Press Release:  2005

Nano Day at Northwestern University
December 11, 2005, by Emma Tevaarwerk

Eleven students from Glenbrook North and Evanston Township High Schools trekked through the snow to Northwestern on Sunday, December 11, for a series of activities designed to spark their interest in nanoscience and technology. First, students toured the labs of Professor John Ketterson, Professor Venkat Chandrasekhar, and Professor William Halperin. Students learned the smallness of a nanometer, how to trap small particles using laser tweezers, how transistors are made, and how to get things really really cold. Graduate students lead the sessions, which lasted about twenty minutes each. The high school students later expressed how much they enjoyed the personal interactions with these graduate students. The activities switched gears to engage the students in hands-on, inquiry and design based laboratory activities in which the students built LEGO atomic force microscopes, built model "samples" from materials provided (see pictures), and acquired data which was then imaged using a 3D surface plotting function in Excel. High school teacher Nate Unterman, NCLT post doc Emma Tevaarwerk, and Physics Professor Arthur Schmidt help to facilitate the activities. Students were purposely given little instruction as to how to build the LEGO microscopes; this forced the students to come up with their own solutions to the problems and challenges they encountered. Each group constructed a unique AFM and sample design. They also decided on their own sample imaging conditions and plotting criteria. Once acquired, the data was graphed in Excel and analyzed by the students. These activities were developed by Glenbrook North High School teachers Nathan Unterman and Marcel Gridnic as part of the National Center for Learning and Teaching professional development this past summer at Northwestern University. Students were then taken to EPIC center to see a real atomic force microscope in action, where Emma Tevaarwerk helped them to image iron boride nanowires grown by a graduate student in Professor R.P.H. Chang's lab group. Students expressed that it was cool to see the real AFM, but building the LEGO models was most helpful in understanding how an AFM works.

Graduate student Johannes Pollanen shows how liquid nitrogen can be solidified by pumping on it.

LEGO atomic force microscope, "atomic" sample and Exxcel surface plot of the data acquired by students.

Another atomic force microscope and "nanostructured" sample built by high school students.

At the end of the activities, students were invited back for ongoing work in Northwestern labs, as part of an effort to engage them in nanoscience and technology activities on a regular basis.

If you are interested in attending the next NanoDay at Northwestern, please contact administrator or call at (847) 467-0994.

First NCLT Faculty Workshop on Teaching Nanoscale Science & Engineering Concepts
August 30, 2005, NCLT

"Thank you for hosting what I found to be a very informative and useful faculty workshop. …In my mind, there is potentially a fruitful body of education research that may be developed in terms of nanoscale science misconceptions, and instructional strategies designed specifically to address those misconceptions. I also have a keen interest in exploring social and ethical issues that will/may arise from ongoing research in the field." - Dr. Aldrin E. Sweeney, University of Central Florida On August 15-16, 2005, NCLT hosted its first Faculty Workshop on Teaching Nanoscale Science and Engineering Concepts at Northwestern University. Faculty participants came from Morehouse College, the University of Central Florida, the University of Texas-El Paso, California Poly State University, Carleton College, Lansing Community College, Fisk University and Northwestern University. Various academic disciplines were represented, including chemistry, physics, materials science and engineering, biochemistry, computer science and general science. An NCLT team, including Profs. Bob Chang, Tom Mason, Mark Hersam, Greg Light, Denise Drane, and Research Assoc., Melinda Vogt organized this workshop to help advance NSE education at the undergraduate and graduate level. Some workshop highlights include introductory lectures by Mark Hersam, “What Are Nanomaterials and How Do We Make Them?” and “How Differently Do Nanomaterials Behave”, and “What Can We Do With Them?” Four small-group workshops on the following topics:

• What are the primary challenges in teaching nano-concepts to undergraduates?
• What do our students need to learn about nanoscience/nanotechnology?
• How are nanoconcepts best taught in the classroom?
• How is student learning of nanoconcepts best assessed?

Following the first day of the workshop, participants were given an assignment to prepare an action plan for their specific undergraduate course or program, including learning outcomes, syllabus modifications, where the nano-content would be inserted, changes to pedagogy to teach the nano-concepts, and plans for assessment of learning outcomes. The final sessions of the workshop involved the participants reporting to the whole group on their action plans.
One surprising outcome from the group-wide reporting session was the wide range of projects being contemplated. These ranged from inserting nano-modules into entry level science courses, inserting nano-modules into upper level science courses, “sprinkling” nano-concepts throughout upper level science courses, developing stand-alone nanomaterials electives, and developing an associate degree program in nanotechnology.
Throughout the workshop, short presentations were made of the overall NCLT program including grade 7-12 content development, simulation/visualization tools, and cyber infrastructure. Participants were encouraged to place future course materials (syllabi, learning outcomes, course content, pedagogy, assessment, etc.) on the NCLT web-site repository.

