-Enroll” and complete the enrollment.

To sign up for the $100 graduate credit course you must also:

1. Live or teach in Iowa.2. Go to http://www.uni.edu/continuinged/enroll-now/   3. Class Location = Online Dates = Spring 20154. Class Nbr = This varies depending on the subject area

you wish to receive credit inFor the Workshop : Review-Energy Basics

                    ELEMECML= for graduate credit use 56193                    SCI ED = for graduate credit use 56197                    TECH = for graduate credit use 56195            For the Workshop : Renew-Solar Energy                                         ELEMECML= for graduate credit use 56199                     SCI ED = for graduate credit use 56203                     TECH = for graduate credit use 56201 5. Indicate Graduate credit6. List your previous degree information if taking

the course for Graduate credit7. Click “I AGREE” to submit your Enrollment

Form.  You will receive an automated reply saying it has been submitted.  Carolina Wilson will then process your registration.

8. We would appreciate you submitting this as soon as possible.  If you have any questions or problems with this process, please feel free to contact Carolina at Continuing Education at 800-648-3864 or 319-273-2121.

But wait, that’s not all!!!

Educator’s Package:Solar Car Kit Wind Turbine KitBest Blade Kit Multi-meterThermometers Pinhole Camera Kit

Grading and Estimated Time CommitmentTo successfully pass this course you must earn 70% of the available points. Participants who successfully finish the course will receive a certificate of completion.

For each course there will be approximately 15 hours of instructional content, including videos and instructor led digital discussions via Zoom. You may join the Zoom discussion by phone or with your computer and a microphone. There will also be approximately 30 hours of additional work, including quizzes, activities, and discussions with your fellow students.

For more information contact:Pat Higbyhigby@uni.edu

If you are one of the first 40 people enrolled in this course, you get our free Educator’s Package! Read the first announcement posted for the class for details.

This course and materials made available by support from Iowa EPSCoR and the University of Northern Iowa.