Tech Directions - December 2008 - (Page 5)

technically speaking Susanne Peckham susanne@techdirections.com “‘Green’ is growing everywhere” these days, as Anne Lewis notes in this month’s “Direct from Washington” column. (See page 6.) The importance of green technology to the environment, the economy, and even national security (reducing our dependence on foreign oil) recently drew attention from the candidates of both major parties, and it is expected to receive signiﬁcant attention from the incoming Obama administration. Anne mentions a brief recently released by the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) on CTE’s contributions to preparing students for green jobs. Since CTE programs will increasingly need to incorporate aspects of this technology, I located a copy of the brief on ACTE’s web site and want to share here some of what I learned from it. First, some interesting numbers: An estimated $71 billion was invested in new renewable energy capacity worldwide in 2007, and clean energy was the third largest area of venture capital investment. About 250,000 U.S. homes already have some type of solar energy system, and another 2,500 have a wind turbine. Twenty-eight states mandate increasing renewable energy production. The demand for sustainability has produced two parallel workforce phenomena: the development of new careers in the green industry and the “greening” of all other jobs. The six leading areas for green investments are building retroﬁtting, mass transit, energy-efﬁcient vehicles, wind power, solar power, and cellulosic biomass fuels. These jobs are high skill, high wage, and in high demand, since there is currently a great shortage of people with sustainability-related work skills. ACTE calls for policy makers and industry representatives to support providing green-related workforce training, starting at the high school level. It quotes a leader of California’s State Building and Construction Trades Council who says, “We’re not going to be able to build anything and do any green retroﬁts until we have a workforce to do that. If we wait until they’re out of high school to start training them, we’re going to lose a lot of people.” A number of CTE programs are planned or already exist to help students prepare for sustainable careers. For example, an academy at South Tahoe High School in California will expose students to careers in green construction, auto mechanics, and technology. CTE educators in Massachusetts are learning how to integrate green building practices, renewable energy, and sustainable design into existing courses. In Western Slope, CO, about 500 students participate in an annual Energy Career Day, meeting representatives of the industry and participating in hands-on, interactive presentations. Green technology offers many exciting new CTE curriculum options—and CTE has much to offer in helping our nation address its “green workforce” needs. A Prakken Publications Magazine Digital Tech Directions (ISSN 1940-3100) is published monthly, except June and July, by Prakken Publications, Inc., 832 Phoenix Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108. Executive, editorial, and advertising ofﬁces are at PO Box 8623, Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8623, telephone 734-975-2800; fax 734-975-2787. Vol. 68, No. 5. Board of Directors Turalee A. Barlow, George F. Kennedy, Janice E. Knope, Susanne Peckham Publisher George F. Kennedy Assistant Publisher & Business Mgr. Turalee A. Barlow, tbarlow@techdirections.com Managing Editor Susanne Peckham, susanne@techdirections.com Associate Editor Pam Moore, pam@techdirections.com Art, Design, and Production Manager Sharon K. Miller Advertising Sales Representatives Tonya L. White, 800-530-9673 x209, tonya@techdirections.com Matt Knope, 800-530-9673 x200, matt@techdirections.com Richard J. Alden, 603-899-3010, fax: 603-899-2343. rjalden@ techdirections.com David A. Yetman, 603-878-4705;dyetman@techdirections.com Subscription Dept. Vanessa Revelli, vanessa@techdirections. com, 800-530-9673 x217 EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Michael Fitzgerald, Technology Education Specialist, Ofﬁce of Career and Technical Education, Indiana Dept. of Education, Indianapolis, IN Paul Koontz, President, Denford Inc., Medina, OH Ed Prevatt, School Specialist, National Center for Construction Education and Research, Gainesville, FL John Roccanova, Technology Education, Webutuck Central School, Amenia, NY Mark Schwendau, Technology Instructor, Kishwaukee College, Malta, IL Kendall N. Starkweater, Executive Director,International Technology Education Association, Reston, VA PEER REVIEW BOARD Gregory G. Belcher, Ph.D., Asst. Professor, Technical Teacher Education, Pittsburg State University, KS Daniel M. Claiborne, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Industrial and Engineering Technology, Murray State University, KY Sam Cotton, Ph.D., Asst. Professor, Ball State University, Muncie, IN Ronald F. Gonzales, Ph.D., ASE, Program Chair, Technology Teacher Education Professor, Brigham Young University, UT Clarke Homoly, Assoc. Professor, Dept. of Aviation, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg Robert T. Howell, Ph.D., Asst. Professor, Technology Studies, Fort Hays State University, KS Robert D. Mordini, Ed.D., Asst. Professor, Technology Studies, Fort Hays State University, KS Richard Phillips, Ed.D., Division Chair, Technologies Division, Mountain Empire Community College, VA Joseph Scarcella, Ph.D., Professor of Education, California State University, San Bernadino Mark S. Schwendau, M.S., Technology Instructor, Kishwaukee College, Malta, IL Bert Siebold, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Industrial & Engineering Technology, Murray State University, KY Chris Zirkle, Ph.D., Asst. Professor, College of Education, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH Subscriptions: individuals: $30 per year; $55 two years; Canadian and foreign: add $10 per year. Canadian GST #R126213487. Single copies $3. Group rate available upon request. Periodicals postage paid at Ann Arbor, MI, and additional mailing ofﬁces. Printed in U.S.A. POSTMASTER: Please send change of address information to Tech Directions, PO Box 8623, Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8623. Manuscripts should be addressed to: Editor, Tech Directions, PO Box 8623, Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8623. Manuscripts become property of Tech Directions upon letter of acceptance to author and signed copyright release form. Payment made on publication. Electronic copies of back issues available from ProQuest Information and Learning, www.il.proquest.com. Microform copies available from NAPC, www.napubco.com ©2008 by Prakken Publications, Inc. www.techdirections.com TECHNICALLY SPEAKING 5 http://www.il.proquest.com http://www.napubco.com http://www.techdirections.com http://www.techdirections.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Tech Directions - December 2008

Tech Directions - December 2008 Contents Advertisers Index Technically Speaking Direct from Washington The Report Technology Today Technology’s Past Mastering Computers Digital Portfolios—Powerful Marketing Tool for Communication Students Choosing the Right CC Welding Unit—Student Success Depends on It Think Green—Increasing Awareness of Garbage and Recycling Think Green—Teach Students Smart Ways to Reduce Home Energy Use Go International! Build a Simplified Shortwave Receiver Mooresville Middle School Snags Web Site of the Month Gifts for Geeks More than Fun

Tech Directions - December 2008

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