Lignite teacher seminar recognized

The Lignite Energy Council’s annual teacher seminar was picked as a 2012 winner of the Interstate Mining Compact Commission’s mineral education awards in the public outreach category.

The public outreach award is presented to an industry, environmental, citizen or other group, or to a state government body, that has achieved excellence in one or more of the following categories: provided education outreach in an innovative manner that increases the level of understanding in the community about mining and its impacts; promoted awareness of environmental stewardship associated with mining through active involvement of citizens; fostered cooperation and partnerships with diverse groups to achieve understanding; or enhanced the understanding of issues associated with mining and natural resource development.

Since 1986, the Lignite Energy Council has sponsored an annual teacher education seminar during June. The annual four-day seminar provides teacher participants with a broad understanding of the lignite industry and the role it plays in providing electricity to the region along with job opportunities. One day is devoted to touring mining operations, reclamation sites and coal conversion facilities. Tours also include a power plant and the Great Plains Synfuels Plant. Seminar presenters include educators, researchers, lignite industry representatives and government officials.

Teachers attending the seminar receive lecture outlines on each presentation, examples of lesson plans, classroom exercises, coal and ash samples, audiovisual materials and information on the facilities they tour. They also receive resource guides listing publications and audiovisual materials available for energy education.

The seminar is open to elementary as well as high school teachers from North and South Dakota, Montana and Minnesota, all states served by the lignite industry. Teachers can receive up to two graduate credits for completion of the course. More than 2,800 teachers have attended the seminar over the past 26 years.

Tags: life, community, education