RET: Nanofabrication Training and Research Experience for Virginia Teachers

为了满足对纳米技术工作者日益增长的需求，必须开发新的纳米技术教育计划、课程和课程模块，并将其交付给各级学生。中等科学教师特别需要接受实际的纳米技术培训和研究经验，以便他们有能力将纳米技术原理和概念纳入科学课程。这个拟议的教师研究经验（RET）项目将于2003年3月底或4月初在宾夕法尼亚州立大学纳米制造设施为来自弗吉尼亚州的20名高中科学教师提供为期三天的手工纳米技术培训和研究经验。该项目将建立在宾夕法尼亚州和美国国家科学基金委在宾夕法尼亚州的纳米技术教育之前的投资基础上。宾夕法尼亚NMT（纳米制造技术）伙伴关系于1998年由宾夕法尼亚州发起。它涉及30多所大专院校、包括职业技术学校在内的中学和私营企业。NMT合作伙伴关系利用2600万美元的宾夕法尼亚州立大学纳米制造设施，该设施是NSF国家纳米制造用户网络（NNUN）的一部分，为在宾夕法尼亚州社区学院和其他机构注册纳米制造副学士学位课程的学生提供长达一个学期的动手纳米制造教育。NMT伙伴关系还为教育工作者和行业人员提供专业发展研讨会，并为中学生提供暑期夏令营。NMT伙伴关系也是NSF先进技术教育中心。NMT伙伴关系于1999年在宾夕法尼亚州立大学纳米制造设施开始为教育工作者提供专业发展研讨会。迄今为止，已有169名教育工作者和业内人士参加了这些讲习班。这个拟议的项目建立并扩展了宾夕法尼亚NMT合作伙伴关系与教育工作者专业发展相关的组成部分，并将通过与弗吉尼亚纳米技术倡议（INanoVA）的联盟，将NMT合作伙伴关系带出宾夕法尼亚的边界。INanoVA是一项全州范围的倡议，涉及高等教育、国家实验室、州和地方教育和经济发展组织以及私营企业。INanoVA旨在促进协作纳米技术研究、商业化和劳动力教育。弗吉尼亚大学为InanoVA提供领导。弗吉尼亚大学将协调从弗吉尼亚州招募20名中学科学教师参加拟议的RET研讨会，以确保全州的地理代表性平衡。宾夕法尼亚州立大学将在宾夕法尼亚州立大学纳米制造设施提供为期三天的纳米技术培训和研究经验。该项目将由宾夕法尼亚州立大学管理。该项目具有明显的智力价值，正如PI在领导NSF NNUN宾夕法尼亚州立网站、NSF纳米制造教育中心、2002年9月11日至12日NSF纳米技术本科教育研讨会（NUE）以及其他纳米技术研究和教育活动中的作用所证明的那样。该项目预计将对宾夕法尼亚州、弗吉尼亚州和全国的科学和工程劳动力产生广泛的影响。

PROJECT SUMMARYTo meet the expanding need for nanotechnology workers, new nanotechnology educationprograms, courses, and course modules must be developed and delivered to students at alllevels. There is a particular need for secondary science teachers to receive hands-onnanotechnology training and research experience so that they are equipped to incorporatenanotechnology principles and concepts into science curriculum. This proposedResearch Experience for Teachers (RET) project will provide a three-day hands-nanotechnology training and research experience to 20 high school science teachers fromVirginia at the Penn State Nanofabrication Facility during late March or early April 2003.This project will build upon prior investments by the state of Pennsylvania and the NSFin nanotechnology education in Pennsylvania.The Pennsylvania NMT (Nanofabrication Manufacturing Technology) Partnership wasinitiated in 1998 by the state of Pennsylvania. It involves more than 30 colleges anduniversities, secondary schools including vocational-technical schools, and privateindustry. The NMT Partnership leverages the $26 million Penn State NanofabricationFacility, part of the NSF National Nanofabrication Users Network (NNUN), to providesemester-long, hands-on nanofabrication education to students enrolled in associatedegree programs in nanofabrication at community colleges and other institutions acrossPennsylvania. The NMT Partnership also provides professional development workshopsfor educators and industry personnel, and summer iunano campsln secondary schoolstudents. The NMT Partnership is also a NSF Advanced Technology Education Center.The NMT Partnership first began offering professional development workshops foreducators at the Penn State Nanofabrication Facility in 1999. To date, 169 educators andindustry personnel have attended these workshops. This proposed project builds uponand expands the components of the Pennsylvania NMT Partnership associated withprofessional development of educators, and will take the NMT Partnership beyond theboundaries of Pennsylvania through an alliance with the Initiative for Nanotechnology inVirginia (INanoVA). INanoVA is a statewide initiative involving higher education,national laboraties, state and local education and economic development organization,and private industry. INanoVA aims to promote collaborative nanotechnology research,commercialization, and workforce education. The University of Virginia providesleadership for InanoVA.The University of Virginia will coordinate recruitment of 20 secondary science teachersfrom Virginia for the proposed RET workshop, ensuring balanced geographicrepresentation across the state. Penn State will deliver the three-day nanotechnologytraining and research experience at the Penn State Nanofabrication Facility. The projectwill be managed by Penn State. The project has clear intellectual merit, as evidenced bythe role of the PI in leading the Penn State site of the NSF NNUN, the NSF Center forNanofabrication Manufacturing Education, the September 11-12, 2002 NSF Workshopon Nanotechnology Undergraduate Education (NUE), and other nanotechnology researchand education activities. The project is expected to have broad impact on the science andengineering workforce of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the nation.