RET Teaching Module 26: Silver Nanoprisms

Overview

"Silver Nanoprisms" is an Educational Module created in four powerpoints which were designed to either be presented to an entire class in lecture or to students one-by-one in a blended class as part of the electronically delivered learning.

Part 1

Learning objectives: Module 1 begins with an introductory module that explains the basics concepts of nanoscience and allows students the opportunity to learn about some of the applications of nanotechnology. The activity for part 1 is also an assessment of what the students have learned about nanoscience. Students are required to explain what they have learned and to further research one nanoscience application.

Part 2

Module 2 teaches introduces students to the the microscopes used in nanoscience. It was only because of the invention of these microscopes that nanoscience can exist. Students are able to learn about the principles of how the microscopes such as the Scanning Electron Microscope, the Tunneling Electron Microscope and the Atomic Force Microscope work and to see diagrams and videos of the microscopes and well as two videos made of nanoscientists from the Chen Research Group at the University of Illinois using the microscopes.

The activity for part 2 includes an assessment of the understanding the students have development regarding the function and structure of at least one of the microscopes used for nanoscience. The student will demonstrate this by creating a users manual. One of the best ways to teach and to assess student understanding is to have the student “teach” the topic. When the students create the user manual for a nanoscience related computer.

Part 3

Learning objectives: Part 3 introduces students to the vocabulary of nanoscience and the work of the Chen Research Group at the University of Illinois. Learning and understanding objectives for the students include:

• Select nanoscience vocabulary
• Focus of the Chen Research Group in nanoscience
• How to read complex text in the area nanoscience
• How to research nanoscience.

Activity/Assessment: Students will view a power-point which describes in great detail the portion of the Chen Research Group’s work that was completed while the teacher was in residence. Supported by class discussion with the teacher, the students will learn the basic process and results of the work that was completed by the nanoscientist Ahyoung Kim and teacher Valerie Kovach during the summer teacher’s research experience. They should also develop some basic understanding of the work of the rest of the rest of the Chen Research group including the students.

Part 4-5

Learning objectives: Students will view a powerpoint which describes in great detail the portion of the Chen Research Group’s work that was completed while the teacher was in residence. Supported by class discussion with the teacher, the students will learn the basic process and results of the work that was completed by the nanoscientist Ahyoung Kim and teacher Valerie Kovach during the summer teacher’s research experience. They should also develop some basic understanding of the work of the rest of the rest of the Chen Research group including the students. Students then complete two “hands-on” activities that model the nanoscience important in the research. Assessment of Students will demonstrate learning through completion of a Lab Report which the students write and the answers for the additional questions.

>> Want to learn more? Review all of the materials by downloading the zip file for this module

Included in this Module:

• Teacher Guide
• Student Guide
• Lesson Powerpoint Presentations
• Nanomodule Activity

Samples of the materials

• Teacher Guide
• Example Lesson Part One Presentation

>> Download the zip file with all content for this module