Oklahoma Nanotechnology Education Initiative

该项目正在开发中学教育项目和两年制副学士学位，以促进行业对微技术和纳米技术的使用。为了实现这些目标，研究人员正在(1)建立战略合作伙伴关系，以创建劳动力发展计划；(2)开发纳米技术应用科学副学位；(3)创建从高中课程到两年制和四年制学位课程的无缝职业道路；(4)为初中、高中以及职业和技术教育教师提供职业发展机会，帮助他们将微技术和纳米技术概念融入到他们的项目中。该计划正在为技术人员准备进入纳米技术行业或一般科学仪器领域的广泛工作岗位，支持几个州一级的倡议。教师发展机会正在惠及450名中学和中学教师。该项目建立了强有力的机制，以吸引和留住任职人数不足和处境不利的个人。在这些努力中获得的知识有助于更好地了解不同行业的公司在纳入纳米技术和微系统技术时的劳动力需求。评估工作包括内部和外部评估人员，正在收集来自社区大学和K-12系统的教师和学生的数据。为了传播项目成果，调查人员在网站上张贴材料，在州和国家会议上发表报告，并在存档期刊上发表文章。更广泛的影响包括传播指示、K-12伙伴关系以及特别关注代表性不足和弱势群体。

This project is developing secondary education programs and a two-year associate degree that will advance industry's use of micro-technology and nanotechnology. To accomplish these goals, the investigators are (1) establishing strategic partnerships to create workforce development programs, (2) developing an associate degree in applied science in nanotechnology, (3) creating seamless career paths from high school programs to two-year and four-year degree programs, and (4) providing professional development opportunities to middle school, high school, and career and technology education faculty to help them integrate micro-technology and nanotechnology concepts into their programs. The program, which is preparing technicians to enter a broad range of jobs in the nanotechnology industry or one of the general scientific instrumentation fields, supports several state-level initiatives. Faculty development opportunities are reaching 450 teachers in middle and secondary schools. The project has strong mechanisms in place for attracting and retaining underrepresented and underprivileged individuals. Knowledge obtained in these efforts is helping to develop a better understanding of the workforce needs of companies in diverse industries as they incorporate nanotechnology and micro-systems technologies. The evaluation effort, which involves both internal and external evaluators, is collecting data on teachers and students from both community colleges and the K-12 system. To disseminate project results, the investigators are posting material on a website, presenting at state and national conferences, and publishing in archived journal. Broader impacts include the dissemination of the instruction, the K-12 partnerships, and the special concentration on underrepresented and underprivileged groups.