MODULE: Energy

Module overview

Route through the Brief

Outcome Checklist

Out of gas?

Data analysis
Questions answered

Home group briefing 1

Experts identified

Expert group briefing

Research
Fact sheet

Home group briefing 2

Presentation

Introduction
In this module the students are in the role of consultants working for an energy consultancy
company. Their company is responding to an open tender from the Penang state energy
committee for companies to present their recommendations of how Penang could move towards
achieving 100% electricity generation from renewable energy sources within 50 years.
They will research four renewable sources of energy and decide which source or sources of
energy to recommend. They will prepare a presentation for the Penang state energy committee
outlining and putting the case for their recommendations.
In Period 1 the students are introduced to the context through the video and Memorandum. They
then learn about electricity generation and gas supply in Malaysia through active reading and
data handling, and produce a diagram to explain the energy transformations and generation of
electricity in a gas fired power station.
In Period 2 they start in their home group and then give each member of their group an expert
card. They read their expert card and then work in an expert group to research their expert
energy source using an agenda of questions for the remainder of Period 2 and the whole of
Period 3. Each expert group produces a fact sheet that they will use to present their knowledge
and understanding of the energy source to their home group.
In Period 4, 5 and 6 back in their home group the experts share their expertise and they then
decide which source or sources of energy to recommend to the energy committee.
They then prepare their presentations which they present during period 7 and 8. During the
presentations they peer assess each group and ask questions. At the end of the presentations
they review how well they worked as a team.

Topic
Energy

Form
Form 1

Time required
8 periods

Curriculum Links
Curriculum links:
content
Curriculum links:
skills

Theme: Energy
1.2 Understanding renewable and non-renewable energy
Observing
Classifying
Interpreting data
Defining operationally
Communicating

Curriculum links:
attitude

Being diligent and persevering

Appreciating the contribution of science and technology
Having critical and analytical thinking
Being flexible and open-minded
Being systematic
Being cooperative
Being fair and just
Being confident and independent

Learning Resources

Teaching Guide
Prezi presentation
PowerPoint presentation
Activity Sheet 1.2: Out of gas?
Activity Sheet 1.3: Home group briefing 1
Activity Sheet 1.4: Expert briefing
Activity Sheet 1.5: Home group briefing 2
Activity Sheet 1.6: Presentation assessment form
Activity Sheet 1.7: How well did you work as a team

PISA links
Scientific Competencies

Explain phenomena scientifically

Evaluate and design scientific enquiry
Interpret data and evidence scientifically

Scientific Knowledge

Content Knowledge
- Physical systems
Procedural Knowledge
Epistemic Knowledge

Out of school learning

We would suggest the following two activities for the students to carry out at home:

Prepare their expert energy source fact sheet.

Prepare their presentation for the energy committee.
the students could also research other sources of energy, such as nuclear, geothermal,
tidal, and wave including how electricity is generated, production, advantages and
disadvantages, in which parts of the world they are used, and why. They could research
the issue of energy sources and climate change.

Web links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_energy
The students will also do their own web searches to find the answers to their questions.