March - Vol 70, No 6 - International Technology and Engineering ...

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health. Nanotechnology is a new science and technology just beginning to touch the surface for what it has to offer. Many activities that could be incorporated into the classroom could be exploratory in nature. Below are a few suggestions to guide student research. Understanding the nano scale is difficult to grasp. Ask students to go to www.nanozone.org/index.htm and click on the Super Small icon. Students can use the “Measure Yourself” ruler to determine how many nanometers they are. This site also offers several interesting activities to serve as an introduction to nanotechnology. Nanotechnology has been adopted by several industries. Students can be divided into groups and asked to pick an industry and research how that industry has incorporated nanotechnology to meet its needs. Ask students to prepare a short presentation describing their results. Photo 4: Concerns arise about the ability to control nanoparticles once they are admitted into the bloodstream. This illustration demonstrates the possibility of nanoparticles passing into the brain. Credit: Provided by How Stuff Works. Retrieved from www.howstuffworks.com/nanotechnology.htm/printable in cigarettes and automobile emissions, being disposed into the atmosphere. Furthermore, the study found the waste was not handled efficiently. Much of the raw carbon was unconsumed and disposed into the atmosphere. The research will continue to seek further understanding of the costs of such production on the environment (Science Daily Staff, 2008). However, while the risks to the applications of nanotechnology have yet to be defined, and while the social and ethical debates about the use of nanotechnology are still in development, Congress and President Obama have not taken a back seat in this process. These concerns have become a “high priority” status. Yet, despite the undefined risks, most Americans aware of nanotechnology claim to hold a positive attitude toward continued work in the field. They expect science and nanotechnology to offer greater benefits than risks, and they anticipate new and better ways to overcome human disease and improve life (Holley, 2009). Student Activities There are many STEM connections that can be made with explorations into the world of nanotechnology. As we have seen, there are significant efforts in the field of medicine, materials science, manufacturing, and public NASA has created a nanotechnology video applicable to Grades K-4 and 5-8. It is found at http://search.nasa. gov/search/edFilterSearch.jsp?empty=true. To learn more about the research NASA is completing in regard to nanotechnology, go to http://search.nasa.gov/search/ search.jsp?nasaInclude= nanotechnology. Interactive websites are also available for teachers to provide students fun and interesting ways to learn more about nanotechnology. The National Nanotechnology Initiative, found at www.nano.gov/html/edu/eduk12. html, offers several links through its Education Center. The University of Wisconsin-Madison has also created a nanotechnology kit to help with instruction. Teacher Modules can be downloaded from its site at www.mrsec. wisc.edu/Edetc/supplies/kit/index.html to accompany the kit. Summary Nanotechnology opens the door to an exciting new science/ technology/engineering field. The possibilities for the uses of this technology should inspire the imagination to think big. Many are already pursuing such feats through medical research in cancer treatment options and environmental efforts to aid in water purification and environmental protection. Risks associated with this technology have yet to be discovered. Consequently, it is imperative that we handle the new information we learn daily with responsibility and care. We must be cautious to not allow our enthusiasm for the potential of great accomplishments to come at the cost of what we have already gained. 16 • Technology and Engineering Teacher • March 2011
