Because today's students often have a fragmented and incomplete understanding of the microscopic world, they do not have a knowledge base from which to make informed decisions on issues like nuclear power or the safe storage of nuclear waste. This project, a collaboration between physics and chemistry educators, is developing inquiry-based instructional materials to help students who are not majoring in science build more robust and coherent mental models of atomic-scale phenomena. The course is intended to help students understand phenomena like the origin of radioactive particles, the difference between ionizing and electromagnetic radiation, and the basic mechanism of tissue damage when exposed to radiation. The project incorporates both computer simulations and effective, inexpensive experiments into its instructional approach. As part of the project, a "concepts assessment" for these types of phenomena is being developed and tested.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE)
Type
Standard Grant (Standard)
Application #
0942699
Program Officer
Duncan E. McBride
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2010-06-01
Budget End
2014-05-31
Support Year
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$188,088
Indirect Cost
Name
Black Hills State University
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Spearfish
State
SD
Country
United States
Zip Code
57799