The development of an outreach activity introducing middle and high school students to nanotechnology and carbon nanotubes

Abstract

The Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship in Magnetic and Nanostructured Materials (IGERT-MNM) supports the development of an interdisciplinary graduate training program centered on the design and study of these novel materials. The program is a collaborative effort between University Norfolk State University, Purdue University, and Cornell University. Interdisciplinary technical training occurs in four areas: (1) Physics and Nanotechnology of Metamaterials, (2) Magnetic Multilayer Nanostructures, (3) Nanoscale Magnetic Systems, and (4) Engineering Education Research. Graduate Trainees at participating institutions will participate in research under one of these four areas. A primary goal within the engineering education research component is to identify ways to transfer graduate program elements and the technical theory behind nanoscience and nanotechnology to multiple educational stakeholders (e.g., K-12 students, undergraduate students, graduate students, and industry professionals) via curricula, workshops etc. This paper will describe the development of an outreach activity for middle and high school students by Graduate Trainees, including initial approaches and revisions based on anecdotal observations made from previously conducted workshops. Reflections from the Trainees will also be included in an effort to understand how doctoral students with technical backgrounds develop pedagogically-sound materials that translate their research to new educational audiences. The primary goal of the developed workshop is to create an awareness of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) amongst participants and how their use in future applications within the field of nanotechnology can benefit our society. The workshop provides a guided discussion via PowerPoint presentation and hands-on activities about what is meant by nanotechnology, the relevance of nanotechnology and CNTs in our everyday lives, allotropes of carbon, and how carbon sheets can be manipulated to form different CNTs (e.g. single-walled, multi-walled, etc.). With an audience of educators and outreach coordinators, a secondary goal is to demonstrate how educational frameworks such as "How People Learn" (Bransford et. al., 2002) and "Backwards Design" (Wiggins & McTighe, 2008) were incorporated in the design of the workshop. © 2012 American Society for Engineering Education.