LESSONS FROM 25 YEARS EDUCATING THE TEACHERS IN SUPPORT OF MINING & THE MINING WORKFORCE: THE MINNESOTA MINERAL EDUCATION WORKSHOP

The mining workforce of the future starts out as students in K-12 schools across the nation. For students growing up outside mining districts, exposure to the sourcing, extraction, processing and refining of rock and minerals critical to the nation’s survival is generally limited to the earth science curricula provided by public school teachers. The need for minerals to meet environmental protection and sustainable energy goals must be reinforced to educators if their students are to make rational decisions related to mining given the anti-mining bias that dominates public discourse. Insuring these teachers have a broad and accurate understanding of the importance of, and various techniques used, in mining, the trade offs involved in mineral extraction and the economic and social implications of decisions to mine or failure to mine is critical for the next generation to have an opportunity to learn about and make the decision to support mining as citizens and to see the field as a prospective career for study and employment.

Minnesota has long addressed the professional development of its teachers in these areas through a multilateral partnership involving industry, government, university and K-12 educators each bringing their particular expertise to the table via the Minnesota Mineral Education Workshop (MMEW). MMEW is an annual 3-day summer workshop for K-12 in-service teachers offered at various geologically diverse locations. The workshop focuses on field trips to important geological outcrops, mines, refining and reclamation facilities specific to the region. Teachers also receive a selection of short courses on topics commonly covered in K-12 Earth science and a resource box with a field trip guide, hand samples, maps and tools for classroom use.

This year celebrates the 25^th iteration of this program, offering a track record of experiences in how to create and sustain such a professional development program through economic, political, educational, and pandemic challenges as diverse as those the mining industry itself navigates. As a potential model for other states, this presentation seeks to share the lessons learned in overcoming past challenges for MMEW while preparing for new barriers to developing teachers of the mining workforce of the mid 21^st century.