Copyright © 2005 SRI International

The NanoSense ProjectProject overview

Patti Schank, Tina Stanford, Anders Rosenquist, Alyssa WiseSRI International

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Team

Patti Schank(PI)

Vera Michalchik(internal eval)

Anders Rosenquist(learning scientist)

Tina Stanford(Co-PI, chem)

Nora Sabelli(advisor, workshop)

Alyssa Wise(intern)

Ellen Mandinach(external eval)

Maureen Scharberg(chem, SJSU)

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Goals

• Work with scientists and educators to create and disseminate high school units that– Promote learning of basic science concepts

that account for nanoscale phenomena– Help students visualize underlying principles

that govern the behavior of particles on the nanoscale

– Situated in single discipline (chemistry), but making explicit ties to other disciplines

– Map to core concepts and standards

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Year 1 Activities

• Materials development• Teacher meetings (every 6-8 weeks)

– feedback on materials, plan pilot use of materials• Evaluation: planning, 2 initial implementations• Workshop on science and technology education at

the nanoscale (March 28-30), and report• External site visit (Larry Woolf, General Atomics)• Synergistic activities

– Related proposals/subgrants• Dissemination and outreach

– Papers, presentations, web site nanosense.org; materials on web site

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6Workshop on Science and Technology Education at the

Nanoscale• March 28-30, 2005 sponsored by

– SRI International– NASA Ames Research Center– Foothill-De Anza Comm. College– NanoSIG

• ~50 participants– Ed researchers– Science educators (K-16)– Nanoscientists– Science museum specialists– Workforce development staff

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Workshop Goals and Format

• Goals: identify/discuss– Core nanoscale concepts– Role of hands-on and simulation-based experiences – How to prepare teachers– Industry needs, career paths, and pathways– Needs, directions for nano ed research

• Format– Pre-workshop survey– Presentations by sponsors– Small group working sessions– Report out, with feedback from industry visitors– Evaluation

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Workshop: Core Concepts

• 8 core nanoscience concepts identified– Scale– Energy – Quantum principles and

probability– Relation between structure and

properties – Surface phenomena– Unique properties – Self-assembly – Control of fabrication

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Workshop: Hands-on Activities and Resources

• Authentic, transparent tasks– Layer of bubbles– Koolaid dilution– Lego AFM– Pouring tea exhibit

• Use of stories and narratives– Mystery of the Sick Puppy (problem-based learning)– Goal-based scenarios, books, movie scripts

• Using simulations and online modeling– Virtual AFM– Molecular Workbench

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Multi-scale Modeling

• Characteristic scales and limits of simulations– Could use to show students how properties

change when scale changes

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Workshop: Career Paths

• Careers and education pathways– Document the education needs based on

expected employment needs in Silicon Valley– Understand work: Where, what are the

nanoskills?– Surveys: How did people get to where they

are? – Certificates vs. programs: What level of

knowledge and skills are best for each?

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Atlas of Nanotechnology (FHDA)

• Map concepts, work skills to curriculum, training

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Material Development

• Develop, test, refine materials (2004-2007)– Define learning goals and core concepts– Gather, validate, organize content– Design and generate assessments, activities– Classroom test and refine materials

• Disseminate widely (2007-2008) – Teacher workshops at San Jose State

University, conferences– Online http://nanosense.org

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Curricular Units

• Introduction to Nanoscience (tested, available)– 1-2 weeks, 1 day; Size and scale, unique

properties, tools of the nanosciences, applications• Clear sunscreen (in development/testing)

– 1 week, 1 day; How light interacts with matter• Nanofiltration (in development/testing)

– 1 day; How size, charge, and shape become important factors in filtration

• Planned for development in 2006-2007– Quantum dots, carbon nanotubes, clean energy

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Introductory to NanoScience

• Enduring Understandings• The study of unique phenomena at the nanoscale could

vastly change our understanding of matter and lead to new questions and answers in many areas, including health care, the environment, and technology.

• There are enormous scale differences in our universe, and at different scales, different forces dominate and different models better explain phenomena.

• Nanosized particles of any given substance may exhibit different properties than larger particles of the same substance.

• New tools for observing and manipulating matter increase our abilities to investigate and innovate.

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“Traditional” ZnO sunscreen is white

Zinc oxide nanoparticles

Nanoscale ZnO sunscreen is clear

Sources: http://www.apt powders.com/images/zno/im_zinc_oxide_particles.jpg http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s1165709.htm http://www.4girls.gov/body/sunscreen.jpg

Clear Sunscreen

• Large ZnO particles – Block UV light– Scatter visible light – Appear white

• Nanosized ZnO particles– Block UV light– So small compared to the

wavelength of visible light that they don’t scatter it

– Appear clear

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Challenge 1: Defining Curriculum

• Defining the curriculum for a new and evolving area of scientific study – Accessible topics and applications to illustrate them– Finding reliable, verifiable information– Different fields use different terminology– How to organize materials? Themes? Topics?

• Prioritize units based on– Readily available expertise– Gaps in current instruction– Engaging applications– Innovative opportunities

• Example: Clear Sunscreen

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Challenge 2: Situating the Science

• Situating an inherently interdisciplinary science within a classroom that focuses on 1 discipline– Teachers want to use the materials in many

different classes– Different terminologies, focus on different

phenomena• How to help teachers figure out where the

curricula fits with what they currently teach?– Connect to standards, core science concepts– Provide single and multi-day versions of

materials, incorporate/map to popular curriculum

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Challenge 3: Prof. Development

• Novelty, newness -> new pedagogical demands– Draws on concepts from fields outside of teachers’

primary area of expertise– Teachers can’t know all the answers– Traditional concepts not always applicable – Questions beyond knowledge of scientific

communit• Provide more and deeper background content • Help teachers model the science in making

– Recast teaching challenges as opportunities to model the scientific process

– Provided concrete strategies for how to do so

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Research Questions

• Will students’ understanding of nanoscience concepts improve over time? For example,– effects of size and the forces– significance of high surface-to-volume ratios

• Will their understandings of the process of science and the interplay between science and technology improve?

• Will their interest in science increase? • Will they appreciate how technologies can alter

their lives and society? • How do teachers use these tools and activities to

support student discourse and understanding?