Mobile Phones as Gold Deposit–Students Explore Sustainability in a Hands-on Project

Abstract

Resources, resource efficiency and sustainability are one of the most important socio-political issues of today. We here present a best practice example for project-based learning aiming to change student’s understanding and attitude towards sustainability at school level. In this project forty-two Year 9 students explored by themselves the link between resources, sustainability and the consequences for their own living environment. After an introductory school seminar the students washed gold in a stream using gold washing pans. Afterwards, the students developed a hands-on model how gold deposits form and carried out experiments concerning the physical and chemical properties of gold. At the University the students then analysed the chemical composition of rocks containing gold. The learning outcomes were measured by a self-designed questionnaire. The results of the questionnaire before and after the project show that the students understood that mobile phones are “a valuable gold deposit” and appreciated the value of the precious metal gold as a high-tech raw material. Before the project only 24% of the students thought they had a good or very good understanding of the interrelationship between resources and sustainability, but after the project the percentage has been risen to 96%. In addition, the students realized the value of recycling as an important aspect of sustainability. Only 5% of the students stated that they would recycle their mobile phones before the project, after the project the percentage has increased to 67%. The students took action in their school demonstrating a change in attitudes towards sustainability.