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Turning Cutting-Edge Research into Secondary Curriculum

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Greta M. Zenner ,
Wendy C. Crone ,
J. Aura Gimm ,
Ken W. Lux ,
Paul M. Voyles ,
Nicholas L. Abbott ,
Anthony P. Cina ,
Ann Pumper Comins ,
Johan Tabora  and
Pamela Tuchscherer
...Show all authors
Greta M. Zenner
Affiliation:
Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
Wendy C. Crone
Affiliation:
Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA. Department of Engineering Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
J. Aura Gimm
Affiliation:
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
Ken W. Lux
Affiliation:
Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
Paul M. Voyles
Affiliation:
Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
Nicholas L. Abbott
Affiliation:
Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA. Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
Anthony P. Cina
Affiliation:
O'Keefe Middle School, Madison, WI, USA.
Ann Pumper Comins
Affiliation:
Madison Memorial High School, Madison, WI, USA.
Johan Tabora
Affiliation:
Northside College Preparatory High School, Chicago, IL, USA.
Pamela Tuchscherer
Affiliation:
Gearhart School, Gearhart, OR, USA.
Tyson Tuchscherer
Affiliation:
Daly Middle School, Lakeview, OR, USA.
P. John Whitsett
Affiliation:
Fond du Lac High School, Fond du Lac, WI, USA.
Cindy G. Widstrand
Affiliation:
Stoughton High School, Stoughton, WI, USA.
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Abstract

Traditional science classroom activities rely on topics and experiments that are distant from the forefront of scientific research. As a result, students view science as stagnant and far removed from real life. Through a National Science Foundation-funded Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) program, we at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) work with secondary teachers to transform cutting-edge research in nanoscale science and engineering into curriculum that is appropriate for middle- and high-school classrooms. This benefits everyone involved: teachers learn about innovative science and the process of research; UW MRSEC personnel learn about science education and the state of today's schools; and students get to test and engage with new curriculum about breakthrough research. This past summer our RET participants conducted research on and developed curriculum about “smart” papers with microencapsulation technology, fuel cells, nano biosensors and liquid crystals, glassy metals, and Wells models.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 861: Symposium PP – Communicating Materials Science-Secondary Education for the 21st Century , 2004 , PP3.3
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2005

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References

REFERENCES

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