Smart Energy Academy Learning Management System for the Electrical Construction Industry. Category: Emerging Markets

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1 Smart Energy Academy Learning Management System for the Electrical Construction Industry Category: Emerging Markets Dr. David Riley and Dr. Parhum Delgoshaei Penn State University 1. Project Summary Purpose: Provide a go-to learning resource for the electrical construction industry on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and smart grid topics in a way that leverages strategic initiatives in energy technology research across ELECTRI International, NECA, and the NJATC and Department of Energy initiatives so that electrical contractors, electrical workers, engineers, and policy makers are equipped to advance the electrical contracting industry s leadership in the deployment of sustainable technologies. Project Goal: This proposed project will support and populate the Smart Energy Academy with a series of courses adopted from educational materials that will support the critical review and strategic planning of a new online learning management system for ELECTRI International. If achieved, this goal will empower ELECTRI International and NECA to evaluate the value of an online learning system and a long term business plan to sustain it. Final Results and Deliverables This project will produce the following deliverables: 1. Co-branded online learning management and registration systems adapted from existing NJATC and GridSTAR systems in the Moodle TM software platform. 2. Three demonstration courses implemented in partnership with GridSTAR center in topics of energy storage, electric vehicle infrastructure, and micro-grid technologies 3. Template that will support the creation of consistent and high quality online courses from past, present, and future ELECTRI International projects by multiple authors. 4. Recommendations for future long term sustainability of strategic partnerships between ELECTI International, NECA, IBEW, NJATC, and the Penn State GridSTAR Center. January 2014 ELECTRI International Page 1

2 a. Introduction In 2009 the ELECTRI International Foundation invested in a Strategic Initiative in Renewable Energy and Green Technologies which has resulted in multiple significant leveraged funding from the US Department of Energy. Four new education and workforce development centers in renewable energy, combined heat and power, building energy efficiency, and the smart grid have since been created that are currently supporting course development for NECA contractors and the professional development of IBEW Instructors. As a part of these efforts, significant effort has been invested in the creation of online learning materials. During this process, important lessons on the design of blended and online learning environments in addition to the creation of valuable content in important topics were learned. Many of these materials are currently part of graduate courses at Penn State and are planned for use in future continuing education programs. Concurrently, ELECTRI has invested in multiple research projects on new energy technologies including energy efficiency, electric vehicle infrastructure, and the smart grid. Each of these projects produced variable outcomes documented in research reports and educational materials targeting leaders in electrical contracting firms. In some cases, ELECTRI has invested in the generation of online course to disseminate these results at very high cost, and with modest quality and results. An opportunity exists to consolidate and streamline the dissemination of ELECTRI International project results in a new online learning system that will enable ondemand learning for electrical construction professionals: The ELECTRI International Smart Energy Academy. In response to this opportunity, EI has begun to explore the technical approach to the creation of an online education solution for its unique products and audiences, and has a plan in place for website integration of a future online learning management system. The planned approach would be designed to complement online learning efforts of NECA through MEI, and also the blended learning systems under development by the NJATC, to focus on the creation of a go-to learning source for new technologies and systems, and for target audiences of electrical contracting operations, management, and leadership personnel. This project seeks to build upon the groundwork made through these collective efforts, and establish a solid foundation for an online learning platform and content generation process that will advance the capability of ELECTRI International to serve the electrical contracting industry. This new approach will enable the significant investment made through DOE Centers to build online learning system and content to be transferred to ELECTRI International and will result in the streamlining and cost reduction in the up-front costs of creating online courses via a strategic partnership with the DOE GridSTAR Center housed at Penn State. January 2014 ELECTRI International Page 2

3 Justification New technologies in energy storage, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and the smart grid are evolving rapidly along with corresponding electrical and building codes. Currently, curriculum and training programs on new energy technologies for electrical contractors and electrical workers are created separately and on an ad-hoc basis. To be a leader in the deployment of these technologies, a high quality and go-to educational resource is needed that can serve audiences across the electrical industry. The creation of the Smart Energy Academy (SAE) will enable the establishment of a coordinated effort by ELECTI International to invest in an online Learning Management System (LMS) to support dissemination of research results and broaden the impacts of its investment. Starting from scratch, online learning management systems can costs millions of dollars to create and maintain. The approach and strategic partnership proposed with both the NJATC and the DOE GridSTAR Center will provide both economies and cost savings, as ELECTRI will benefit from the investment and experience of made by the NJATC and GridSTAR over the last four years. The establishment of the Smart Energy Academy will result in the following benefits to the Electrical Contracting Industry, NECA, and ELECTRI International: Add value to ELECTRI International by enabling the distribution of research results and project outcomes in short course formats that will help reach broader audiences than research reports. Support business development efforts in emerging markets by helping NECA contractors learn about new technologies in support and be competitive in expanding markets such as energy storage, intelligent building technologies, combined heat and power, and more. Enable on-demand learning for Electrical Contracting professionals through short courses that can be taken at a time that is convenient and appropriate based on their current projects. Support collaboration in the creation of new courses with partnered DOE Centers, the NJATC, and other entities that currently utilize online learning management systems creating multiple new pathways for the creation and offering of new courses. Create opportunities for new sources of revenue for ELECTRI International that will support organizational health new investments in online courses into the future. b. Goals and Objectives Purpose January 2014 ELECTRI International Page 3

