Development of a nanoscience conceptual inventory

CHED 864

Ramez A Elgammal, elgammal@umich.edu and Joseph S. Krajcik, krajcik@umich.edu. School of Education, University of Michigan, 610 E. University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Conceptual inventories have had marked success in both identifying student misconceptions and measurably improving introductory courses and pedagogy at many institutions. We have developed a Nanoscience Conceptual Inventory (NCI) to meet the need of understanding student misconceptions and alternative conceptions in nanoscience. The NCI is a multi-tiered and ordered device and was built using conceptual mapping that contains conceptual trajectories centered on the following core areas: size and scale, the particulate nature of matter, the unique properties at the nanoscale, modeling and tools, and self-assembly. Our hope is that the results from the NCI will aid in construction of new curricula to help students develop deep understanding of concepts and the scientific acumen necessary to become literate in nanoscience and nanotechnology.
 

Nanotechnology in Undergraduate Education
1:30 PM-5:00 PM, Monday, March 26, 2007 McCormick Place North -- Room N227B, Level 2, Oral

Division of Chemical Education

The 233rd ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 25-29, 2007