Professional Development Courses

"The Chemistry and Physics of Extractive Metallurgy" Course:
This one-day course was the inaugural activity in the outreach program. First offered in May 2003, the course is designed to give teachers hands-on laboratory experiences in three modules: concentration, hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy. The course is held at Murdoch University.

Hands-on experience for science teachers - 2 May 2003

Science teachers offered second hands-on experience in extractive metallurgy - 7 July 2003

"The Chemistry and Physics of Extractive Metallurgy" course was also run on 23 April 2004, 12 July 2004, 11 April 2005 and 15 July 2005.

A two-hour version of this course was held for a group of Murdoch University Diploma of Education students on 20 April 2004. This was the first time the Centre had involved itself with training student science teachers.

"Advanced Extractive Metallurgy" Course:
This one-day course is offered to teachers who have completed the introductory "The Chemistry and Physics of Extractive Metallurgy" course. It includes hands-on practicals that build on the previous course, and was first held in July 2004. It was held again on 14 July 2005 and 28 September 2005.

Teachers extract copper metal from ore in a day - 13 July 2004

"Online Interactive Learning – Providing a Minerals Industry Context for Secondary Student Learning” Workshops:
The Centre collaborated with the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA), Murdoch University and the Centre for Sustainable Resource Processing to offer a series of interactive, online workshops for secondary school teachers. The workshops generally involved two, 90-minute computer laboratory sessions, interspaced with hands-on mineral processing work presented by the Murdoch University Extractive Metallurgy staff. Ms Nola Shoring from MCA conducted the computer portion of the workshops in which teachers were able to test drive interactive educational software programs.

At the first workshop on 22 April 2004, Ms Shoring introduced teachers to the theory and practical application of interactive online student learning objects on the evolution of the geology and landscape of the Australian continent and the metal composition of household objects. Ms Shoring returned on 12 April 2005 with a new online learning object which provides a virtual on-site experience as a metallurgist at a minerals processing plant. Teachers had the chance to use and explore the new software entitled “Oresome Froth” before being presented with a copy for use in their own classrooms.

Tours of Centre Research Facilities
These tours give teachers the chance to learn about the chemistry, physics and biology involved in the Centre's research to assist the minerals industry, and the equipment used in this research. To date, teachers have visited pilot plant facilities and research laboratories at CSIRO Minerals' Waterford site and the Scanning Probe Microscopy Facility at Curtin University to view the atomic force microscopes.

Parker Centre "show and tell" for science teachers - 16 September 2003

Visits to the Minerals Industry
While it is important that teachers gain a hands-on metallurgy experience in the laboratory to develop a full appreciation of the chemical and physical applications of the theory they teach their students, this academic experience is not enough. Most teachers rarely, if ever, have the opportunity to experience the industrial applications of the textbook curriculum they must follow. Tours of mining and processing operations will give teachers the opportunity to see the theory in action in the real world. In addition, by talking with on-site staff, they will gain an insight into what it's like to work at a mine site.

Teachers' tour of gold mine sheds light on industry - 10 October 2003