The project continues efforts to include polymeric materials topics in the undergraduate chemistry core curriculum. Instructional packets and laboratory experiments will be prepared for use by college and university faculty who have little or no prior experience in the polymer area. The project utilizes and extends the organization and infrastructure developed in a related earlier grant. The three regional sites established in the earlier grant (Rennselear Polytechnic Institute, the University of Southern Mississippi, and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point) again will host the NSF- POLYED Scholars who are developing polymer curricular materials during summer residencies at these sites. In addition, instructional videotapes will be prepared at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Regional workshops will be offered at the three regional sites to begin dissemination of the curricular materials developed. The effort also will move beyond general chemistry to include the preparation of polymer curricular materials for the organic sequence. The materials will be field tested and then disseminated widely through the proposed workshops, through publications, and from the POLYED National Information Center for Polymer Education.
