Press Release:  2007

Advancing Cross-collaborations: NCLT Fall Meeting
November 28, 2007, by Melinda Wong, NCLT

NCLT held its Fall Center-wide meeting at Northwestern University on November 1-2, 2007. The purpose of these Center-wide meetings is to promote collaboration efforts across the Center and capitalize on the synergistic activities evolving within Center operations. The external summative evaluation committee (Andrew Porter, Robert Yager, Shelley Lee and LeRoy Lee) attended to offer their expertise and perspective on the Center's progress.

The Center-wide meeting championed avenues to communicate and improve cross-collaborations among members throughout the various NCLT work circles. Center leaders presented updates on their projects and programs. They also described their synergistic activities and their plans for Years 4-5. Graduate students and post docs demonstrated their research and development progress during the poster sessions. NCLT is building a robust NSEE program with the expertise and diversity of its graduate students, post docs and faculty.

The NCLT is making an impact in STEM education by creating sustainable professional development programs supported by learning research and NSE activities targeted especially for 7th -12th grade classrooms. Additionally, NCLT is researching and developing nanoconcepts, courses and simulations that will augment the NSE curricula for grades 7-16. All published materials and resources can be found on the NCLT NanoEd Resource Portal.

For more information, please email us.

NCLT Assessment Workshop, August 13-14, 2007
September 4, 2007, by Shawn Stevens, University of Michigan

An NCLT Assessment Workshop led by Jim Pellegrino and Joe Krajcik was held at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor on August 13-14, 2007. The goal of this two-day workshop was to develop a common language and approach for developing assessments that relate to the "big ideas" in nanoscience. This workshop was attended by 27 Center members who contributed to the discussions from their diverse expertise.

As a result of two days of intensive work, the Center members developed a process that follows the logic of "Evidence Centered Design" for developing assessments 1 . This is a powerful and flexible framework that has been used for developing standardized tests (e.g. GRE) as well as assessments related to a curriculum. Small groups of multidisciplinary expertise each focused on applying it to a specific "big idea" in nanoscience (Forces & Interactions, Self-Assembly, Size and Geometry and Size-Dependent Properties). For each of these big ideas, the participants worked to answer three questions:

1. exactly what knowledge should be assessed?
2. what does it mean to know that, and what kind of statements or performances are necessary to demonstrate that knowledge? and
3. what particular tasks, questions or situations will bring about the appropriate type of response?

To support the process a wiki was constructed for the sharing of information, ideas, and work products - before, during, and after the workshop. For more details and resources, go to the working wiki on NCLT assessment.

1 - Mislevy, R. J., Almond, R. G., & Lukas, J. F. (2004). A brief introduction to evidence-centered design (CSE Technical Report 632). Los Angeles: National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST), Center for the Study of Evaluation, UCLA.

NCLT Workshop for Science Teachers at Fisk University
August 27, 2007, by Weijie Lu, Fisk University

Teachers and instructors participating at the 2nd NCLT Professional Development workshop.	Teachers using a SEM (scanning electron microscope) to examine biological samples.
Teachers are building a nano-tube model.	Participants are conducting the "Ferrofluid" experiment.

The Professional Development workshop at Fisk University will continue in the summer of 2008. For more information on the program, contact the coordinator Prof. Weijie Lu at wlu@fisk.edu or visit http://www.nclt.us.

AAMU Hosts A Successful First Nanoscale Workshop
August 15, 2007, by Dr. Matthew Edwards, Dean, School of Arts and Sciences, AAMU NCLT Project Director

AAMU Summer 2007 NCLT Professional Development Two-Week Workshop was held July 16 through 27 where the School of Arts and Sciences hosted ten faculty individuals from middle-, high-school and colleges, locally and across the nation. The activities presented varied from creating carbon nanotubes to a lecture on space elevators made from nanoparticles as presented by Mr. David Smitherman of NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

The participants expressed to Alabama A&M their sincere appreciation for providing such a unique opportunity to study cutting-edge technology.

Teacher Professional Development in Nanoscale Science and Engineering at Purdue University
August 14, 2007, by William Fornes, Purdue University

Jerry Cords and Becky Van Damme do a lesson on intermolecular forces.

(Left to Right) Jim Burton, Seongmin Ma, JaeTae Seo, and Anssi Lindell do the Intermolecular Forces lesson.

A Hands-on Nanoscience Workshop at Hampton University
August 6, 2007, by Matthew Hsu, Northwestern Univretsity

An NCLT Nanoscience Workshop was conducted at Hampton University, VA, from June 25 to 26, 2007. The two-day workshop was attended by a diverse group of people, including seven teachers from the surrounding Tidewater area, four high school students, two undergraduate, four researchers and two graduate students all from Hampton University. The workshop was conducted by two members of the NCLT staff and a high school chemistry teacher.

