Work in progress — Bike machine energy education: Efficacy for student knowledge and participation in sustainability

For several years, the authors have used bicycle machines as an approach to teach sustainability and other energy principles. Anecdotal evidence suggests that this is an effective engagement strategy, but to date we have not objectively measured the impact of the program on its participants. A bike machine sustainability paradigm allows engineers to fulfill their energy educational social responsibility for sustainability. American K-12 students often demonstrate less than desirable literacy and engagement in energy topics. In this work the authors are seeking to apply research and evaluation methodologies in order to 1) validate the bike machine approach as an effective educational and engagement strategy, 2) determine the relationship between participation in the program and out-of-program behavior and 3) develop a replicable model for teaching energy and sustainability.