President Obama Called for a Strategy

A strong commitment to the development of alternative energy has been made by President Barack Obama. In a recent radio address, the President called for a strategy "that relies less on foreign oil and more on American made energy". These renewable energy sources, which include solar and wind power, will not only help wean the United States. from fossil fuels, but create thousands of new American jobs. Solar training of these workers will be an important part in expanding alternative energy sources.

The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is a volunteer organization that is also committed to the continued development of renewable energy. It is comprised of members dedicated to this issue, including policy makers, educational organizations and clean energy industries. Its commitment includes the establishment of NABCEP certification standards of programs offered to those interested in this rapidly expanding field. 

Offender Led Workshops Work and It's That Simple

Communications do encounter boundaries on occasions and this is something we probably all accept as true. It does make sense, and it's logical that as we try to get information from one place [person] to another, things may well get in the way and this will slow down or stop that information exchange. So when we are aiming to communicate with [get information to] young people, it makes perfect sense to me and almost anyone that has worked with young people at risk of offending or ex-offenders, that the boundaries typically encountered will be overcome much more easily or even, in many cases, completely avoided, if the people giving that information are in a position to be listened to in the first place.

If a speaker, teacher or trainer is held by their class in a position of authority or is deemed knowledgeable on the subject they are delivering on, they will be listened to and heard more fully. 

Neuroscience and Learning

The concept of transformational learning is experience critically reflected to develop new insight and opportunities for change. By understanding how people think, rationalize, accept and disseminate information provides the teacher with the knowledge of how to take those experiences and facilitate the critical reflection so that the individual can develop changes in their perceptions of the knowledge they have.

Understanding how people retain memory, what key factors are related and how effective is the presentation material is essential in getting the message to the students. There are key factors associated with learning. Memory is a major part of the task. The emphasis on this is what factors we have to consider when presenting material. Are there key words or gestures that will cause the student to remember something they have learned? In addition, the factor of understanding how the brain works as far as what materials discussed in verbal and what should be presented in video, graphic or black board practice.