Flip on a light switch. What happens? For students in the EnergyNet project, a simple turn of a switch does more than turn on a light. It turns a real world experience into lessons in math, science, and English. It turns students into active learners. It sparks knowledge of teamwork, technology and problem solving.

Schools in America are in the midst of change. Technology coupled with research about effective learning methods has created a need to rethink the roles in the classroom. The EnergyNet project is a tool teachers are using to move from teacher centered learning to integrated, real world learning. Like any change, it is slow to occur and sometimes educators must overcome great hurdles to implement them.

EnergyNet project is a tool teachers are using to move from teacher centered learning to integrated, real world learning. Like any change, it is slow to occur and sometimes educators must overcome great hurdles to implement them.

EnergyNet gives teachers a tool to make the transition. The project uses a facilitative learning model where students take the lead in their learning by asking questions, discovering answers and applying their knowledge to solve a real world problem. Teachers guide students by providing resources, monitoring progress and encouraging students to ask questions and find solutions. Facilitative learning allows students to make their own discoveries which leads to better retention of concepts.

EnergyNet put together the project's success stories in the publication Best Practices. EnergyNet's Best Practices allows educators, community members, parents, students and business leaders to see how improvements in education are taking place.

EnergyNet has a history of providing an educational model that works. Best Practices is a collection of the many creative, flexible, and successful ideas EnergyNet teams found for implementing the project in their school. Best Practices is divided into five areas which are reflective of the goals of the EnergyNet project. In these areas you will find:

• Energy: Read EnergyNet teams accomplishments related to energy awareness and energy conservation.
• Technology: : Learn how EnergyNet teams used computers and the Internet within their project.
• Teamwork: Find out the importance EnergyNet teams place on working together.
• Community: See how EnergyNet teams worked with community members and business leaders on their projects.
• Cross-Curricular Learning: Discover the benefits of combining disciplines and skills to work on the EnergyNet project.

As you will find in Best Practices, EnergyNet is a proven model for changing the way students are taught which results in better qualified workers for the 21st century.