Peoples Gas Dig Into Energy Instructor

After School Matters•Chicago, IL

9d•$20 - $27

About The Position

After School Matters is seeking temporary, part-time instructors to teach its Peoples Gas programs during the summer session for 25 high school participants between the ages of 14 to 20. The 2025 summer work schedule will being approximately May 5 and end August 1. The typical schedule for the summer session is as follows: Summer: 6 weeks starting June 18 - Aug 1, daily Monday through Thursday or Friday (based upon the program model), four instructional hours per day. Additional hours are allotted for planning, recruitment, professional development, and meetings. Instructors will design and deliver an energy program for youth. The program will empower high school teens to become experts and advocates of efficient energy use in their communities. Teens will lead and design outreach activities with instructor support, thereby gaining critical leadership, youth voice, and community engagement skills. Teens will also attend career panels with scientists, engineers, and industry leaders that work in the energy field throughout Chicago. Primary Focus: Teens will gain hands-on experience and foundational knowledge in energy management, IoT (Internet of Things), and computational thinking. They will explore innovative technologies like smart grids and energy-efficient systems, focusing on how these advancements can improve sustainability and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Participants will also engage in practical projects that enhance their understanding of energy efficiency and its applications in real-world scenarios. The optimal candidate will have a passion and skill for science, technology, engineering, math and youth development. Instructors must have a program curriculum plan. See ASM Program Planner

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math; preferred but not required
Content area knowledge in energy, physics, engineering, math, or a related field
Experience working with issues of energy management and conservation
Experience planning and organizing outreach events
Demonstrated ability to teach formal and informal technique in one of the relevant disciplines in group settings with a minimum class of 25 students
Be knowledgeable of the relationship between Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and real-world experiences
Broad knowledge of relevant STEM terms and definitions
Enthusiastic about STEM and teaching through an integrative model
Experience working with groups of people (teenagers and adults)
Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team
Strong communication and interpersonal skills
Must be organized and possess a strong attention to detail

Responsibilities

Deliver an existing curriculum on Internet of Things (IoT) and computational thinking, covering the topics outlined in the program, while collaborating with other instructors and industry professionals to enhance the learning experience.
Facilitate hands-on activities and projects that allow participants to build an understanding of IoT and computational thinking concepts.
Provide guidance to participants in designing, developing, and testing a system that can control the temperature of a house based on time of day and occupancy.
Teach participants how to develop a hardware system (Arduino-based) that enables communication with appliances (furnace, temperature sensors, etc.) in a bidirectional way to activate/deactivate a furnace based on temperature readings.
Teach participants how to develop a smartphone application (MIT app inventor-based) that communicates with the hardware system and allows users to control the temperature remotely.
Help participants to develop a prototype of the phone application and hardware Arduino-based system to demonstrate how the system works and share their learnings with the audience.
Monitor the progress of participants and provide individualized support and feedback.
Intentionally expose teen participants to the varied STEM professions
Attend all planning and program dates, including Instructor orientation, professional development workshops, meetings and other required sessions
Participate in the recruitment, interview, and selection process of participants
Maintain a safe, engaging, and positive environment for program participants
Provide supervision during program field trips and other youth engagement opportunities
Manage and track program activities such as attendance, interview outcomes, enrollment, evaluation surveys, and pertinent student records in an online data tracking system (CitySpan).
Report all problems or concerns and program updates to After School Matters Program Specialist to maintain consistent lines of communication throughout the program session.
Supervise 25 teen participants