Lignite Energy Education Seminar: Energy, Economics, and Environment

On June 10 – 13, 2024 the Lignite Energy Council will conduct an education seminar for approximately 75 elementary and secondary teachers from Minnesota, Montana, South Dakota and North Dakota. The seminar is an activity-filled four-day event that allows participants to receive two graduate professional development credits at no cost. Participants can receive credit from the University of North Dakota (Teaching & Learning), North Dakota State University (Education), or Minot State University (Science). Educators who have taken the course in the past are eligible to apply and attend again (some restrictions apply). The seminar will be held at Bismarck State College, Bismarck, ND.

Teachers will leave the seminar with the information and educational materials they need to teach their students about how lignite is mined and used to produce electricity for homes, farms and businesses in the Upper Midwest. In addition, the seminar covers lignite’s economic impact on the region as well as important environmental issues affecting the lignite industry.

Since 1986, more than 3,400 teachers have attended the Lignite Energy Council’s teacher education seminar.

Since space is limited at this popular event, a $60 deposit is collected at the time of application. Deposits are refunded upon attendance at the Seminar. Registrations canceled prior to May 1 will also receive a deposit refund.

The teacher education seminar is sponsored by the Lignite Energy Council, in cooperation with Bismarck State College, The Center for Economic Education at the University of North Dakota, North Dakota State University and Minot State University.

During the seminar, teachers hear presentations by educators, researchers and lignite industry representatives. One day is devoted to touring mining operations, reclamation sites and coal conversion facilities. Question and answer sessions in the classroom and on the tour give teachers the opportunity to find out what they need to know for their individual classroom needs.

Two graduate professional development credits are available through the Center for Economic Education at the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND or Minot State University, Minot, ND. To receive the credits, teachers must attend all portions of the seminar and prepare lesson plans demonstrating how they will use the seminar information and materials in their classrooms. Grading as S/U or letter grades will be determined by institution policy.

Teachers attending the seminar will receive lecture outlines on each presentation, examples of lesson plans, classroom exercises, coal and ash samples, audiovisual materials, and information on the facilities they tour. In addition, they also receive resource guides listing publications and audiovisual materials available for energy education.

Free lodging is provided in a Bismarck State College residence hall (two people per room). Housing is limited, so register early to ensure your bed.

Meals will be provided. Also, transportation will be provided by the Lignite Energy Council for the tour of a mine and power plant. (Transportation is not provided to optional evening activities, including the Bismarck Larks baseball game.)

Teachers attending from outside of North Dakota are eligible for a travel stipend.