Learning Areas
General Description
This new course will focus on just future electricity production from non-renewable resources rather than the wider subject of energy production and use. It is based closely on a section of the current 5 hr Online course ‘Sustainable Energy: An Unbiased Review of Options’.
The purpose of the course is to equip high school science and geography teachers to tackle the issue of electricity generation from coal, gas and nuclear by providing a balanced overview of the various options required to provide electricity in the future while minimising environmental damage.
The focus of the course is on providing technical details on the various technologies to provide electricity in the future and on conducting a realistic evaluation of these technologies.
The course has close links with the Australian Curriculum, namely:
o Unit 3: “Living on Earth – extracting, using and managing Earth resources” of the Senior Secondary Science/Earth and Environmental Science syllabus
o Unit 1: “Thermal, nuclear and electrical physics” of the Senior Secondary Science/Physics syllabus
o Unit 4 “The changing Earth – the cause and impact of Earth hazards” (Earth and Environmental Science)
o Year 7 Science on renewables (ACSSU116)
o Year 8 Science on science and technology finding solutions to contemporary issues (ACSHE135)
o Year 8 Science/Gifted and Talented Students on “Meeting Future Energy Needs”
o Year 6 Science: Energy from a variety of sources can be used to generate electricity (ACSSU219)
o A number of general Geography units.
Audience
High school teachers of science and geography with an interest in energy generation in the 21st century.
Available Delivery Formats
Format Description
Course Access - This course is available 24/7. Once your enrolment is complete you will be emailed with details to give you course access. You can complete the course when it suits you, and you will have ongoing access to revisit the course at any time.
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Did you know with a School Membership you can buy this course for all teachers for $850 + GST? - See the ‘WHOLE SCHOOL ONLINE’ tab above
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Teaching Standards
2.1.2 Proficient Level – Content and teaching strategies of the teaching area
2.3.2 Proficient Level – Curriculum, assessment and reporting
6.2.2 Proficient Level – Engage in professional learning and improve practice
Are you in NSW? If so, this is relevant for you
Completing this course will contribute 2 hours of NESA Registered PD addressing 2.1.2, 2.3.2 & 6.2.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Proficient Teacher Accreditation in NSW.
This course contributes to 2.0 professional development hours.
Occurrences
Sessions
Introduction
30 minutes
Discuss motivations for changing our energy production and use (resource depletion, energy security, global warming); define terms; put Australia’s energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in perspective; review coal, gas and uranium ore reserves; introduce a new methodology in which we use a single set of personal units everyone can relate to; view videos by Bill Gates on “Energy – Innovating to Zero” and David MacKay “How Many Light Bulbs
Electricity Generation using Coal and Gas
20 minutes
Coal is currently an important part of the Australian economy. Coal is our second largest export commodity and coal provides about 85% of Australia’s electricity production. In the present course we review current and future coal technologies. Gas is becoming increasingly important fuel and its future in electricity generation will be assessed
Carbon Capture and Sequestration
20 minutes
In this session, we will attempt to determine whether coal or gas with carbon capture and storage is a viable option to meet our future energy demands.
Nuclear Power
30 minutes
Nuclear has the potential to solve our energy needs with low CO2 emissions. Current and future nuclear technologies will be discussed as well as waste disposal, weapons proliferation, safety and cost. However, after Chernobyl and Fukushima, nuclear has a serious problem with regaining public trust.
Conclusions and Resources for Teachers
20 minutes
Briefly consider possible energy plans for the future (up to 2050). Provide copies of slides from the present course and review some resources (videos, online tools, relevant games, etc) that are available for use in the classroom. (20 min)
Note that at the end of some sessions above, a number of questions will be posed for forum discussion.
User Rating
4.8Latest Reviews
Please note the feedback listed here is unfiltered, and includes all comments and ratings collected.
Electricity from Coal, Gas and Nuclear. What is the Future? - Brian Sowerby
22/12/2018
Very good and informative
Electricity from Coal, Gas and Nuclear. What is the Future? - Brian Sowerby
22/12/2018
Very interesting and of a high standard
Electricity from Coal, Gas and Nuclear. What is the Future? - Brian Sowerby
22/12/2018
Quality of information was excellent and detailed for each energy source to use in Geography
Electricity from Coal, Gas and Nuclear. What is the Future? - Brian Sowerby
22/12/2018
excellent course and great topic for debate in class on energy preferences
About the team
Brian Sowerby
Creator
Brian Sowerby recently retired as Chief Research Scientist and Program Manager (Instrumentation and Control) with CSIRO Minerals. He obtained a BSc (Hons 1) from the University of NSW and a PhD in physics from the Australian National University. Following two years post-doctoral work in Canada, Brian has carried out research and development in Australia on the application of on-line analysis techniques in the mineral, energy and security industries. His work led to the commercialisation of a number of on-line analysis instruments and he has received many awards for this work including the prestigious Australia Prize in 1992.