Workshops:  2008

Third Annual Faculty Workshop - "BEST PRACTICES" IN NANO-EDUCATION
March 26-29, 2008, Alabama A&M University

The 3rd annual NCLT faculty workshop on Nanoscale Science & Engineering Education (NSEE) was hosted by Alabama A&M university in Huntsville, al from march 26th through 29th. This workshop was devoted to promoting "best practices" in NSEE, developing future faculty, and enhancing diversity in NSEE.

The workshop provided an opportunity for 52 faculty/future faculty from 37 schools to hear from invited speakers about "best practices" in NSEE and interact in small breakout groups to develop instructional approaches for NSEE. Construct-centered design (CCD) was the model practiced during the four workshop sessions. Each of the groups discussed "big ideas" in nano-science and nano-technology, developed a CCD example of course content for use in the classroom, and created a presentation that explained their CCD process. The workshop provided an excellent networking opportunity for the attendees and introduced them to the NCLT NanoEd resource portal.

Brochure     Agenda   Gallery

Readings

Readings were assigned beforehand to help participants prepare for the workshop.

Intro to Construct-Centered Design Assessment

Biggs’ structure of the observed learning outcome (SOLO) taxonomy

A Rubric for Post-Secondary Degree Programs in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

Talks

Welcome and Introduction
      Prof. Thomas O. Mason, Director, Higher Education/Degree Programs, NCLT

An Example of Construct-Centered Design
      Prof. Thomas O. Mason, Director, Higher Education/Degree Programs, NCLT

Workshop 1, 2, 3 Talks
      Dr. Greg Light, Dr. Denise Drane, and Dr. Eun Jung Park, NCLT

Wrapping Light Around a Hair
      Prof. Eric Mazur, Balkanski Professor of Physics and Applied Physics, Harvard University

Understanding or Memorization: Are we teaching the right thing?
      Prof. Eric Mazur, Balkanski Professor of Physics and Applied Physics, Harvard University

Best Practices Case Studies in Facilitating Learning in NanoscaleScience
      Ana Rita Mayol, Ph.D., Education and Human Resource Development Director
      Institute of Functionalized Nanomaterials(IFN), University of Puerto Rico

Significant Programs of Study in Nanoscale Sciences
      Prof. Matthew E. Edwards, Ph.D., Dean, School of Arts and Sciences, Prof. of Physics, Alabama A&M University

Workshop #4 Best Practices/Teaching & Learning Methodology
      Prof. George M. Bodner, Arthur E. Kelly Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Education and Engineering
      Purdue University

Final Presentations

Group 1: Size and Scale for 1st Year Students (Build NanoIntuition)

Group 2: Size Dependent Properties for Freshman Undergraduates (Tunneling)

Group 3: Nanoscale Science (Tunneling and Quantum Confinement)

Group 4: Self-Assembly for Undergraduate

Group 5: Size Dependent Properties

Group 6: Dominant Force/Interactions in Force/Interactions in Nano World