Nanotechnology as a topic for teaching freshman writing

CHED 427

Anderson L. Marsh, marsh@lvc.edu, Department of Chemistry, Lebanon Valley College, 101 N. College Ave., Annville, PA 17003
First year seminar courses have become popular on college campuses, and generally provide freshman with a detailed look at a specific topic. At Lebanon Valley College these courses also serve as an alternative to freshman English. This talk will be centered on one of those courses that specifically targeted science majors: nanotechnology. The overall structure of the course will be discussed, as well as the informal and formal writing assignments that were completed. During the semester students learned to read and think critically about nanotechnology using various texts. Class discussion over the semester focused on a variety of issues surrounding nanotechnology, ranging from the science and technology behind specific discoveries to ethical questions surrounding the application of these discoveries. The course allowed the students to explore certain aspects about scientific research that are not usually covered in freshman chemistry lecture or laboratory courses.