Registration Opens for the Third Year of the KidWind Simulation Challenge
- By Kate Lucariello
- 01/10/23
The
KidWind Project will partner with Flinn
Scientific for the third year in a row to offer K–12
students a chance to compete in the 2023
Simulation Challenge. Contestants will use Flinn
Scientific’s WhiteBox Learning STEM to virtually
construct and test wind turbines and wind farms. Registration and the
competition are open now through March 1, with challenge completion
due April 1.
The
competition will be in three divisions: grades 4–5, 6–8, and
9–12. Students can participate alone or on a team, with a coach for
each individual student or team. The fee is $25 per coach, with each
coach able to register up to five students (individuals or teams).
Scholarships are also available, and an
application can be obtained here. Coaches will receive
access codes to the online software for each student, which will be
available to them through June 30. Codes will be sent in early
January.
System
requirements are an internet-connected desktop or laptop computer
(tablets not supported), running Windows 7 or newer, Mac OS 10.6.8 or
newer, or ChromeOS. Acceptable web browsers are Firefox (Windows or
Mac), Google Chrome, or Microsoft Edge (Windows 10 only). Visit
the system requirements page for more specifics.
The
top performers will be posted on a weekly leaderboard. Scoring is
based on quiz scores, design iterations, and design performance on
the turbine and wind farms, and will determine standing in the
simulation challenge. At the close of the challenge in April, the top
five performing teams or individuals in each division will be
recognized and invited to participate in the 2023 National KidWind
Challenge.
The
KidWind Project, dedicated to renewable energy education, has been
working for over 15 years to integrate renewable energy into schools.
Since 2004, KidWind has held more than 800 training events for more
than 50,000 teachers all over the world. For more information and
curricular materials, visit https://www.kidwind.org/.
To
view results of the 2022 KidWind Challenge, visit this page.
About the Author
Kate Lucariello is a former newspaper editor, EAST Lab high school teacher and college English teacher.