Organization partners with Flinn Scientific to allow students to construct and test virtual turbines and wind farms using WhiteBox Learning
The KidWind Project, an international leader in clean energy education, is partnering with Flinn Scientific for the second annual KidWind Simulation Challenge where students will use Flinn Scientific’s WhiteBox Learning web-based STEM learning system to virtually construct and test wind turbines and wind farms. Registration for this year’s challenge is now open.
“We are very excited to partner with Flinn and WhiteBox Learning for another year,” said Michael Arquin, founder of KidWind. “This is a great opportunity to continue to offer students an online option to participate in our annual wind competitions. This simulation continues to do a fantastic job teaching important design concepts related to wind energy systems.”
Students can compete in the KidWind Simulation Challenge in one of three divisions: grades 4-5, grades 6-8, and grades 9-12. Students can participate alone or on a team of up to five students. Each individual student and team will also need to have a coach who will be the primary contact for the team.
A new, optional division has been added to this year’s challenge. The Print and Test division will allow students who are interested and able to 3D print the blade sets designed in the simulator. Participation in this new division is optional and will not impact students’ scores or performance for the Simulation Challenge. Additional details and rules will be made available for participants on the submission site.
Registration for the Simulation Challenge is $25 per coach and once the registration is approved by KidWind, the coach will be sent access codes for each student. These codes will give each student individual access to the WhiteBox Learning software through June 30, 2022. There are coach scholarships available depending on what state the coach lives in and need. Scholarships may be applied for through this form.
The 2022 KidWind Simulation Challenge will feature a weekly leaderboard of the top performers. Scores are determined by participants’ quiz scores, design iterations, and design performance on the turbine and wind farms. When the challenge closes in April, the top five performing teams or individuals in each division participating in the challenge will be recognized and invited to participate in the 2022 National KidWind Challenge.
This challenge was made possible through generous contributions from Flinn Scientific and National Renewable Energy Laboratory. For more information about the 2022 KidWind Simulation Challenge, visit: www.kidwind.org/online-challenge/simulation.
The American Consortium for Equity in Education, publisher of the "Equity & Access" journal, celebrates and connects the educators, associations, community partners and industry leaders who are working to solve problems and create a more equitable environment for historically underserved pre K-12 students throughout the United States.
