Pit & Quarry, March 2013

EDUCATION Promoting aggregates to next generations BY KEVIN YANIK E van Hartley a chemistry teacher at Bishop Hartley High School in Columbus Ohio knew little about the aggregates industry before 2011 But Hartley gained new knowledge of aggregates last summer after participating in an earth and space science program designed for Ohio teachers like him By participating Hartley picked up new material to share with students in his chemistry classroom The material made his students more aware of the various career opportunities available within the industry A lot of times students dont understand why theyre learning what theyre learning Hartley says I constantly try to make connections between whats happening in the real world and science But until you have a substantial knowledge base you dont necessarily see those connections About the program The program in which Hartley participated Project Stone is hosted at Wright State University in Dayton Ohio in partnership with the Ohio Aggregates Industrial Minerals Association OAIMA Wright State has hosted the program for five consecutive years although Bill Slattery a Wright State associate professor who runs the program discussed launching such a program for about 10 years with an OAIMA public relations committee chairman Richard Martin of Barrett Paving Materials Inc and I talked for a number of years about a program that would help students and teachers understand more about the industry Slattery says Dick and I talked about ways teachers and students could view the industry and the ways teachers could bring back information about careers in the field and understand the process of having an aggregate or other industrial mineral site The program that was eventually launched is divided into three phases The first phase takes place in the classroom at Wright State where teachers grades 4 through 12 gather for classroom style lessons and field trips over two weeks to quarries across Ohio Teachers meet with a variety of experts including those who drill blast and calculate a quarrys reserves One trip is to Every teacher who participates in Project Stone is tasked with developing projects like this one to educate students Bowser Morner Inc a Dayton testing company that typically enlightens teachers about the wealth of jobs in aggregates Teachers get to see the industry through the eyes of the people who work in it Slattery says People from government regulatory industries and other kinds of industries you would never suspect such as airplanes doing aerial mapping and the people selling tires for machines get involved Project Stone in particular is an enticing program for teachers because the Ohio Board of Regents provides funding for it The state agency that funds this program has allowed us to write in residency and support teachers throughout the state to come to Dayton and stay for two weeks in a hotel get a food stipend and encourage them to be part of this Slattery says That the programs costs are covered was a draw for Wagner I dont know of a program that makes it so easy to take a worthwhile course he says When I took the course I lived in the Columbus area I drove back sometimes and other nights I stayed That in itself was a neat experience They really took good care of the teachers It was probably one of the more relaxing and enjoyable professional opportunities Ive had Wagner adds Sharing the knowledge Once teachers depart the classroom setting at Wright State the program moves into its second and third phases which occur online and in each teachers classroom Teachers continue to communicate with each other online through Blackboard a website that gives Project Stone participants the ability to network Once a week the entire group of teachers would meet online and have discussions Wagner says We would post responses to discussions It was an online communication tool to talk about how you are using this in your classroom what An Ohio university and the state association are empowering teachers with industry knowledge through a unique program 86 PIT QUARRY March 2013 www pitandquarry com