Designing laboratory activities for an evolutionary approach to undergraduate nanoscience education

CHED 113

Kevin L. Caran, carankl@jmu.edu, Barbara A. Reisner, reisneba@jmu.edu, Brian H. Augustine, augustbh@jmu.edu, Stephanie L. Torcivia, torcivsl@jmu.edu, Patrick L. Turner, turnerpl@jmu.edu, and Steve H. Winward Jr., winwarsh@jmu.edu. Department of Chemistry, James Madison University, MSC 4501, Harrisonburg, VA 22807
We are developing a number of laboratory experiments as part of a coordinated effort to introduce nanoscience and nanotechnology to undergraduate students at James Madison University. The development of experiments is a collaboration between faculty and undergraduate research associates. Laboratories are being designed to be inserted into both the core chemistry curriculum (general, inorganic, organic, analytical, biochemistry, physical chemistry) and a new upper-division lecture/laboratory course called “The Science of the Small: An Introduction to the Nanoworld.” We will provide pre-implementation information about the laboratory content and the philosophy of these activities. A pre-implementation assessment indicates that our students have a deficiency in their understanding of matter on the nanoscale. We will discuss how course activities are designed to enhance student comprehension of nanoscience.
 

General Posters
7:30 PM-9:30 PM, Sunday, 10 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Hall D, Poster

Sci-Mix
8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Monday, 11 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Hall D, Sci-Mix

Division of Chemical Education

The 232nd ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, September 10-14, 2006