Science teachers and pre-service science teachers from across Brisbane and Ipswich are now better equipped to teach minerals-related subjects thanks to a joint initiative between UQ and the Queensland Resources Council (QRC).
The teachers took part in a professional development workshop at UQ’s School of Chemical Engineering on August 13 where they learned basic chemistry and physics concepts in industrial processes that are involved in metal processing and extraction.
The workshop, which is part of QRC’s teacher professional development program, was facilitated by UQ Metallurgical Engineering staff who demonstrated the concepts using hands-on experiments to help teachers devise practical lessons.
QRC Chief Executive Michael Roche said the workshop would improve the teachers’ skills and knowledge of minerals science and boost their confidence to teach the subject.
“It’s all part of helping teachers and pre-service teachers become familiar with the latest resources and teaching strategies, which can be used to engage students in their learning of industry related topics,” he said.
“The need for skilled employees in the resources sector is still a top priority for us because their services will again be in high demand with the global demand for our minerals and energy beginning to rebound.
“This program is about starting at the beginning and reaching back into our school to supply teachers with the resources they need to better education and inform students, some of whom might consider a career in this sector.”
UQ senior engineering lecturer Bob Hannah said the workshop was also part of UQ’s commitment to reach out to school teachers and help them make lessons on the topic more engaging and interactive.
“The workshop involved the teachers in a series of mineral-related practical exercise centre on specific aspects of mineral processing,” he said.
“The idea was that the exercises would be simple and inexpensive, yet would demonstrate and quantify an important physical or chemical concept.
“At the end of the exercises, each teacher will be able to take one of them and develop it into a formal resource that they can use in their science classes.”
Participating physics and chemistry teachers were from Alexandra Hills State High School, Anglican Church Grammar School, Bundamba State Secondary College (Ipswich), Marist College Ashgrove and Wavell State High School, with a number of UQ’s pre-service teachers attending as well.
Media: Kim Jensen from UQ Engineering (07 3365 1107 or k.jensen@uq.edu.au)
