Integration of knowledge in engineering/science via nanotechnology programs

Abstract

A new Bachelor of Science Nanotechnology track within the School of Engineering and Technology at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) is being developed under NSF NUE program. This paper covers the educational elements from the first phase of the project. A sequence of two courses was offered in the fall and spring semesters within both the School of Engineering & Technology and the School of Sciences. Students from electrical engineering, computer engineering, mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering, physics, and chemistry disciplines, were enrolled in these courses. A total of five faculty members from both engineering and sciences collaborated in developing and teaching these two courses. Integrated Nanosystems Development Institute (INDI), a nanotechnology umbrella institute at IUPUI, played a leading role in bringing together the two schools, five departments, and a number of faculties to collaborate and develop these courses, including examples of multidisciplinary projects and term papers prepared by the students will be presented. The syllabus and the contents of the courses were developed by combining the research and teaching experience of the faculty members at the IUPUI campus. The paper also details the teaching and learning methodologies implemented in the class and outside of the class which integrates the traditional means of learning from textbooks with new tools and technologies including scientific journal articles, web-based communication and file sharing, multimedia, and simulation and modeling software (e.g. Coventor). The paper also presents the organization of the courses, including usage of laboratories for hands-on experience and software for learning through simulation and modeling. Students' feedback, reflecting the impact of the two courses on their career prospective will also be reported. © 2011 American Society for Engineering Education.