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The Impact of Hands-on Experience in Undergraduate Nanotechnology Education

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2011

Joseph A. Oxenham  and
Kasif Teker
Joseph A. Oxenham
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Engineering, Frostburg State University, 101 Braddock Road, Frostburg, MD 21532, U.S.A.
Kasif Teker
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Engineering, Frostburg State University, 101 Braddock Road, Frostburg, MD 21532, U.S.A.
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Abstract

Nanotechnology, a field interested in materials with features smaller than 100 nanometers and possessing novel properties, is a field that is unquestionably in a period of rapid growth. As the limits of existing technologies are pressed, the need arises for faster, better, and stronger materials and devices. Manipulation of matter on the nanoscale is quickly becoming the next frontier of materials and technology. Due to the scale of the phenomena and the exploratory nature of nanoscience and nanotechnology, a high degree of knowledge in many diverse fields is required. This requires a centralized presentation to students in order to best teach them the required knowledge.

In the past, knowledge has mostly been transferred hand-to-hand on an active level. However, in modern education, the classroom and lectures take a more active role. With this rise, the position and focus of hands-on work has diminished [1], while at the same time undergraduates remain isolated from research being conducted at universities [2]. With the broad nature of nanoscience and nanotechnology, it is becoming more important to maximize students’ learning ability in order to train future researchers and workforce. This paper explores the impact of a hands-on research experience in undergraduate nanotechnology education. This experience is presented to show the importance of student involvement on hands-on projects for their learning process.

Keywords

educationchemical vapor deposition (CVD) (deposition)nanoscale
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1320: Symposium XX – Materials Education Development and Outreach—From K-Grad , 2011 , mrsf10-1320-xx04-04
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2011

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References

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