Colorado teachers get a glimpse into MINEXCHANGE at MECK-12 mining and minerals workshop

On Feb. 25, 28 Colorado educators had a chance to talk with enthusiastic mining professionals and receive diverse educational resources for teaching about the importance of mining and minerals. The agenda for the day was tailored to meet teachers’ needs and implemented teacher feedback from last year’s workshop held in conjunction with MINEXCHANGE in Phoenix, AZ. This year’s Mining Education Coalition (MEC) workshop was planned in collaboration with outreach staff from the University of Arizona School of Mining and Mineral Resources, led by Chris Earnest, with help from Mario Munoz, Dan Moreno and Gaurv Singh. The Colorado Mining Association Education Foundation’s Ryan Miles, Sandi Sullivan and Maura Sullivan provided additional planning and implementation support. Pam Wilkinson of the MEC Curriculum Committee and Katie Kosloski of the MEC Committee pitched in to help at the workshop as well. Following a compelling introduction by Kurt Doran, MEC Committee Chair, the workshop featured a presentation by MEC Committee Past Chair Wendi Cooksey of FLS, showing why mining is so critical to the transition to green energy. The teachers then had an active session trying out four hands-on activities for use in their classrooms, ranging from making toothpaste with minerals to electrowinning copper. Jeremy Diehlmann of Victaulic, a member of the SME Young Leaders Committee, provided a dynamic overview of careers in the mining industry and fielded numerous questions from the teachers. The teachers then toured six booths in the exhibit hall to talk with exhibitors from the Colorado School of Mines, Colorado Division of Reclamation, Barr Engineering, Hexagon, FLS and SRK Consulting Services. The day ended with a free-choice period, where teachers could choose to attend technical sessions, view student posters or have more time in the exhibit hall. Lisa Rudstrom, MEC Committee Vice Chair, provided a wrap-up of the full day of education. The teachers received hard copies of SME and MEC resources focused on careers in the mining industry, a selection of MEC posters and booklets, and a USB drive with digital copies of all the hands-on activities at the workshop and more. The teachers appreciated the hands-on activities and opportunities to speak to professionals. One teacher noted, “It took me from knowing almost nothing about mining and minerals to having a much stronger foundation of the field and career paths it has to offer.” Another teacher said, “It was definitely nice to hear from people to see how they related their schooling to their careers. Will definitely be recommending the mining field to my students as a career option.”Thank you to C. Dale and Kathleen B. Elifrits for so graciously providing sponsorship of the teacher workshop.

Colorado teachers get a glimpse into MINEXCHANGE at MECK-12 mining and minerals workshop

Authored by: Rebecca Smith

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