CHED 247 |
| The importance of outreaching high- and middle-school students is well recognized among pre-college teachers. Outreaching is typically focused on the implementation of a science based activity. One of the major problems associated with impacting these students with science is the lack of adequate instrumentation in our local high- and middle schools. We have worked with local high schools to introduce a cybernetic laboratory that takes advantage of PC to PC internet communications to facilitate the access of pre-college students to instrumentation typically used in nanotechnology research. With this tool, high school students and teachers are able to perform measurements of different nanoscaled properties using internet connected computers. Undergraduate students in other departments also take advantage of PC to PC communications to access nanotechnology related instrumentation. In this presentation, we will discuss the participation of non chemistry and high school students in a nanotechnology research activity that relies on PC to PC access. Students measure properties of silver nanowires using PC to PC access of an environmental scanning electron microscope (SEM) as well as traditional microscopes. The students are in full command of the electron and optical microscope. Students become acquainted with the following science concepts: scales of a measurement, properties, nanotechnology, electrons and other elementary particles and matter, among others. The success of this exercise is evidenced by improvement in the grades of students involved and the retention of students in after class programs and for undergrduates, the increase in the number of undergraduates that participate in nanotechnology related research. |
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Nanotechnology in Undergraduate Education
8:30 AM-11:55 AM, Monday, March 26, 2007 McCormick Place North -- Room N227B, Level 2, Oral
Division of Chemical Education |