Secondary students' interests in nanoscience concepts and phenomena

CHED 1666

Kelly M. Hutchinson, khutchin@purdue.edu1, Shawn Y. Stevens, sstevens@umich.edu2, Namsoo Shin, namsoo@umich.edu2, Cesar Delgado, delgadoz@umich.edu2, Molly Yunker, yunker@umich.edu2, George M. Bodner, gmbodner@purdue.edu1, Nicholas Giordano3, and Joseph S. Krajcik, krajcik@umich.edu2. (1) Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, (2) School of Education, University of Michigan, 610 E. University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, (3) Department of Physics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
The National Center for Learning and Teaching in Nanoscale Science and Engineering (NCLT) is studying how to introduce real-world examples of nanoscale concepts into the secondary (7-12) school science curricula to support student learning of nanoscale science. As previous research has shown that student achievement in science increases when students are taught using relevant, real-world examples that are of interest to them, the NCLT is investigating nanoscience concepts that influence secondary students' interests. This presentation will discuss quantitative and qualitative data of 7-12 grade science students' interest in various nanoscience concepts and phenomena. Preliminary results indicate that overall middle school students are more interested in nanoscience concepts and phenomena than high school students, but that there are certain aspects of nanoscience that are of great interest to high school students. Analysis of interview data has indicated six components that students report as influential to their interests: the potential for hands-on work, the use of chemicals, the relationship of the topic to everyday life, prior knowledge, prior experience, and students' personal interests.