NUE: Collaborative Virtual Experience for Nanotechnology Education

中佛罗里达大学（UCF）的NUE工程项目名为“NUE：纳米技术教育的经验”，由Jayan Thomas博士指导。本提案的目标是发展一种新的基于讨论的互动学习策略，用于本科纳米技术教育。纳米技术教育的协作网络虚拟体验（召集）模块将把传统的讲座密集型教学方法转变为更有趣的互动学习。这种方法背后的基本原理是，在纳米技术课堂上，基于使用纳米设备的虚拟实验的讨论有助于学生更好地理解纳米技术的原理。召集模块以高度动态和互动的方式向学生解释关键概念和纳米系统和设备的工作。当前本科纳米技术教育的一个主要挑战是缺乏一种需要学生参与和合作的有效的教授和学习纳米科学的方法。凭借pi在纳米级器件设计和制造、人机界面设计和教育方面的专业知识，该项目将开发几个交互式可视化工具，这些工具可以有效地用于召集模块，为本科教育提供协作虚拟体验。该计划的变革方面是使用虚拟实验来激发纳米技术课堂上的互动和讨论，这将提供纳米技术的深入知识，丰富学生的学习经验。在课堂环境中，学生将能够通过虚拟操作纳米系统和纳米器件来学习纳米技术的原理和实验。此外，“召集”模块的设计使学生和教师可以在任何便携式设备上使用共享显示器，随时随地在常规课堂之外继续讨论。它将为学生提供一种参与感，并将一个不那么鼓舞人心的课堂变成一个充满活力和有趣的课堂。预计到2020年，纳米技术将在产品和设备开发中得到大规模应用。随着纳米技术的规模和范围发展到新的高度，在这个极具挑战性的领域教育下一代合格的科学家和工程师势在必行。拟议的模块是根据学生的兴趣量身定制的，所涵盖的主题是根据行业和研究要求，与最先进的纳米技术设备和系统开发相关。这种方法将培养出具有相当纳米技术设备开发技能的受过系统教育的本科生。每年，至少有250名学生将直接受益，大约350名本科生将间接受益于UCF的“召集”模块。此外，每年召开相关的虚拟实验将有利于约300名本科生在瓦伦西亚州立学院的各种科学和工程类。该模块将扩大代表性不足的群体在这两个机构的参与。此外，为了教育高中生和普通大众，将开发便携式显示设备，能够在用户进行简单的虚拟纳米技术实验时提供实际参与。

This NUE in Engineering program entitled, "NUE: Experience for Nanotechnology Education", at the University of Central Florida (UCF) is under the direction of Dr. Jayan Thomas. The goal of this proposal is to develop a new discussion-based interactive learning strategy for undergraduate nanotechnology education. The Collaborative Networked Virtual Experiences for Nanotechnology Education (CONVENE) module will transform traditional lecture-intensive teaching methods to more interesting interactive learning. The rationale behind this approach is that, in a nanotechnology class, discussions based on virtual experiments using nano devices help students better understand the principles of nanotechnology. The CONVENE module addresses the challenges of explaining critical concepts and the working of nanosystems and devices to students in the classroom setting (and beyond) in a highly dynamic and interactive manner. A major challenge of current undergraduate nanotechnology education is the lack of an efficient method for teaching and learning nanoscience that requires student participation and collaboration. With the PIs expertise in nanoscale device design and fabrication, human interface design and education, the program will develop several interactive visual tools that can be used effectively in the CONVENE module to provide a collaborative virtual experience for undergraduate education. The transformative aspect of the program is the use of virtual experiments to stimulate interaction and discussion in a nanotechnology class which will provide an in-depth knowledge of nanotechnology and enrich students' learning experience. In a lecture class environment, students will be able to learn principles and experiments in nanotechnology by virtually manipulating nanosystems and nanodevices. Moreover, the CONVENE module is designed so that students and instructors can continue discussion beyond their regular class at anytime and anywhere using a shared display in any portable device. It will provide students the sense of involvement and transform a less inspiring class into a highly dynamic and interesting one.Mass application of nanotechnology in product and device development is expected by 2020. As the scale and scope of nanotechnology advances to new heights, there is an imperative to educate future generation of qualified scientists and engineers in this highly challenging field. The proposed module is tailored to the interests of the students and the topics coveredare relevant to the state-of-the-art nanotechnology device and system developments in accordance with industry and research requirements. This approach will generate systematically educated undergraduates with considerable nanotechnology device development skills. Annually, at least 250 students will be directly benefitted and about 350 undergraduate students will be indirectly benefitted by the CONVENE module in UCF. In addition, annually, CONVENE related virtual experiments will be beneficial to about 300 undergraduate students in various science and engineering classes in Valencia State College. This module will broaden the participation of underrepresented groups at both institutions. In addition, in order to educate high school students and the general public, portable display equipment will be developed which is capable of providing physical involvement for the user while performing simple virtual nanotechnology experiments.