Nov. 8--ATOKA -- In the span of a few days I converted the old red football helmet from a closet dust gathering device into a cool desk lamp. I was pretty proud of my junior high science project.

Well, Martin Worthington and his students in Atoka Public Schools just let the air out of that bubble of pride.

In this southeastern Oklahoma district, Worthington has taken the lead in building a hands-on project based on a learning system that allows students to explore alternative energy sources such as wind, solar fluid heating and solar-electrical energy production.

Now I'm not even impressed with the football helmet lamp.

But wait, there's more. The Atoka system consists of a full scale 60-tube solar array that will heat a fluid such as anti-freeze or oil that will in turn be used for space heating and potable water heating. Plus there's a 2.4 kilowatt wind generator that will be tied to the grid to offset the school's electrical usage.

OK, OK, I give. My project lit up the surface of a desk, yours provides power to the school.

"In the future we have plans for a photovoltaic panel system for the roof to generate additional electricity," he said.

A photo what?

"These systems will be tied in to computers in the classroom to enable research and monitoring to be done as part of the curriculum," he added.

Worthington said the Technology Engineering Division of the Department of Career Technology in Stillwater has had this type of curriculum for years on a small scale. He expanded on this after seeing how successful other schools have been. Why did this need to be done in your district?

"There is a shortage of employees in the alternative energy field, and it will continue to be a source of good paying careers in Oklahoma," he said. "We need an education system that can train students in fields that can give them good jobs.

"This technology is increasing exponentially worldwide and new ideas and technologies are being developed daily. CareerTech is ideally suited for this type of training."

Worthingon said he's been amazed at the kindness and generosity of the people who have supported this project.

Here's the evidence. They have received $9,000 in grants from the Oklahoma Rural Community Foundation that "got the ball rolling." The CareerTech Department in Stillwater gave them a $5,000 grant that made it possible to build the system. The Technology Engineering Division also funds Worthington's program with incentive money each year.

Worthington said the main goal is to provide a unique project-based learning module that can be used to study many areas of alternative energy, including science, technology, engineering and mathematics, which is the new focus of the Technology Engineering Division at the Department of Career Technology and Education headquartered in Stillwater.

Mark McPherson, superintendent of Atoka Public Schools, said Worthington's project is something students can not only see but actually be a part of and as a result, better understand.

"We're going to back him up," McPherson said. "He's always wants to provide something for the kids that they normally wouldn't have the opportunity to do."

This is a project in which students take ownership.

"Like most teachers in Oklahoma it gives me great satisfaction when I see students that are actively engaged in learning and are happy and motivated to learn," Worthington said. "Although this element is sometimes fleeting, when it does happen it makes it worth the hardships."

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