Paul Amond from Kinia facilitated the training with the library staff.

“Libraries across the country are looking to engage their communities in STEAM learning and collaborations. Kinia worked with library staff through an online training over a two week period. As part of this initiative, all of the staff members received Smart Energy equipment kits. The kits include a range of reusable electronic components and activity packs to bring the learning into the hands of young people.”

What is Kinia’s Smart Energy programme?

Kinia’s Smart Energy training programme explores:

* What is energy – its role in nature and technology.

* Methods of harnessing energy

* Different types of energy – renewable and fossil fuels.

As part of the Kinia Smart Energy programme, educators are provided with practical, hands-on training. They are supplied with the components to make simple circuits which helps to illustrate the energy concepts explored in the curriculum. The circuits can be powered using different sources of energy. Finally, educators are encouraged to think of everyday energy challenges we face and develop their own ideas of how they could use the components to address some of these challenges.

Once the educators have completed the hands-on training, they are supported to bring their equipment and knowledge back to the young people they work with so they too can learn about Smart Energy.

Bringing Smart Energy to the Libraries

The staff at the libraries have run a number of Smart Energy workshops and initiatives with young people in their area.

Sandra English in Carrick On Suir Library has facilitated group workshops for young people in the local area as part of Science Week in November 2023. Sandra delivered two hands-on Smart Energy workshops to over 20 young people with a focus on electricity and the environment. These topics are a fundamental part of the Kinia Smart Energy training course for educators.

Sandra made sure to make the workshops as fun and informative as possible for the young people. They even got into the spirit of Science Week by including lab coats and other props.

Sandra said “The training was brilliant and we learned so much. All in all, it was very enjoyable and educational!”

Impact on young people in the libraries

“We have had fantastic success already in our libraries with the Smart Energy toolkits – we have run a science outreach workshop with them already, and the engagement was very positive to see! The kits were very engaging for the participants we had, and it really helped to ground some of the less concrete parts of the session, by being able to bring the lesson into reality a bit!”

Plans for the future

When asked if they have any future plans to use the course or STEM learning, Sandra said “Absolutely – the spread of activities was great, and gave us flexibility when planning content. They’re absolutely something we would have as part of our future STEM activities, they’re a great anchor for these sessions!”

Looking ahead, Kinia plans to continue delivering Smart Energy and other training courses to staff at more libraries, youth services and community groups across Ireland. By building on the success of initiatives like the one in Tipperary, Kinia aims to equip even more educators with the knowledge and tools to engage young people in hands-on learning about sustainable technology. As libraries continue to grow as hubs for community learning, Kinia hopes to deepen its collaborations, supporting educators to help young people across Ireland to innovate and inspire a greener future.