The workshop began with an introduction on nanoscience/nanotechnology and relayed the importance of training up a nano-literate workforce that will contribute to the global competitiveness in the emerging nano-based marketplace. This introduction was followed by hands-on activities designed to introduce one of the most fundamental concepts that cuts across most nanoscale phenomena: surface area-to-volume ratio. Several interactive simulations were also used to reinforce the learning of scale, scientific notation and powers of 10 concepts. As a culminating activity for the surface area-to-volume ratio unit, the high school students demonstrated a card game, NanoCos developed by NCLT. A conclusion to the first day was a poster session and demonstration from the high school students showing the workshop participants their research on spectroscopic emissions of quantum dots that they are currently working with at Hampton University.

On the second day, workshop attendees participated in more hands-on activities learning about the interaction of light waves with matter of varying structural sizes, ranging from the macroscale to the nanoscale. At the end of the workshop, each participant was also able to make their own photonic crystals in the form of artificial opals. The two-day workshop concluded with an overview of current applications of nanotechnology in everyday consumer goods so that teachers can better relate to the potential impact nanotechnology will have in their students' everyday environment. Teachers expressed their desire to use the activities in the coming school year and how they might "squeeze" nano concepts into their curricula. Hampton researchers intend to adopt the hands-on activities introduced in the two-day workshop to inspire and excite scores of middle school and elementary school kids visiting Hampton University in their upcoming July outreach program.

NCLT Spring Center-Wide Meeting May 25 - 26, 2007, Northwestern University
June 5 2007, by Jennifer Moncel, Northwestern University

Some sixty university faculty, graduate students, postdocs, and science teachers from NCLT partner institutions attended the Spring Center-wide Meeting at Northwestern University May 25-26. The purpose of the meeting was to report on current activities, increase internal integration; expand external partnerships and foster understanding and practice of Center evaluation and assessment.

Meeting activities included a series of invited talks by Center members, panel discussions, a poster session, and breakout discussions on special interest topics such as evaluation and assessment and classroom integration of nanoconcepts. Discussion was lively, especially concerning important Center-wide challenges such as presenting non-intuitive nanoconcepts (ex: self-assembly), which often require prior understanding of basic science concepts. Members also discussed the potential role of the Center in helping to reshape existing learning standards and "high- stakes" assessments to reflect nano learning goals.

Significant contributions were made by NCLT graduate students, postdocs and high school teachers, who enriched discussions on curriculum development, professional development and outreach by sharing their experience in the Detroit, Chicago, Indianapolis, and Nashville school districts. They also took part in a dynamic poster session covering a broad spectrum of Center activities, from nano-based learning research to classroom integration and summer nanoscience camps.

Over the two-day period, the main challenge of the NCLT was reiterated: integrate the diverse communities represented in the Center - nanoscientists, nanoengineers, learning scientists, students, and educators - in order to build national capacity in Nanoscale Science and Engineering Education.

MEETING PRESENTATIONS:

Gallery

New Trier High School Hosts "What is Nanoscience?" Event
April 10, 2007, by Susan Singer, Northwestern University

New Trier Teachers Practicing Benchtop Lithography, Feb 2007.

Adam Held is a chemistry teacher at New Trier Township High School (NTTHS). Working with The Odom Group, he hosted the annual "What is Nanoscience/Nanotechnology?" event in Winnetka, IL. Presentations defining and describing various aspects of nanoscience and nanotechnology were made by Northwestern University graduate students to an assembly of approximately 60-70 NTTHS students and their teachers. Students were also given a tour of laser labs as well as demonstrations of atomic force and scanning electron microscopes. A hands-on activity for the students was introduced for the first time since the program's inception. The project involved bench-top nanopatterning concepts which were developed by Teri Odom's group . The success of this event led to an expanded partnership between the NCLT and New Trier High School. Future events will provide continued outreach opportunities for students. Additionally, the teachers will be provided with the resources and training required to introduce nanoscience concepts into traditional science course.

The new phase of the partnership began in February, 2007. Teri Odom's group hosted seven NTTHS science teachers who represented the disciplines of chemistry, biology, and physics. The teachers were exposed to the bench-top nanopatterning experiments through lectures and hands-on activities. A demonstration of state-of-the-art instruments used in nanoscience was conducted, and effective techniques for teaching nanoconcepts to high school students were imparted.

Northwestern University Professor Introduces Materials Science Students to Nano
April 6, 2007, by Susan Singer, Northwestern University

Professor Tom Mason introduced a NanoThermo unit as part of his Winter Quarter 2007 Materials Science course for undergraduate majors. The class, "Phase Equilibria and Diffusion of Materials," was offered at Northwestern University and had an enrollment of 26 juniors.

Prior to beginning the unit, all students participated in "concept mapping". This is a technique developed by Joseph D. Novak (Cornell University) to increase the meaningful assimilation of science education. During the unit, students engaged in group projects, designing computer learning tools that would potentially illustrate for high school students the key nanoconcepts of surface-area-to-volume ratio and melting point lowering of nanomaterials. For each design project, an appropriate "Teacher's Guide" was to have been prepared, as well.

