Overview
Energy Quest is curriculum aligned science lesson that introduces students to a range of engineering careers and asks them to act ‘like an engineer.’ In 2023/24, Energy Quest was adapted to be teacher-led to improve its reach and legacy.
As this was the first year running the teacher-led Energy Quest, the evaluation focused on how it was delivered and early indicators of impact. Teachers appreciated that the lesson was high-quality and easy to tailor, working well for students with a range of abilities.
Teachers also noted that students applied themselves and got creative in the hands-on activities. 72% of students said the lesson taught them about the different things that engineers do. This echoes previous evaluations of Energy Quest when it was delivered by external facilitators.
These results are encouraging as they suggest the resources are fit-for-purpose in terms of being an adaptable and easy-to-implement lesson plan for teachers.
Energy Quest evaluation infographic 2023/24
Who this is for
- Employers
- Researchers
- STEM outreach organisations
- Teachers
Key Findings
Our evaluation showed that Energy Quest:
- Is a high-quality set of resources for teachers to integrate into their lesson plans
- Taught students about what engineers do (72%) and gave them a chance to develop skills like problem solving and innovative thinking
- Worked for students with a range of abilities
- Made 1 in 4 students want to do more engineering, technology and science activities
- Motivated 1 in 5 students to find out more about jobs in these fields
These evaluation findings are very positive as they show how Energy Quest continues to have a positive impact on students’ knowledge of engineering, whether delivered by teachers or external facilitators. This suggests the teacher-led model is a valuable, adaptable resource for inspiring young people and supporting STEM learning in the classroom.
— Amanda Aldercotte, Head of Impact and Evaluation, EngineeringUK
