MINING MATTERS - MINERAL RESOURCES EDUCATION AND THE TRANSITION TO VIRTUAL DELIVERY

Mining Matters is a charitable organization dedicated to educating young people to develop knowledge and awareness of Earth sciences, the minerals industry, and their roles in society. The organization provides information about rocks, minerals, metals, mining and career opportunities available in the industry. It offers educational resources that meet curriculum expectations, created by educators and Earth science experts. Since 1994, Mining Matters has reached an estimated 780,000 teachers, students and members of the public.

Mining Matters offers three core areas of programming. Teacher Training and School Programs support educators with professional development (PD) opportunities, resources and curriculum-linked classroom workshops. Public Outreach Programs provide foundational information through interactive activities at community, education and industry events. Indigenous Education Programs build mineral literacy, raise awareness of the importance of education, and highlight the range of career opportunities. With sensitivity to the importance Indigenous communities play in resource stewardship, management and development, the program includes summer camps, school programs, PD workshops for educators, and community events.

Traditionally, Mining Matters focuses on hands-on and experiential learning, providing in-person PD workshops, in-classroom programming and in-community education. The recent transition to virtual delivery required the adoption of new practices, including redeveloping activities, rethinking approaches to program delivery, and identifying new partners in STEM education. New initiatives include a collection of DIY GEMS (geology, engineering, mining, sustainability) activities, synchronous learning workshops, participation in virtual outreach events, and instructional videos with accompanying hands-on resource kits shipped to communities across Canada.