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25-087
Teaching Kids Project: A Bet for New Generations in Mining
Juan P Carmona
Universidad Nacional de Colombia,
Medellín, Colombia
Juan C Diaz
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Manuel Z Salgado
Universidad Nacional de Colombia,
Medellín, Colombia
Oscar J Restrepo
Universidad Nacional de Colombia,
Medellín, Colombia
ABSTRACT
The “Teaching Kids” project is an educational initiative
for young people and children from elementary schools. It
is carried out by Mining, Geological, and Environmental
Engineering students from the SME Student Chapter of the
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Medellin. The primary
purpose of the Teaching Kids project is to share knowledge
about geosciences and mineral resources in a didactic and
attractive way, emphasizing the importance of identifying
the use of minerals in daily life and responsible and sustain-
able mining in our society. Furthermore, this project aims
to promote the importance of pursuing geoscience majors
in the new generations and improve the mining industry’s
public perception.
Different methodologies related to early childhood
education are implemented, such as gamification, in which
the dynamics of games are adapted during the development
of workshops to teach and learn in an active and moti-
vated environment. Furthermore, the Montessori Method
is used. It implements textbooks, sensory mineral boxes,
and presentations to allow learning through experimenta-
tion itself (Montessori 2003). The implementation of this
methodology has been successful it has shown high engage-
ment, participation, and retention of the basic concept of
geoscience and mining.
Keywords: Geosciences, mining, teaching kids, and
Montessori Method.
INTRODUCTION
Geoscience, also known as Earth Science, is a discipline that
studies the Earth and its components (e.g., rivers, ice sheets
and glaciers, atmosphere, soils, complex surface and inte-
rior, and metallic core). Geoscience includes many aspects
of how living beings, including humans, interact with the
Earth. Geoscience studies the past, explores the present,
and simulates the future behavior of our planet. However, it
also involves the study of other planets and solar systems to
understand the Earth better and expand our knowledge of
the universe (AGI 2012). Therefore, Geoscientists study
and work with minerals, energy resources, oceans, the
atmosphere, weather, and even natural hazards. In other
words, geoscientists provide the knowledge, experience,
and expertise to meet modern society’s demands for natural
resources, energy, and environmental quality (AGI 2024
USGS 2024).
Even though geoscience is essential for maintaining
our modern lifestyle, the geoscience society currently suf-
fers from a talent shortage, especially in the mining indus-
try. Mining engineering enrollments have dropped yearly
in top mining industry countries for the past ten years.
For example, mining engineering enrollments in the US
and Australia have decreased by around 39% and 63%,
correspondingly, since 2014 (Figure 1). Furthermore, in
countries like Canada, degrees in geoscience are not seen
as an attractive industry for young talent (MiHR, 2024
Mckisey&Company, 2023).
Recent researchs have identified that the geoscience tal-
ent shortage is due to three main reasons: first, the intense
focus on technology development and automation, result-
ing in an estimated one in sixteen workers globally (100
million) needing to find a different occupation by 2030.
Second, working conditions shifted by the COVID-19 pan-
demic 40% of employees prefer permanent remote-working
25-087
Teaching Kids Project: A Bet for New Generations in Mining
Juan P Carmona
Universidad Nacional de Colombia,
Medellín, Colombia
Juan C Diaz
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Manuel Z Salgado
Universidad Nacional de Colombia,
Medellín, Colombia
Oscar J Restrepo
Universidad Nacional de Colombia,
Medellín, Colombia
ABSTRACT
The “Teaching Kids” project is an educational initiative
for young people and children from elementary schools. It
is carried out by Mining, Geological, and Environmental
Engineering students from the SME Student Chapter of the
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Medellin. The primary
purpose of the Teaching Kids project is to share knowledge
about geosciences and mineral resources in a didactic and
attractive way, emphasizing the importance of identifying
the use of minerals in daily life and responsible and sustain-
able mining in our society. Furthermore, this project aims
to promote the importance of pursuing geoscience majors
in the new generations and improve the mining industry’s
public perception.
Different methodologies related to early childhood
education are implemented, such as gamification, in which
the dynamics of games are adapted during the development
of workshops to teach and learn in an active and moti-
vated environment. Furthermore, the Montessori Method
is used. It implements textbooks, sensory mineral boxes,
and presentations to allow learning through experimenta-
tion itself (Montessori 2003). The implementation of this
methodology has been successful it has shown high engage-
ment, participation, and retention of the basic concept of
geoscience and mining.
Keywords: Geosciences, mining, teaching kids, and
Montessori Method.
INTRODUCTION
Geoscience, also known as Earth Science, is a discipline that
studies the Earth and its components (e.g., rivers, ice sheets
and glaciers, atmosphere, soils, complex surface and inte-
rior, and metallic core). Geoscience includes many aspects
of how living beings, including humans, interact with the
Earth. Geoscience studies the past, explores the present,
and simulates the future behavior of our planet. However, it
also involves the study of other planets and solar systems to
understand the Earth better and expand our knowledge of
the universe (AGI 2012). Therefore, Geoscientists study
and work with minerals, energy resources, oceans, the
atmosphere, weather, and even natural hazards. In other
words, geoscientists provide the knowledge, experience,
and expertise to meet modern society’s demands for natural
resources, energy, and environmental quality (AGI 2024
USGS 2024).
Even though geoscience is essential for maintaining
our modern lifestyle, the geoscience society currently suf-
fers from a talent shortage, especially in the mining indus-
try. Mining engineering enrollments have dropped yearly
in top mining industry countries for the past ten years.
For example, mining engineering enrollments in the US
and Australia have decreased by around 39% and 63%,
correspondingly, since 2014 (Figure 1). Furthermore, in
countries like Canada, degrees in geoscience are not seen
as an attractive industry for young talent (MiHR, 2024
Mckisey&Company, 2023).
Recent researchs have identified that the geoscience tal-
ent shortage is due to three main reasons: first, the intense
focus on technology development and automation, result-
ing in an estimated one in sixteen workers globally (100
million) needing to find a different occupation by 2030.
Second, working conditions shifted by the COVID-19 pan-
demic 40% of employees prefer permanent remote-working