Dissemination of Nanotechnologies for Energy Production and Environmental Protection in Rural Areas of Wyoming
Maohong Fan
Project goals are to provide opportunities for GK-12 Fellows to assume responsibilities as researchers, grade 10-12 (G10-12) educators and students and to infuse STEM education with energy and environmental nanotechnology (ee-nanotechnology); and to foster the collaborations of University of Wyoming (UW) with its partners to enhance STEM education. Project theme is to disseminate ee-nanotechnology. The related STEM disciplines are chemical, environmental and mechanical engineering; physics, chemistry, mathematics. The approaches include expanding the transferable expertise of GK-12 Fellows in ee-nanotechnology, providing ee-nanotechnology knowledge for K-12 teachers and students, increasing students? STEM career interests, strengthening UW?s collaborations with its partners, utilizing cyber infrastructure in GK-12 programs, and sustaining the project. The innovative approach is to use cyber infrastructure for spread of ee-nanotechnology. The activities to be conducted include involvement of Fellows, teachers and students with ee-nanotechnology projects, seminars, various collaborations; Fellows? service learning from G10-12 teachers and students; participation of teachers in UW?s classes and research works; joint-development of STEM curricula by teachers, Fellows and mentors; integration of the project into UW graduate program; and expansion of cyber infrastructure for GK-12 programs.
Broader Impact The project will enhance GK12 Fellows? understanding of ee-nanotechnology while improving their communication, team building and leadership skills. G10-12 teachers will improve their STEM content knowledge and instructional strategies. G10-12 students will become more interested in STEM careers. UW will benefit from institutionalizing K12 STEM partnerships in its graduate programs.
