Climate Clever Energy Savers

What is the Climate Clever Energy Savers (CCES) program?

The CCES program is a $5 million program that will be available for primary and secondary schools from 2010 until 2013 and will contribute towards energy savings and greenhouse gas reduction projects in schools.

The program aims to:

enable students to develop energy saving and greenhouse gas reduction proposals and action plans for their schools, linked to KLA syllabus outcomes and content
enhance student engagement and the learning of subject matter through interdisciplinary, authentic project-based sustainability work
embed learning for sustainability into the school curriculum
expand the participation of teachers in student-directed, project-based sustainability learning by providing structured professional learning and scaffolded teaching and learning resources.

How can the program be linked to the curriculum?

In primary classrooms the CCES program can make explicit curriculum links to outcomes and content in Stage 2 and/or Stage 3 learning areas, in particular:

Science and Technology
Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE).

In secondary classrooms explicit links can be made to:

Stage 4 Technology, Science or Geography
Stage 5 Science, Geography or Design and Technology
an integrated learning project across a number of learning areas.

Primary and secondary schools applying to participate in the program are encouraged to consider integrated learning projects to foster cross-curricular collaboration and to include more than one teacher.

Can more than one teacher in a school apply?

Yes. It is possible for more than one teacher in a school to apply for funding. This can provide significant benefits for successful school implementation. If more than one teacher in a school applies, principals will be asked to prioritise applications, in case all requests cannot be met.

What is involved in the project-based learning?

The CCES initiative involves project-based learning. Learning experiences should be adapted to suit students at particular stages of schooling and to reflect different school contexts linking to relevant syllabus outcomes. Students will be supported to work at a stage-appropriate level through the following process:

exploring, contextualising and connecting with an energy issue
conducting a school energy audit to identify issues of school energy use, the purpose for which energy is used, and the needs of users
investigating concepts and ideas relating to energy and its sustainable use
identifying opportunities for a change that will improve school energy efficiency
researching, generating and evaluating ideas for improved energy efficiency
preparing, presenting and justifying a proposal and action plan to make energy efficiency changes
implementing the plan
reflecting on the process of development and on learning.

What support will be provided to schools?

To assist teachers to implement quality teaching, student-directed, project-based learning activities linked to syllabuses, the Climate Clever Energy Savers program provides:

an initial $1000 professional learning support payment to regionally-selected participants
a one-day professional learning workshop for selected participants
teaching and learning resources, such as syllabus mappings, sample units of work, web links and teaching ideas
scaffolded planning and documenting tools for students to develop proposals and action plans
payments of up to $2000 to support the implementation of each student principal-endorsed and regionally-selected CCES project
ongoing online support for teacher participants
regional support for schools, as required.

What does the professional learning workshop include?

A regional professional learning workshop will be held for selected teacher participants in Term 1, 2010. It is proposed that the professional learning component be a registered course with the NSW Institute of Teachers. Professional learning will focus on:

planning and implementing project-based teaching and learning
linking student-directed activities to the school curriculum
implementing a structured teaching and learning sequence to assist students in developing proposals and action plans
learning experiences that enable students to acquire requisite energy efficiency knowledge, understanding and skills.

How can schools express an interest in the program in 2010?

Expressions of interest (EOI) for participation in 2010 are sought from schools from the beginning of Term 4, 2009. The closing date for applications is Friday 13 November 2009.

Expression of interest application form (Macro enabled)
Expression of interest application form (MS Office 2003)

What does the 2010 program cycle for schools look like?

Term 4 2009	Expressions of interest interested teachers complete the EOI form for CCES participation teachers gain principal endorsement school submits EOIs by Friday 13 November 2009 regions prepare a shortlist of schools to participate in regional professional learning and participation in the program selected schools advised
Term 1 2010	Professional learning and teaching activity selected schools confirm participation payment of $1000 made to schools to support participation in professional learning workshop and teaching activity regional professional learning workshop held teachers plan for the implementation of teaching/learning sequence linked to the curriculum
Terms 1 and 2 2010	Teaching and learning sequence teachers commence implementation of teaching/learning sequence for student-directed proposals and action plans students complete online proposal and action plans and receive feedback from teachers students submit proposals and action plans to teacher for assessment teachers identify quality proposals
Term 3 2010	Proposal and action plan determination teachers submit identified proposals and action plans to principals principals select proposals that meet school and program requirements principals recommend proposals for funding to regions by Week 4 regions determine which schools receive funding support payment of up to $2,000 made to selected schools
Term 4 2010	Proposal and action plan implementation schools implement funded and unfunded proposals and action plans teachers supervise implementation
Late Term 4 2010	Reporting schools submit a short online report on their program implementation.

For more information

Email your questions to ease@det.nsw.edu.au or phone Nicole Banham on (02) 9886 7714.

Conditions of use | Help | Contact us
Report incorrect, out-of-date or missing information

NSW Department of Education and Training