Using the Zero-Waste Circular Economy Module in Green Technologies

Kevin Martin, Northern Illinois University

Course Description

Introduction to environmentally friendly engineering and technological advances and new technologies that utilize green principles and green transportation. Course includes topics in new areas of green manufacturing and materials used today and planned for the future, including the operation and manufacture of solar cells and the production of wind, thermal, and hydroelectric power. Topics will vary depending upon new trends in industry.

Explore the Zero-Waste Circular Economy Module »

Relationship of the Zero-Waste Circular Economy Module to Your Course

The module was implemented 2/3 of the way through a full 16 week course so that students could see how the specific topics covered in the course could be applied to a bigger over arching problem. The course specific information related to climate change and carbon emissions along with solar, wind, biomass energy production were covered before the module was introduced. The module material was later referenced to challenge the students to look at the bigger picture implications from adopting various energy transition strategies.

Integrating the Module into Your Course

We were able to evolve the circular economy piece into an overarching theme for a section of the course. Our existing course already contains quite a bit of in-depth technical content, so we decided to use this module as a broader framework.

What Worked Well

We were able to utilize multiple pieces of the materials, which provided a lot of flexibility. The challenge was understanding all the material and determining where to incorporate it, but the flexibility allowed us to handle that effectively. We were able to use it as we wanted throughout the curriculum.

Challenges and How They Were Addressed

The flexibility of the module was crucial because timing is always an issue with course loads. It's challenging to cover all necessary topics while incorporating new material to keep courses updated, lively, and fresh. Determining the timing of different pieces is always a challenge, but the module's flexibility gave us the ability to work with that effectively.

Student Response to the Module and Activities

Students always appreciate understanding the bigger picture. They often ask why they're learning specific content, as this generation really loves to see the relevance of the things they're learning. Being able to refer back to the circular economy concept allows us to help students connect the dots and understand why they should learn about topics like solar or wind energy. It provides a broader context for their learning.