Remote Energy kick starts innovative online hands-on course after COVID cancellations
By: Isabel Saavedra Weis
Remote Energy successfully launched their first blended virtual hands-on solar educators training this May for an all-women’s class in Kenya. The pilot online course was designed after the coronavirus pandemic halted international travel and solar training plans this spring.
While the pandemic was a hurdle for Remote Energy’s agenda, it also elevated the need for energy services to power remote learning and communication in marginalized communities. Continuing to install solar energy and provide communities with technical training is crucial during the coronavirus outbreak.
THE ONLINE HANDS-ON COURSE PILOT
Remote Energy has previously toyed with the possibility of online training, but the pandemic pushed the non-profit to quickly transition their in-person training model to a virtual course. Instead of gathering together in a classroom, participants were able to watch instructional videos filmed by Remote Energy and WSS instructors. Students were then asked to record their own videos to practice teaching the techniques they learned. Through an online platform, Remote Energy was still able to mentor new instructors as they developed their teaching skills and improved their technical understanding of how solar electric systems work.
Although never in the same room, students were still able to collaborate and complete hands-on activities. By uploading their own instructional videos to a shared online platform, they could watch their peers practice teaching, and offer each other feedback. In addition, WISEe distributed the Solar Suitcases necessary for the course so students could complete the hands-on components at their homes.
By the end of the virtual program, all ten of the women educators who participated were prepared to lead a half-day solar suitcase assembly course, as well as an introduction to solar basics course. Many of the women had their children participate in the class by filming or acting as solar students as their mothers practiced teaching - making it truly a generational COVID affair.
WOMEN IN SOLAR
While this is the first time Remote Energy virtually trained solar educators, the non-profit has been partnering with WISEe and other organizations worldwide to promote women representation in the solar industry for 20+ years.
Globally, women are underrepresented in technical STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) jobs. According to a 2019 report from the International Renewable Energy Agency, only 28% of global STEM jobs are filled by women. The same study found that the top three barriers women faced when becoming solar technicians were social and cultural norms, lack of gender-sensitive training, and lack of mentorship. (IRENA RE: A Gender Perspective 2019)
However, Remote Energy co-founder Carol Weis has found that providing all-female solar electric photovoltaic (PV) classes can so much as double the number of females enrolled in solar programs. Additionally, female students were more likely to ask questions and participate in hands-on activities in woman-specific classes versus mixed gender classes.
Another way to tackle female under-representation in the solar energy industry is to put more female educators at the front of the room. For that reason, Remote Energy and WISEe offer an all-women's educator training program.
“When you go to technical colleges, a lot of the teachers and students are men,” Weis said. “Even if a woman is the only female in the class, she typically will feel more comfortable participating and asking questions if the teacher is a woman.”
LOOKING FORWARD
Beyond the pandemic, online training courses are a promising tool for the future of solar energy education. For one, it reduces the need for international travel.
“[Remote Energy] knew it was unsustainable for us to fly to all these countries to scale solar programs worldwide, but we never thought we could do it another way,” Weis said. “It was surprising and delightful to find out that virtual training was an effective and potentially better medium. We can reduce our climate impact while reaching more people.”
Remote Energy had preferred to teach in-person courses for safety reasons, especially when installing and using large high-voltage electrical equipment. However, after launching the pilot online course, the organization discovered that smaller equipment with lower voltage, such as WSS solar suitcases, are safe and easy to teach online.
Small solar systems are less expensive and more accessible. Schools without the funds to buy large electrical equipment can use the small systems to kickstart their solar programs and impact their community.
For the upcoming months, Remote Energy will be teaching five more virtual training courses in Sierra Leone, Senegal, and the Lummi nation in Washington, U.S.A. These upcoming remote classes will be test grounds as the blended online hands-on teaching model continues to expand. The nonprofit plans to explore more remote learning tools to connect with students to ensure their model is accessible, affordable, and sustainable.