Infusing Emerging Nano and Green Technologies into Community College STEM Curriculum

该项目正在开发，实施和评估STEM教学和学习的综合方法，用于两个新兴领域：纳米技术和绿色技术的社区大学本科生的不断扩大的人口。该方法的核心是在物理、化学、生物和工程的入门STEM课程中嵌入一套简短的纳米技术和绿色技术模块。此外，为期一天的职业研讨会汇集了来自不同课程的所有学生使用模块。每个模块的学生动手活动和教师专业发展课程将学科特定的概念与两种新兴技术的实际应用相结合。职业研讨会功能：1）行业演讲者的参与，2）探索纳米技术和绿色技术的额外实践活动和互动演示，3）深入讨论各级STEM职业选择，以及4）关于新兴技术的社会和伦理影响的论坛。该项目的智力价值在于内容的选择，材料的模块化设计，以及提供后续机会，以进行更深入的探索，综合和反思纳米技术和绿色技术主题。更广泛的影响是通过一个为期两年的机构与领先的公立研究型大学及其国家认可的课程设计和专业发展中心的强有力的伙伴关系。这种合作不仅为其他旗舰研究型大学提供了一个模式，而且还使该项目能够接触到重要的学生受众，因为社区学院人口中来自服务不足群体的学生比例更高，总体增长率更快，比四年制大学的人口。此外，有针对性的入门课程创造了最大的机会，可以接触到对STEM职业犹豫不决的大学生和教授STEM课程的年轻教师。在这样做的过程中，该项目正在帮助建立社区大学基础设施，以培训新兴技术中的下一代STEM劳动力。

This project is developing, implementing, and evaluating an integrated approach to STEM teaching and learning for the expanding population of community college undergraduates in two emerging areas: nanotechnology and green technology. At its core the approach embeds a set of short nanotechnology and green technology modules within the introductory STEM courses of Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Engineering. In addition day-long career workshops bring together all students from across the different courses using the modules. The student hands-on activities and faculty professional development sessions for each module connect discipline-specific concepts to practical applications from the two emerging technologies. The career workshops feature: 1) participation from industry speakers, 2) additional hands-on activities and interactive demonstrations exploring nanotechnology and green technology, 3) an in-depth discussion of STEM career options at all levels, and 4) a forum on the societal and ethical implications of emerging technologies. The intellectual merit of the project lies in the choice of content, the modular design of the materials, and the provision of follow-on opportunities to engage in deeper exploration, synthesis, and reflection on nanotechnology and green technology topics. Broader impacts are exerted through the strong partnership of a two-year institution with a leading public research university and its nationally recognized curriculum design and professional development center. Such collaboration offers not only a model for other flagship research universities, but also enables the project to reach important student audiences since the community college population has a greater percentage of students from underserved groups, and a faster overall growth rate, than the population of 4-year colleges. Furthermore, targeting introductory courses creates the greatest chance to reach a broad audience of both college students undecided about STEM careers and young faculty teaching STEM courses. In so doing the project is helping build the community college infrastructure needed for training the next generation STEM workforce in emerging technologies.