References AZoM.com Pty.Ltd. (2007). Biomimicry and nanotechnology team up to create transparent plastics as strong as steel. The A to Z of Nanotechnology. Retrieved from www.azonano.com/news.asp?newsID=5066 Biomimicry Institute. (2007). Biomimicry Institute. Retrieved from www.biomimicryinstitute.org/ Chodos, Alan (Editor). American Physical Society. (2011). Lens crafters circa 1590: Invention of the microscope. Retrieved from www.aps.org/publications/ apsnews/200403/history.cfm. Dillow, C. (2010, August 31). Electrified cotton filter soaked in nanotech cheaply and quickly purifies large volumes of water. PopSci. Retrieved from www.popsci.com/science/ article/2010-08/cotton-filter-soaked-nanotech-cheaplyand-quickly-purifies-large-volumes-water. Ernst, J. (2009). Nanotechnology education: Contemporary content and approaches. Journal of Technology Studies, 35(1), 3-8. Evans, J. (2010). Nano-engineered cotton promises to wipe out water bugs. Retrieved from www.newscientist. com/article/mg20727765.900-nanoengineered-cottonpromises-to-wipe-out-water-bugs.html. Freitas, R., Jr. (2009). The future of nanomedicine. Futurist, 44(1), 21-22. Gillani, W. (2010, September 16). U.S. envoy vows to help Pakistan rebuild after flooding. The New York Times. Retrieved from www.nytimes.com/2010/09/17/world/ asia/17pstan.html. Holley, S. (2009). Nano revolution – big impact: How emerging nanotechnologies will change the future of education and industry in America (and more specifically Oklahoma), an abbreviated account. The Journal of Technology Studies, 35(1), 9-19. Johns Hopkins University. (2009). New DNA test uses nanotechnology to find early signs of cancer. Retrieved from http://releases.jhu.edu/2009/08/17/new-dna-testuses-nanotechnology-to-find-early-signs-of-cancer/. Klusek, Z. (2007). Nanotechnology: Science or fiction? Materials Science-Poland, 25(2), 283-294. Lindquist, E., Mosher-Howe, K., & Liu, X. (2010). Nanotechnology...what is it good for? (absolutely everything): A problem definition approach. Review of Policy Research, 27(3), 255-271. MIT, The Lemelson-MIT Program. (May 2003). Inventor of the Week: James Hiller. Retrieved from http://web.mit. edu/invent/iow/hillier.html. National Polymer Laboratories. (nd). National Polymer Laboratories. Retrieved from www.nationalpolymerlabs. com/?gclid=CMLAgpDBm6QCFZZM5QodmDdRGA. National Science Teachers Association. (2009). Nanotechnology to find cancer. Science and Children, 47(3), 9-11. Porod, W. (2004, November). Nanotechnology: The possibilities of a new science. Address delivered to the Metropolitan Club, New York, NY. Rice University. (2003). The Galileo project. Retrieved from http://galileo.rice.edu/sci/instruments/telescope.html. Salamanca-Buentello, F., Persad, D., Court, E., Martin, D., Daar, A., & Singer, P. (2005). Nanotechnology and the developing world. PLoS Med 2(5), 383-386. Schoen, D., Schoen, A., Hu, L., Kim, H., Heilshorn, S., & Cui, Y. (2010). High speed water sterilization using onedimensional nanostructures. Stanford, CA: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University. ScienceDaily. (2008). Nanotechnology in the environment: Making sure wonder materials don’t become wonder pollutants. Retrieved from www.sciencedaily.com/ releases/2008/04/080408132129.htm. Amanda S. Roberts is a Ph.D. student in the Department of STEM Education and Professional Studies at Old Dominion University studying teaching methodologies for STEM education. Amanda can be reached at arobe048@odu.edu. Ad Index TeacherGeek, Inc............................................C2 Goodheart-Willcox Publisher...................... 35 Kelvin...................................................................4 PTC....................................................................C3 SME...................................................................C4 Valley City State University.......................... 40 17 • Technology and Engineering Teacher • March 2011
Page 1 and 2: Understanding stem: current percept
Page 3 and 4: Join the STEM MOVEMENT in Minneapol
Page 5 and 6: On the ITEEA Website: PREPARING THE
Page 7 and 8: STEM Education News and Calendar Pr
Page 9 and 10: Understanding STEM: Current Percept
Page 11 and 12: The survey data were analyzed with
Page 13 and 14: The final conclusion is that there
Page 15 and 16: light shining through a specimen, b
Page 17 and 18: Jeff Tza-Huei Wang (2009), an assoc
Page 19: and engineers for years. “Individ
Page 23 and 24: The Challenge The challenge is to d
Page 25 and 26: Helping Hand Hands-On Challenge Sho
Page 27 and 28: Design Squad Nation co-host Judy Le
Page 29 and 30: in education [did] not include tech
Page 31 and 32: manufacturing, construction, or tra
Page 33 and 34: President’s Message By Thomas P.
Page 35 and 36: develop professionally. Let us not
Page 37 and 38: • Integrating students with speci
Page 39 and 40: FTE Grant in 2008. In 2009 he recei
Page 41 and 42: • Who are our customers? • What
Page 43 and 44: How do we achieve our desired perce
Page 45 and 46: SPECIAL OFFER FOR THE MONTH OF MARC
Page 47 and 48: Copyrighted Work. All Rights Reserv

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