Video length 2 min.
Learn more about Teaching Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness»
See how this Video supports the Next Generation Science Standards»
Grade Level
Climate Literacy
This Video builds on the following concepts of Climate Literacy.
Click a topic below for supporting information, teaching ideas, and sample activities.
Energy Literacy
This Video builds on the following concepts of Energy Literacy.
Click a topic below for supporting information, teaching ideas, and sample activities.
Notes From Our Reviewers
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Teaching Tips | Science | Pedagogy |
Technical Details
Teaching Tips
- For additional information and graphics, visit the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/.
About the Science
- A very clear visual and verbal explanation of how a PV panel works. Discusses light as a photon.
- Comments from expert scientist:
Scientific Strengths:
- A good non-scientific introduction to the topic. Not much has changed since it was made, so still accurate.
- The video is clear, interesting and has high production values
Suggestions:
- This resource ducks the hard-to-explain question of why the electrons flow in the direction they go to develop a voltage, instead of in both directions.
- This resource was made before photovoltaics became and energy-significant (>1%) source of electricity in the U.S. and worldwide, so it is not actually optimistic enough about the potential.
About the Pedagogy
- The main message of the video is that PV systems generate power without pollution as they convert the sun's energy into electricity.
