Developing Learning Materials to Explain Energy vs Power for Homeowners and Household Energy Users

Project description

This project develops clear, engaging, homeowner‑friendly educational materials that explain the difference between energy (kWh) and power (kW) and how these concepts relate to:

• Buying a home battery
• Selecting energy‑efficient appliances
• Understanding circuit limits and why circuits trip
• Managing household demand and avoiding overloads
• Operating the home efficiently

Students will translate technical engineering concepts into plain-language explanations, diagrams, examples, analogies, and mini‑lessons, suitable for use in microcredentials for homeowners, installers, and policy staff. The project answers:

• How do we explain energy vs power in a way non‑technical people immediately understand?
• What everyday household scenarios illustrate the difference effectively?
• How can these materials support consumers buying batteries or smart appliances?
• What visual and interactive assets help people understand circuit limits and safe operation?

Project scope

• This project seeks to:
  • Develop clear, accurate, audience‑appropriate explanations of:
    • Energy (kWh) vs power (kW)
    • Circuit load and household current limits
    • Why breakers trip & how home circuits are organised
    • Appliance load profiles
    • Battery capacity (kWh) vs battery power/throughput (kW)
  • Produce examples and analogies relevant to Australian households.
  • Create diagrams, short text explanations, worked examples, and scenario‑based learning content.
  • Package content so it slots directly into Articulate Rise microcredentials.
  • (Optional) Develop short interactive quiz questions or “choose the scenario” activities.

Deliverables

• A set of plain‑language explanations suitable for homeowners.
• Illustrated diagrams (concept sketches acceptable) explaining household circuits, appliance power, and battery behaviour.
• A set of worked household examples, e.g.:
  • “Why running the kettle + heater + microwave can trip a circuit.”
  • “Why a 10 kWh battery cannot power all appliances at once.”
• Short quizzes/activity prompts suitable for microcredentials.
• Material that can be directly inserted into:
  • VPP literacy microcredentials
  • Battery literacy microcredentials
  • Policy staff training
  • Installer consumer‑advisory training

Information for applicants

• Desktop research (remote or on campus). No lab work required
• Optional user‑testing with peers or staff for clarity and comprehension
• Workload is flexible to suit student study requirement
• Suitable for School of Engineering research-based courses, such as: ENGN2706, ENGN2707, ENGN3706, ENGN3712, ENGN4350, ENGN4706, ENGN4712, ENGN4718, ENGN8601, and ENGN8602.
• Suitable for both domestic and international students.
• Consultation with:
  • ANU Centre for Energy Systems
  • Optional consultation with electricians, installers, or ACT Government energy literacy programs.

Essential requirements

• Clear understanding of electricity: voltage, current, power, energy.
• Strong ability to explain technical ideas clearly in writing and multimedia.
• User-centred design and/or qualitative research data collection methods.
• Ability to create simple diagrams or annotated sketches.
• Good organisational skills and attention to detail.

Desirable requirements

• Prior coursework in power systems, circuits, or energy engineering.
• Experience with science communication, tutoring, or teaching.
• Familiarity with home electrical systems (switchboards, circuits, appliance loads).
• Comfort using diagram tools (PowerPoint, Canva, Figma, Draw.io).
• Interest in public‑facing energy literacy and microcredential design.

Student takeaways

• A clear, practical understanding of energy vs power, household circuits, and appliance loads.
• Skills in communicating technical concepts to non‑experts through simple explanations and diagrams.
• Experience designing consumer‑focused educational materials for energy literacy and microcredentials.
• Improved ability to connect engineering principles to real household decisions (battery sizing, efficient operation, safety).
• Professional experience in learning design, content development, and applied energy education.

How to apply

If you are interested, please email a brief expression of interest, along with a copy of your CV (resume) and academic transcript to the project supervisor.