TechSpectives

Want to teach a course on nanotechnology but need material.  The NSF Nanotechnology Application and Career Knowledge (NACK) Center at Penn State University has just gone live with their course materials that are free for educational uses.  Here is the press release with all pertinient links!

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) National Center for Nanotechnology Applications and Career Knowledge (NACK) was established in September 2008 to:

. Support the development of two-year degree programs in micro- and nanotechnology across the country

. Emphasize hands-on laboratory education and attention to the full range of micro- and nanotechnology applications

. Offer professional development programs in micro- and nanotechnology for secondary and postsecondary educators

. Develop and delivering incumbent worker education programs in micro- and nanotechnology for industry

. Create pathways from secondary schools through associate and baccalaureate degrees and beyond

. Provide national coordination of micro- and nanofabrication workforce development programs and activities

The NACK Center is committed to providing quality education and outreach materials to post secondary and secondary institutions across the nation.

NACK has its initial offering of these materials available for download via the Center’s nano4me.org student-centric website. 

The materials now available to download are:

. Introductory Level Modules (for post secondary seminar or introductory course use)

. Undergraduate Level Course- Lecture PowerPoint Presentations (ESC 211: Materials, Safety, and Equipment Overview for Nanotechnology and ESC 212: Basic Nanotechnology Processes)

. Undergraduate Level Course- Laboratory Activities (ESC 211 and ESC 212)

. Multimedia Resources for Recruiting or Introductory use

. Introductory High School Level Activities

. High School Level Nanotech Academy Activities

. High School Level Experiments:

Other NACK materials that are in process for final approval and which will soon be available are July 1st :

. Undergraduate Level Course- Classroom Lecture PowerPoint Presentations  (ESC 213: Materials in Nanotechnology and ESC 214: Patterning for Nanotechnology)

. Undergraduate Level Course- Laboratory Activities (ESC 213 and ESC 214)

Late Summer 2009:

. Undergraduate Level Course- Classroom Lecture PowerPoint Presentations (ESC 215: Materials Modification in Nanotechnology and ESC 216: Characterization, Testing of Nanotechnology Structures and Materials)

. Undergraduate Level Course- Laboratory Activities (ESC 215 and ESC 216)

All these materials available for download are found on our website at www.nano4me.org under the educator tab on the left side of the home page.

From the educator tab you will go to the Access NACK RESOURCES tab at the top and then follow the instructions to download the materials that you are interested in obtaining.   Note that if you have educator colleagues that are interested in obtaining any of this material, please direct them to the www.nano4me.org  site rather than transferring material directly to them.

We request this for two reasons: (1) there is a use form that needs to be filled out and (2) this will help us keep track of who is utilizing the material and will enable us to survey users in the future to gage the utility and effectiveness of NACK material in our effort to continuously improve our offerings.   If you have any questions, comments or concerns please feel free to contact Kristen Robinson at kjg17@psu.edu or 814-867-3069.Thank you for your support of NACK and your efforts to bring nanotechnology into our classrooms.