Faculty Support

This semester I have the opportunity to work full-time as a co-op, while attending school full-time. I will be working at Medtronic until the end of December. I spend one day a week on the IRE Campus and four days a week at the Medtronic Facility.

If I make it through the semester, I think it will prove to be one of my greatest accomplishments to date. I am very fortunate that I have this opportunity and I know that I owe it to the faculty and staff that have been so wonderful in their support and their efforts to work with me. This semester shows everyone (friends, family, employers, and industry) that IRE really does as it promises, and gives each and every student the support and opportunities that he or she wants or needs.  If there is one thing I would like to convey to the readers of this blog is it that EVERY student here is given as many opportunities as possible to succeed .  It really is “The Best Way to Learn.” 

Kali O'Brien 

Proofread by Kylie Harer 

On Friday, October 25^th Iron Range Engineering welcomed students from Minnesota State University Mankato to their campus.  The students were on the Iron Range for a MAX Scholars program.  The group toured Hibbing Taconite, and then spent time at the Minnesota Discovery Center.  The group then gathered at IRE where they had lunch while speaking with many students about the program and how their learning differs.  This was a great opportunity for both groups to learn about different forms of education than they are normally used to.

Proofread by: Mike Carlson

Soudan Underground Mine

On Saturday, September 28^th sixteen IRE students and two instructors visited Soudan Underground Mine State Park.  Opened in 1882, it was Minnesota’s first iron ore mine.  By 1892, after several accidents, operations went underground.

Students and faculty arrived early enough to explore the surface buildings and exhibitions before heading underground.  This included the drill shop, crusher house, engine house, mining equipment, and the former open pit.

After exploring the facilities above ground, a brief video was shown to the tour group chronicling the history of the mine’s operations, employees, and regional impact. 

After the video each visitor received a hard hat and headed out to the head frame.  Once ten or so people were crowded into each cage, the descent began.  Although the cages only moved at about 10 miles per hour, it felt much faster. 

Once underground, and after a ¾ of a mile train ride to the last worksite, we had reached our destination half a mile beneath the surface of the earth.  In these large chambers blasted and hewn of solid stone, we were shown the veins of valuable ore, semi-precious metals, and the equipment that miners had used.


This was a unique opportunity to gain insight into what conditions were like in the mine, what kind of impact the Soudan Mine had on the local economy, and to further appreciate the rich mining heritage of the region.

Reviewed by: Kody Kamunen

Giants Ridge

Friday, the 27^th of September, IRE students visited Giants Ridge.  Students had the opportunity to play full 18 holes of golf, go kayaking, hiking and disc golf.   Despite a little rain, the weather was perfect!  Giants Ridge offered a beautiful course with an even better view.   The staff was friendly and the food was delicious. I had a wonderful time. This was my first event as an IRE student, and I am very excited for future events and would like to extend a thank you to everyone who made this possible.

This student life event was sponsored by SME

-        Todd Hanson

Reviewed by James Wilson

Dr. Froyd Workshop at IRE

On Thursday September 26th, Dr. Froyd from Texas A&M came to give the Iron Range Engineering students a workshop on learning about learning. Throughout the workshop, Dr. Froyd focused on keeping learning outcomes, assessments and evaluation, and practice aligned. Alignment is the understanding of the outcomes so that practice and assessment match them. The workshop helped me realize why some learning may not be as efficient as it could be. Dr. Froyd also pointed out that the ABET outcomes should not be separate from our learning, but should direct our learning. Because of this workshop, learning at Iron Range Engineering has become a little bit better. I would like thank Dr. Froyd for continuing to improve IRE and making learning here the best way to learn.  

Reviewed by Andy Lillesve and Todd Hanson