Electric car helps Arkansas teachers, students
expand their technology skills
In early 2003, teachers from the Corning and Waldron school districts met at the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas' Little Rock headquarters for a workshop to build a small electric car. It was the first step in a pilot program designed to give Arkansas students more hands-on experiences in technology.
The pilot program is under way at two of the state's 17 electric distribution cooperatives -- Clay County Electric Cooperative and Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative -- and is expected to expand to cooperative service areas and schools statewide. The first two schools participating in the program are Corning High School and Waldron High School. With the program, the teachers teach the students how to build an electric car.
"Concern for and support of the communities we serve is one of our guiding principles," said Doug White, vice president of systems services for AECC and AECI. "We know our schools can't do it alone and we are pleased to provide teachers with the material, technical and financial support needed to develop opportunities for the youth of Arkansas."
After the training workshop, each school received a kit containing the materials needed to build one electric vehicle. The Arkansas teachers are now developing their own curriculum based on the curriculum and experiences of the Georgia Electric Vehicle Education Program. The Georgia program, launched in 1997, now includes more than 30 middle and high schools and is used to enhance learning experiences in areas such as chemistry, physics, history, language arts and automotive technology. Later, each school will have the opportunity to travel to Georgia to compete in an annual electric vehicle rally where students will be tested on their knowledge, understanding, troubleshooting and presentation skills.
"This program means a lot to our schools and to our kids," said Chris Rink, a physics teacher at Waldron High School. "The more up-to-date technology and hands-on experiences we can provide to our students, the better prepared we are making them for life after high school and beyond. It's an invaluable opportunity for them."
Teachers joining Rink in the pilot program include Charles Arnold, Jim Ermert Jr. and Greg Greenwood from the Corning Public Schools. Representatives of the cooperatives participating in this program are: Scott Rorex and Nick Manatt, Clay County Electric Cooperative, and Bill Rue, Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative.
For more information on this pilot program, please contact Bret Curry at 501.570.2330.
ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES OF ARKANSAS
1 Cooperative Way
Little Rock, AR 72209
501-570-2200
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