Innovative Learning Spaces for Experiential Learning: Underground Mines

Underground Mining is characterized by a high grade of complexity and singularity due to specific deposit conditions and complex interactions with the environment. To gain a deep understanding of underground processes and its influencing factors traditional abstract teaching approaches do not cover theses complexities in sufficient detail while at the same time students are lacking of underground experiences and knowledge. To connect the students as early as possible with potential future working environments it is necessary to explain the methods and processes in hands-on-teaching situations in authentic spaces. Facing these difficulties the objective is to design, select and integrate authentic learning spaces into underground mining engineering courses and to encourage experiential learning. For a successful implementation the learning spaces need to be aligned to the chosen concept and the defined learning objectives. Therefore, different authentic learning spaces for fostering experiential learning were consequently developed and implemented successfully into existing courses of B.Sc. as well as M.Sc.- Program at the Institute of Mining at Clausthal University of Technology. Places for these teaching-and-learning activities are for example a research and teaching mine, which was established at the former ore mine and nowadays World Heritage Site Rammelsberg. Furthermore cooperation with mining companies, manufacturers and other operators of underground facilities were assembled to design learning spaces which fit to the course, situation and lecturer philosophy. In addition the spatial situation at the Institute was revised and working spaces are set up as a flexible learning environment. The paper shows the realization of the CDIO Standard 6 in framework of Underground Mining Education by presenting examples of our innovative authentic learning spaces and their implementation into the courses. Furthermore it gives an overview of current activities in designing and implementing two flexible rooms as student working places for different working stages.

Proceedings of the 13th International CDIO Conference in Calgary, Canada, June 18-22 2017