Workforce Development at Mezzacello
Exploring the connections and energy production of flexible solar panels and energy loss due to heat.
That look of confusion when faced wit the tools required to start making energy safely from wind and sun.
OK, so how do we put this together?
Energy production tetris and labeling how they will need to wire this in the next workshop.
Understanding how to waterproof energy connections.
Interviewing pre and post assessments on what we are doing.
The finished power control wall labeled and ready for phase II.
Students with Columbus’ All That After School STEAM program have been visiting Mezzacello Urban Farm on Thursdays to learn about STEM programming and ag experiences. This program is on physical electricity and solar and wind power. This is what Workforce Development at Mezzacello looks like.
“It is my experience that when young learners CAN contribute something they will! The trick is to let them see all of the options and then pick one. That is enough to get them to reframe the question of what is my talent to this is ONE of my talents.”
Everyone Has a Skill and a Job To Do
These kids showed up on the fifth session of our workforce development training at Mezzacello. Over the past five sessions we have explored fear and inherent talent, simple machines, energy, pressure, and master the skills they will need to start asking new and important questions as they grow. If Everyone Has a Skill and a Job To Do what are mine?
They have been asking good questions and showing up to answer them. Yesterday’s training was the keystone in this program. A complicated energy collection and distribution setup that has been gamified as tetris.
Less Scary Failure, More Learning Through Play
Why gamify learning like this? Because what we have all learned from working together it is that learning something new is hard and scary. But play is not. So what you don’t know EXACTLY what this piece of equipment does?
Do you understand what a circuit is? Can you see a bigger picture? Can you decide that you will be the subject matter expert for this one thing? Great! Now let’s work together to use our natural talents and weaknesses together?
This Is One of My Many Talents
It is my experience that when young learners CAN contribute something they will! The trick is to let them see all of the options and then pick one. That is enough to get them to reframe the question of what is my talent to this is ONE of my talents.
