MEC Sponsors Local Teacher for ‘Energy in Today’s Classroom’ Course

MEC Sponsors Local Teacher for ‘Energy in Today’s Classroom’ Course

Each year, Macon Electric Cooperative sends local teachers to a two-day “Energy in Today’s Classroom” course, which is hosted by Central Electric Power Cooperative in cooperation with the University of Missouri. The course was held on July 30 and 31 at the University of Missouri Agricultural Engineering building in Columbia, Missouri.

Jennifer Elrod, a seventh and eighth grade teacher at Callao C-8, was selected to represent MEC this year.

The course included speakers from the University of Missouri, Central Electric Power Cooperative, Associated Electric Cooperative Inc., and Ameren. Topics covered during the lectures included: energy basics, energy sources, economics and energy production, energy efficiency and conservation, and power generation and transmission. In addition, the teachers were able to tour Boone Electric Cooperative’s solar array, as well as the power generation station at the University of Missouri’s power plant.

The overall objective of the course was to provide educators with a much better understanding of the electrical industry. This understanding will give teachers the opportunity to provide their students with more factual information in the classroom setting. During the course, the teachers were provided with hands-on demonstrations of electrical teaching aides that can later be used in their classrooms, as well as materials to utilize in their lessons. The course also allowed for all teachers to receive one master’s level credit hour from the University of Missouri.

Macon Electric Cooperative would like to thank Central Electric Power Cooperative and the University of Missouri for organizing the course, as well as Northeast Missouri Electric Power Cooperative for helping to sponsor teachers. In addition, MEC would like to thank Jennifer Elrod for her participation in the program and interest in educating our youth about the importance and usage of electricity.

Any teachers who are interested in participating in this course in the future can contact Macon Electric Cooperative’s office, or visit www.maconelectric.com, for more information.