Florida Power & Light Company recently announced its education initiatives for supporting STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) learning in Florida schools for the 2013-14 academic year.
Specifically, teachers can now begin applying for the 2013-14 FPL Teacher Grant Program by visiting www.fpl.com/education.
FPL’s Teacher Grant Program aims to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for teachers by providing funding support for energy-related education.
“STEM education is key to developing our country’s next generation of scientists, engineers and energy experts,” said Pam Rauch, vice president of development and external affairs for FPL. “Our commitment is to support and ease the burden on teachers by funding and developing inspiring programs that spark student creativity, interest and involvement.”
Teacher Grant Program — All public, private and charter school teachers in FPL’s service territory are eligible to apply for grants to create and cover costs associated with classroom projects focused on any form of energy and engineering education.
Grants are awarded in increments of $500 up to $2,500, and the application deadline is Nov. 15. Winners will be announced by the end of this year. For more information, and to apply for funds, visit www.fpl.com/community/learning.
Robotics — For the second year in a row, FPL has announced plans to sponsor the South Florida FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics regional competition slated for spring 2014. The regional FIRST competition attracts 45 to 50 high school teams who create robots that perform tasks.
In addition to using their math, science and engineering skills, students who participate in the FIRST competition have the opportunity to use their creativity, work in teams, utilize critical thinking and problem-solving skills, manage projects, market themselves and their robots, troubleshoot issues and manage their time in a real-world type setting.
To learn more, visit FPL’s YouTube channel for videos on the 2013 South Florida FIRST Robotics Competition and the FPL Robotics Showcase.
Teacher Workshops — Teachers at schools with a photovoltaic system, or at schools scheduled to receive a system from FPL, are invited to attend full-day workshops to learn how to incorporate energy technology into their teaching plans.
Workshops will include: presentations on how solar energy works, hands-on lessons and renewable energy curriculum materials.
FPL will provide a $125 stipend to attending teachers to fund their travel and meals for the day.
Additional workshops are open to all teachers in the FPL service territory and will be announced Oct. 1 at www.fpl.com/education.
