Instructional Applications of "Campus as a Living Lab"

This video from the Building Efficiency for a Sustainable Tomorrow (BEST) Center features a presentation by Ted Wilinski, co-principal investigator for the BEST Center. This presentation was given at the 2024 BEST Annual Institute: Less Carbon, More Action! Strategies for Buildings and Technician Education. The presentation covers key considerations for educators who are implementing "living labs" on college campuses.

This session begins with an introduction to The Campus as a Living Laboratory, published by the American Association of Community Colleges. This guide outlines the eight elements of effective living labs. These elements include integration into the curriculum, building industry partnerships, and opening labs to the community. Wilinski shares pedagogical benefits of living labs, including project-based learning opportunities and professional skills development, and describes the importance of lesson planning and documentation when managing a living lab. Examples of living lab projects are also shared, including student energy audits of community buildings. 

This video runs 00:48:04 minutes in length. Other videos in this series are available to view separately.