Work in progress - energy education and energy literacy: Benefits of rigor and relevance

Energy education programs are making their way into today's K-12 classroom. Effective programs that improve energy literacy will help draw students toward further studies and careers in the growing fields of energy-related engineering, science, and technology, and will prepare all students to interpret energy issues and make sound choices as they become adults. This work evaluates different types of educational experiences in terms of their ability to improve students' energy literacy. Study participants are exposed to a variety of classroom experiences, with respect to rigorous and relevant teaching strategies and the approach to covering energy issues. The analysis uses a triangulated, mixed-methods design, including a pre/post quantitative survey in addition to post-program questionnaires that provide a deeper understanding of the students' perceptions of the impact their education has had on their energy-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.