4 Provide a go-to learning resource for the electrical construction industry on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and smart grid topics in a way that leverages strategic initiatives in energy technology research across ELECTRI International, NECA, and the NJATC and Department of Energy initiatives so that electrical contractors, electrical workers, engineers, and policy makers are equipped to advance the electrical contracting industry s leadership in the deployment of sustainable technologies. Project Goal This proposed project will support the establishment and initial population of the Smart Energy Academy with a series of courses adopted from educational materials to support the critical review and strategic planning of a new online learning management system for ELECTRI International. If achieved, this goal will empower ELECTRI International and NECA to evaluate the value and long term sustainable business plan for an online learning system. Specific Project Objectives Objective 1: Task Force Formation Form project task force and refine project goals and objectives with input from ELECTRI International and NECA Leadership Objective 2: Create online learning management system and template Adapt DOE funded efforts and lessons learned on the GridSTAR Center (Figure 1 below) to create a coordinated web strategy to link an online Learning Management System with existing EI website and product catalog to enable EI to sell registrations to online courses. Objective 3: Launch demonstration courses for feedback Populate the pilot LMS with a demonstration course developed through DOE resources and a template for adapting completed ELECTRI research results into robust and high quality learning products. Objective 4: Evaluate results and make recommendations Assess results to inform a longterm revenue/business model for the Smart Energy Academy and joint management of the ELECTRI International, NECA, IBEW, NJATC, and Penn State. January 2014 ELECTRI International Page 4

5 Figure 1: Screen shot of GridSTAR online learning management system and new Business Development course supported by ELECTRI International Target Audience The target audience of the Smart Energy Academy will be electrical contracting professionals seeking to stay informed about new energy technologies and resources that will support their business health. It is envisioned that once established, the audience could expand to include professionals in engineering, manufacturing, utilities, and policy makers. c. Work Plan Step 1: Form project task force and refine project goals and objectives with input from ELECTRI International and NECA Leadership Step 2: Adapt NJATC and DOE funded efforts and lessons learned on the GridSTAR Center to create a coordinated web strategy to link an online Learning Management System with existing EI website and product catalog to enable EI to sell registrations to online courses. Step 3: Populate the pilot LMS with three demonstration course developed through DOE resources and a template for adapting completed ELECTRI research results into robust and high quality learning products. Step 4: Assess results to inform a long-term revenue/business model for the Smart Energy Academy and joint management of the ELECTRI International, NECA, IBEW, NJATC, and Penn State. January 2014 ELECTRI International Page 5

6 Project Milestone Schedule Activity Q Q Q Q Form project task force 9/30 Develop plan for LMS 10/30 Secure approval of template design 1/30 Complete design of courses 6/30 Complete testing of courses / recommendations 12/30 Deliverables This project will produce the following deliverables: 1. Co-branded online learning management and registration systems adapted from existing NJATC GridSTAR systems in Moodle TM software platform. 2. Three demonstration courses implemented in partnership with GridSTAR center in topics of energy storage, electric vehicle infrastructure, and micro-grid technologies 3. Template that will support the creation of online courses from past, present, and future ELECTRI International projects, as well as through other authors and contributing experts. 4. Recommendations for future long term sustainability of strategic partnerships between ELECTI International, NECA, IBEW, NJATC, and the Penn State GridSTAR Center. e. Benefits of Outcome The outcome of this project will be: (1) an online learning infrastructure that will make short courses and informational webinars on energy technologies accessible to electrical contractors and IBEW instructors; (2) a template to aid in the translation of current and past research into a high quality learning products; (3) a set of demonstration course that utilizes recently completed EI research and GridSTAR course content to illustrate the concept of online learning for the leadership of ELECTRI International; and (4) recommendations for the pursuit of a long term strategic and sustainable approach to the creation and management of online learning materials for ELECTRI International. January 2014 ELECTRI International Page 6

7 3. Project Personnel PI David R. Riley, Ph.D. Associate Professor Architectural Engineering Department Pennsylvania State University 104 Engineering Unit A University Park, Pennsylvania Telephone: (814) Telefax: (814) [email protected] Qualifications To Complete This Activity Currently serves as Director and PI for the GridSTAR Center, a smart grid education and resource center located at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia. Currently leading the Education and Workforce thrust of the DOE Energy Efficient Building Hub Currently leading the DOE Northern Solar Education and Resource Center in a collaborative relationship with NECA and the IBEW. Currently leading the A Strategic Initiative for NECA and the IBEW in Solar and Green Energy Technologies for ELECTRI International leading to $12M in leveraged DOE funding Successfully completed research projects and educational initiatives for ELECTRI International. Co PI Parhum Delgoshaei Research Associate and Education Program Coordinator GridSTAR Center Pennsylvania State University 1200 Normandy Place The Navy Yard Philadelphia, PA [email protected] Qualifications To Complete This Activity Currently serves as the Education Program Coordinator for the DOE Energy Efficiency Building Hub. Currently serves as the PSU technical leader for the DOE Building Retuning Program training program Currently co-teaching AE 862 Distributed Energy Planning and Management Credentialed in Electrical Engineering (BS and MS) and Engineering Education (PhD) January 2014 ELECTRI International Page 7

8 4. Project Budget This project includes considerable leveraged funding from the NJATC and the DOE GridSTAR Center at Penn State including the adaption of existing Moodle Learning Management System and the contribution of video and course content generated through DOE funding. NJATC leveraged resources include the costs to establish a new instance of their highly robust online learning management system (LMS) and the associated network server infrastructure. The value of this effort if pursued by the EI would be in excess of $125K. GridSTAR leveraged resources include the course content (video and online activities) generated through the development of online course materials for professional audiences. The value of this material for the three demonstration courses is estimated to be $75K. PSU: Costs to create pilot LMS system, template, and assess results $45K Total EI Contribution $45K January 2014 ELECTRI International Page 8