“Flower Bouquet”, a 3-D nanostructure grown by controlled nucleation of silicon carbide nanowires on gallium catalyst particles. Credit: Ghim Wei Ho and Prof. Mark Welland, Nanostructure Center, University of Cambridge. Courtesy: National Science Foundation. Image Courtesy: National Science Foundation.NanoTeach Project Summary: Overview

NanoTeach, a DRK12, National Science Foundation (NSF) project, is developing and testing a professional development model employing an instructional framework that empowers science teachers to integrate nanoscience and technology (NS&T) into their existing high school curricula. It is a collaboration between Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL), the Stanford Nanofabrication Facility (SNF), the Georgia Institute of Technology, the National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN), and ASPEN Associates, an applied research and evaluation organization.

This year-long, professional development experience will be accomplished through a combination of face-to-face and online meetings. Using the Designing Effective Science Instruction (DESI) framework, participants will learn how to integrate and implement NS&T concepts as represented by The Big Ideas of Nanoscience and Technology into at least two existing lessons (each lesson a minimum of 2-3 days).

NanoTeach combines Designing Effective Science Instruction, (DESI), an instructional design framework, with NS&T content to deliver professional development through multiple methods. NanoTeach consists of the following five (5) core elements:
1. Two-Week Seminar (Summer 2010). Face-to-Face Seminar (80 hours) in which participants explore NS&T     using the DESI framework with the goal of integrating NS&T into physical science topics within your existing     curricula.
2. Implementation I (Fall 2010). Participants implement a revised lesson from Peer Review Team. Teachers     will be required to have at least one portion of the lesson videotaped for use in the peer review process.
3. Versatile Classroom (Winter 2011). Participate in online group synchronous video sessions to practice     video coding as a means of reflection and revision of an NS&T sample lesson.
4. Implementation II (Spring 2011). Implement a second revised lesson with Peer Review Team support.     Participants will be required to videotape a portion of the lesson for use in evaluation and at the final seminar.
5. Two-Day Seminar (Summer 2011). Face-to-Face seminar to debrief on the year-long, NanoTeach     professional development process

Resources:
In addition to the year-long professional development, participating teachers will receive a NanoTeach Teacher’s Guide that walks them through the DESI framework and NS&T sample lessons. Additional online NS&T resources and content will also be available for teacher to revise and incorporate into lessons.

Time Commitment:
Teachers can expect to spend a total of 15 days outside of the regular school day and year between the initial two-week summer seminar, peer review and Versatile Classroom professional development sessions, preparing to implement two lessons over the school year, and final two-day debriefing seminar. Teachers who complete all of the requirements will receive a stipend of $3,000 for this out-of-class time (15 days at $200/day).

Click here for a 1-page Summary of Expectations for Participants, including activities, time, and stipends.

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