Funded by the National Science Foundation National Science Foundation

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology for Middle and High School Teachers

Our first workshop on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology for 6-12 educators took place from June 13 to 15, 2006 at the University of North Dakota Campus.

Information about the 2006 workshop:

Workshop Schedule

Tuesday June 13th

  • 8:30 a.m.
  • 8:50 a.m.
 Registration
  • 9:00 a.m.
  • 10:00 a.m.
 Welcome and Introductions
Workshop Outline:
What do we know at this point?
An assessment is available. Written by Marasinghe and Moreno.
A pre-survey written by Olson is also available.
  • 10:00 a.m.
  • 10:15 a.m.
 Break
  • 10:15 a.m.
  • 11:00 a.m.
 Scale of things:
"Scale of Things"
Powers of Ten: a film by Chales and Ray Eames.
History of Nanoscience/Nanotechnology
  • 11:10 a.m.
  • 12:00 p.m.
 Exploring the Nanoworld Kits
  • 12:00 p.m.
  • 1:00 p.m.
 Lunch Break
  • 1:00 p.m.
  • 1:50 p.m.
 Structure of Matter: Atoms, Crystals, Glasses, Ceramics, Nanostructures - Nanotubes.
  • 2:00 p.m.
  • 2:30 p.m.
 Activity - Make "Nanotubes"
  • 2:30 p.m.
  • 3:20 p.m.
 Action at a distance, fields and waves.
  • 3:20 p.m.
  • 4:00 p.m.
 When things get small (Video by University of San Diego).
  • 4:00 p.m.
  • 5:30 p.m.
 Dr. Julia Zhao, Chemistry Department - Using Nanoparticles for Tagging Cancer Cells and More...

Wednesday June 14th

  • 8:30 a.m.
  • 9:20 a.m.
 Applications of Nanoscience.
National Geographic videos on nanoscience: "Nano's Big Future".
  • 9:30 a.m.
  • 11:10 a.m.
 Identity Crisis of Particles: Particle in a Box, Tunneling.
  • 11:20 a.m.
  • 12:00 p.m.
 Scanning Tunneling Microscope.
  • 12:00 p.m.
  • 1:00 p.m.
 Lunch Break
  • 1:00 p.m.
  • 1:50 p.m.
 Scanning Microscope Demo (John Wagner & Kanishka Marasinghe).
  • 2:00 p.m.
  • 3:50 p.m.
 Web Resources for nanoscience and nanotechnology education.
  • 4:00 p.m.
  • 5:00 p.m.
 Dr. Kristen Buchanan (Argonne National Laboratory)
  • 5:30 p.m.
  • 7:30 p.m.
 Dinner with Dr. Buchanan.
  • 8:00 p.m.
  • 9:00 p.m.
 Public Lecture by Dr. Buchanan

Thursday June 15th

  • 8:30 a.m.
  • 9:00 a.m.
 Review and Remarks
  • 9:00 a.m.
  • 9:30 a.m.
 Dr. Buchanan answers questions.
  • 9:30 a.m.
  • 10:00 a.m.
 Nano Structures - Quantum Dots
  • 10:00 a.m.
  • 10:50 a.m.
 Seeing things nano.
  • 11:00 a.m.
  • 12:00 p.m.
 Scanning Electron Microscope Demo (J. Fischer).
  • 12:00 p.m.
  • 1:00 p.m.
 Lunch Break
  • 1:00 p.m.
  • 1:50 p.m.
 Case studies to teach ethical/environmental aspects of Nanoscience & Nanotechnology: National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science.
  • 2:00 p.m.
  • 3:50 p.m.
 Assessment by Marasinghe and Moreno.
Post-survey by Olson.
Discussing a rubric for the lesson plans. We use "Rubistar" a free tool to help teachers create quality rubrics. We created this rubric.
Connections to 6 - 12 Science Curriculum (group discussion).
  • 4:00 p.m.
  • 5:30 p.m.
 Closing Remarks.