At the conclusion of the unit, a second concept mapping exercise was conducted. The two maps will be compared to determine the extent to which the students' understanding of the key concepts to which they were introduced changed in accuracy, depth and complexity. The groups' presentations were made on March 7 and 9, 2007 and taped by Eun Jung Park (Searle Center for Teaching Excellence); some of the presentations will be uploaded to the NanoEd Resource Portal.

Professor Tom Mason and students	Thermodynamics and Scale
Students Explain Surface Area to Volume Ratio	Students Define "Nanometer"

Tom Mason is a professor of Materials Science & Engineering at Northwestern University. His research encompasses various topics in nanoscale materials science. Of particular interest to him is the development of nanoceramics for more efficient, low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells. He has been active in the NCLT since its inception and holds the title of Director for Higher Education and Degree Programs.

Dr. Matthew Edwards Appointed Dean
March 16, 2007, by Susan Singer, Northwestern University

Professor Matthew E. Edwards was recently appointed Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Alabama A&M University. The announcement was made by Dr. Beverly Edmond, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at that university. AAMU was established under the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act, providing that agricultural and mechanical arts institutions be established in every state. AAMU is also among the nation's historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) dedicated to educating and contributing to the advancement of primarily African American students. Professor Edwards and AAMU are active members of the NCLT community, providing instructional materials, hosting a Professional Development summer session over July 16 through 27 as well as the annual Faculty Workshop in 2007. The AAMU Physics Department also hosted Professor Tom Mason (NCLT at Northwestern University), who delivered a talk entitled "New Perspectives on Nanoceramics and on Nanoeducation" on February 15, 2007.

Prof. Edwards (at right) with NCLT Director Prof. Chang.

Professor Edwards has enjoyed a distinguished career. He earned his doctorate from Howard University in 1977 and was a professor of physics at Spelman College prior to coming to AAMU. He teaches a number of research-oriented courses that include Quantum Optics, Electrooptics, Quantum Mechanics, Methods of Mathematical Physics and Solid State Physics. He has 57 publications and presentations to his credit. Professor Edwards is also the primary investigator on a NASA FAR Research Grant and co-PI on a Doctoral Capacity Building Grant funded by the NSF.

The NCLT wishes to congratulate Professor Edwards on his success and on his most recent achievement.

Science Teachers Think Small
March 16, 2007, by Bill Fornes, Purdue University

West Lafayette, Indiana - High school and middle school science teachers from Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia participated in a workshop to enhance their understanding of nanoscience and its connections to chemistry, physics, and biology. The workshop provided teachers with the opportunity to conduct nanoscience experiments and to develop methods for introducing nanoscience into the classroom. The National Center for Learning and Teaching in Nanoscale Science and Engineering hosted the teachers at Purdue University on March 2 and 3, 2007. The March workshop was a follow-up activity for teachers who participated in one of two NCLT two-week summer workshops at the University of Texas at El Paso and Purdue University. At the workshop, the teachers conducted standards-based nanoscience classroom investigations of lithography and ferrofluids and reported on the use of their own standards-based nanoscience lessons that they created during the summer workshops.

The NCLT is in its third year as a partnership between Purdue University, Northwestern University, University of Michigan, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Argonne National Laboratory, Alabama A&M University, Fisk University, Hampton University, Morehouse College, and the University of Texas at El Paso. The NCLT is funded by the National Science Foundation.

Josefina Pacaon (l), Uriah Albrink (c), and Celeste Hallberg (r) discuss Celeste's nanoscience lesson.

A ferrofluid created in the classroom.

For more informaiton, please visit the website.

NCLT Member Professor Nick Giordano Addresses AAPT/AAS Winter Meeting
January 23, 2007, by Susan Singer, Northwestern University

The 209th meeting of the American Astronomical Society and the 2007 Winter Meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers met jointly in Seattle, Washington over January 5 through January 10, 2007. Recognizing the need for an energized science and engineering workforce, leaders in business, government, physics and science education addressed a number of pertinent issues throughout the week.

In a session on Nanoscale Physics in the Classroom, Dr. Nick Giordano delivered a presentation entitled "National Center for Learning and Teaching in the Nanoscale Science and Engineering (NCLT)" (PDF). The NCLT and its collaborating institutions were described, as were the NCLT's endeavors in several fields:

• Research into how and where nanoscience concepts can be introduced into 7-12 Grade curricula
• How to design grade-appropriate nanoscience activities at those grade levels, and
• The design and implementation of Professional Development programs that enable science teachers to integrate nanoscience education into traditional chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics classes

Dr. Giordano is a Hubert James Distinguished Professor of Physics at Purdue University . Among his varied research interests are computational neuroscience, computational physics, the acoustics and physics of piano and guitar, and the physics of nano scale metallic systems. He is actively engaged in the Student Learning and Motivation (nanoSLAM), Degree Programs, Professional Development and Evaluations Work Circles within the NCLT.