Do-It-Yourself Home Savings Techniques Program. Final Report.

This report assesses the Do-It-Yourself Home Savings Techniques project, which was designed to develop and test an instructional unit for making homes energy efficient. The project, implemented at schools in the Cleveland City School District from October 1981 through February 1983, involved 11 science teachers and approximately 1,200 students. The report includes a program plan, summary of project operations, summary of lesson units with related objectives and activities, and project evaluation. Key project accomplishments are noted: (1) development of a curriculum guide, ("Do-It-Yourself Energy Guide"), consisting of nine energy lessons; (2) assembling of materials required by the instructional activities of the energy lessons; and (3) provision of periodic inservice workshops for participating teachers. Teachers assessed lessons for degree of relevance, practicality, and adaptability to home use while students evaluated them for clarity, quantity of new knowledge, time allowed, and overall usefulness. Teachers also rated the quality of inservice support. In addition, parents responded to energy activities tried in the home. All ratings by students, staff, and parents were markedly favorable. (Appendices contain forms used to collect information and some of the recommendations made for program improvement). (Author/JM)