Throughout the workshop, vigorous participation was maintained through large-group and small-group dynamics. Pre-workshop and post-workshop assessments were collected from the participants and are currently under study by NCLT researchers. The group was uniform in its enthusiasm for future faculty workshops to be sponsored by NCLT.

NCLT 2005 Professional Development (PD) Summer Workshops
August 26, 2005, by Melinda Vogt, NCLT

The NCLT 2005 Professional Development (PD) Summer workshops were attended by 25 participants at 3 locations (Northwestern University, Purdue University and University of Illinois at Champaign Urbana).

The teachers reported the workshops to be very valuable and useful in their classrooms:

"I was given new knowledge of very current technologies that will be useful in interesting students in the study of science. I was provided with resources which deliver science curriculum using diverse methods and medium."

"It was very interesting to discuss how simulation could be used to educate students of all activities, ADHD, LD, EMA, etc."

"I really enjoyed the workshop. It had a great balance of activities (i.e., lectures, tours, labs)."

"I could see no way to improve this workshop except maybe lengthen it."

"Thanks again for all the work you did in putting the program together. It is without a doubt the most intellectually/professionally stimulating program I have ever attended."

Special Thank you to our Teachers: The NCLT PD team would like to thank all our teachers who participanted in the summer PD Workshops. We appreciate your willingness and enthusiasm for learning and teaching Nanoscale Science and look forward to working with each of you throughout the school year. Please return to this web site for more information on our 2006 Professional Development Workshops.

NCLT Director Named NSF Director's Distinguished Teaching Scholars (DTS) Recipient
Jun 21, 2005, National Science Foundation Press Release

» View the Press Release on the NSF website

NCLT Presentation at the European Commission, April 2005, Brussels
April, 2005

Our Director, R.P.H. Chang, attended a workshop in Brussels entitled, "Research Training in Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies: Current Status and Future Needs", organized by the European Commission. Prof. Chang gave a plenary talk on "Training Initiatives within the USA NNI Programme" and presented the NCLT model during a working group session entitled "Nanotechnology Training for and through Research: Are we Keeping up the Pace?" Both presentations were well received. Participants were particularly interested in 1) how to integrate nano concepts into science curricula at various levels, and 2) how to pique and maintain students interest in science and technology.

Seated at the front table are the following officials from the European Commission: Dr. Bruno Schmitz, Head of Unit, Research and Training Networks, DG Research, European Commission; Dr. Ezio Andreta, Director for Industrial Technologies, DG Research, European Commission; Dr. Renzo Tomellini, Head of Unit "Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies," DG Research, European Commission.

Officials from the European Commission: Dr. Bruno Schmitz amd Dr. Raymond Mon.

Students Test Nanomodule at Evanston Township High School
May 30, 2005, by Melinda Vogt, NCLT

In developing science content, the rubber meets the road when our modules get into the hands of students. The National Center for Learning & Teaching in Nanoscale Science (NCLT) has a rigorous test-marketing strategy with its content development for grades 7-16.

Through several phases of field-tests, our development team strives to ensure the validity and success of the content in the classroom.

Twenty juniors and seniors at Evanston Township High School (ETHS) embarked on a trial-run of our NCLT Introduction to Nanoscience module led by their experienced teacher Renee DeWald. These students engaged in the first activity, with polymers and sugar samples. Through this activity, DeWald's students experienced the different behaviors of macroscale objects as they get smaller in different ways.

Throughout the coming week, DeWald will lead her students through three more activities in this module. By the end of the week, this module will culminate in a design project where students apply the nanoscience concepts learned into a real-world nano-application.

Thus far, DeWald's students have provided our NCLT content developers positive feedback and critique. DeWald and her students are helping to improve the module for the next stage of field-testing. This fall, our revised module will go through the next phase of field-testing in 20 classrooms around the country.

Dr. Emma Tevaarwerk and NCLT Lead Teacher, Renee DeWald instruct students about our new nanoscale science module.	Renee DeWald, Lead Teacher for NCLT, demonstrates an experiment from our nanoscale science module using a macroscale object, steel wool.