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University of Florida

Comparative Perspectives on Energy Use

 


UF Faculty:
Shawn Weatherford
Department:
Physics Department
College:
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

UF Faculty:
Selman Hershfield
Department:
Physics Department
College:
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
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Partner Faculty:
Maliha Bouayed
Department:
School of Engineering
Partner Institution:
Ecole Nationale Polytechnique
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Partner Faculty:
Rabie Belkacemi
Department:
Department of Electrical Engineering
Partner Institution:
Ecole Nationale Polytechnique
Title:
Comparative Perspectives on Energy Use in Algeria and the United States
Project Description: Students in PHY2032 Energy and Society will have weekly discussions on energy use with students at the National Polytechnic School of Algiers.  The discussions will start by comparing and contrasting how they use energy in their everyday lives.  This will include questions of cost relative to salaries as well as attitudes and perspectives as to what is necessary and what is a luxury.  Broader societal questions of fairness and accessibility to energy and environmental effects will also enter in the discussions.  Students will write several reflections on how their perspectives on energy use around the world evolved.
Learning Outcomes:

Students will be able to identify, describe, and explain how economics, environmental concerns, personal choices, national and international policies and politics affects and determines energy usage.

Students will be able to discuss probing questions about the lives of their international peers and through reflection evaluate how their own attitudes have changed about energy usage by citizens in countries that are not their own.

Students will be able to utilize effective verbal and nonverbal modes of communication to establish a correct and shared understanding, with sensitivity to use of slang and examples with ethnocentric origins.
Participating Countries:

Algeria
Number of Participants: 35 UF Students, 15 Ecole Nationale Polytechnique Students
Discipline: Physics
UF Course Code & Name: PHY2032 - Energy & Society
Project Duration: 4 Weeks
Activity Type(s): Student-to-Student Dialogue
Time allotted to each activity:
  • Synchronous Activities: 1 hour/week
  • Individual Work: 0.5 hours/week
Technology Tools: Zoom
Sequence of Activities:
  • Icebreaker: Initial Activity: Icebreaker and Introduction (synchronous, UF - 10:45 EDT / Algiers - 16:45. 
    • ENP coordinator shares a 3mn video about Algeria.
    • FL share a 3mn video about FL university
    • Breakout rooms: partner to partner introductions among students (name, major, career goals) 5mn max
    • When the breakout room is finished, everyone joins the main room: general discussion about energy for life, thermal energy in both countries.

  • Engagement Activity:  Initial Activity: Icebreaker and Introduction (synchronous, UF - 10:45 EDT / Algiers - 16:45. 
    • Introductions among students (name, major, career goals)
    • Icebreaker: Locate on map where you are from, add picture taken by student. Describe an interesting fact about yourself.
    • Discuss life as a student and living in respective college towns. What is a day in the life of a student at each institution?
    • Discuss logistics and schedule for next synchronous meetings among teams of students, and plan for how to communicate between meetings.
  • Collaboration Activity:

Three weeks of discussions prompted by topics about energy, society, and the impact of energy usage on local environments.

Discussion Week 1: Energy in Transportation. Which modes of transportation are frequently used by students and the public? How do the similarities or differences in transportation modes affect the energy usage comparing Algiers and Gainesville?

Discussion Week 2: Energy and the Environment. What are the energy demands like over a year and are there seasonal trends? Identify the electronics which consume the most energy. What are the most energy intensive sectors (largest energy customers). What effects of energy on the environment are you experiencing in your region?

Discussion Week 3: Energy and Personal Use. Examine your personal energy “consumption” habits and compare/contrast with group. How are your personal energy usage different from typical peers in your area?

Discussion Week 4: students present their collaborative projects. The project’s output is a slide with video recording.

  • Reflection Activity:

Week 4: Students will reflect on the similarities and differences between energy use in Gainesville and Algiers, market comparison and energy production.

UF students will complete and submit a HW assignment where this comparison is composed as a text submission.

Collaborative project: A powerpoint (slide) presentation with video recording of both partners providing market comparison/energy use and energy production in both countries