The Gold Industry Group and member Earth Science Western Australia (ESWA) have united to bring support for Earth and Environmental Science (EES) education to New South Wales secondary school students, in an innovative approach through online learning.
ESWA and AusEarthEd Chief Executive Officer Jo Watkins and GIG Executive Officer Rebecca Johnston.
The new program will support and promote Year 11 and 12 EES education over the next three years, under the new banner Australian Earth Science Education (AusEarthEd), through free local, contextual resources, educator training and mentoring, and engagements with both students and industry. The resources come at a critical time, when students are learning remotely, and teachers are adapting their processes in response to restrictions due to novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).
The announcement made today builds on the existing partnership between both organisations, who have been collaborating on furthering gold education since early 2018.
Their achievements include the development of free lesson plans and other learning tools for teachers that align to the Australian Curriculum, in conjunction with the Gold Industry Group’s free Heart of Gold Australia app and Heart of Gold Discovery Trails; and most recently, the expansion of these resources into a free National Gold Education Program which delivers dynamic presentations and unique classroom tool kits.
As the Program’s major sponsor, Gold Industry Group Executive Officer Rebecca Johnston said she hoped the new partnership would assist in growing NSW students’ and educators’ awareness of and interest in the gold sector, while providing essential resources to educators in EES across the State.
“We are excited to see the new program deliver valuable resources to teachers and students across New South Wales to support their education in Earth and Environmental Science.
“We are also looking forward to bringing Australia’s gold industry to life in schools, making industry engagements, site visits and content available to enhance student’s and teacher’s exposure to and awareness of the diverse range of career opportunities within the sector, while building an understanding of its essential role in our society and economy,” Ms Johnston said.
Services already available through the Program to support EES teaching in NSW include regular blog posts of content ideas, videos of hands-on activities, and online sessions with newly appointed local experienced Education Officer Susan Filan that incorporate unit revision and examination techniques. Additional services to follow will include free professional development for teachers and class visits, a suite of education resources online and external engagement opportunities.
ESWA and AusEarthEd Chief Executive Officer Jo Watkins is thrilled to see the Program come to fruition.
“It is wonderful to now be able to offer a high level of support to teachers and students of Earth and Environmental Science in New South Wales, thanks to our partnership with the Gold Industry Group,” Ms Watkins said.
“To be able to apply our unique approach to learning with a wide range of resources and activities for teachers and students, now customised to the NSW curriculum, is a fantastic achievement.
“We look forward to growing enthusiasm for and the capacity of this very important subject, utilising real-world content and opportunities made available to all through the Gold Industry Group,” Ms Watkins concluded.
NSW educators and students can learn more about AusEarthEd on their website, blog, YouTube channel, or by following their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.
Gold Industry Group members supporting the partnership with AusEarthEd in NSW include Newcrest Mining, Evolution Mining, Regis Resources, Northern Star Resources, Gold Road Resources, Pallion, ABC Refinery and Kirkland Lake Gold.