Chapter 2
The Example of Nanotechnology
In: Long-term Research and Development in Science EducationSearch for other papers by Ron Blonder in
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Abstract
Integrating contemporary research into science learning introduces students to the nature of science and the scientists behind the up-to-date research. In this way, students can learn about the open nature of scientific questions that await a research-based solution. However, core scientific concepts of contemporary research and recent R&D are usually not included in the school curriculum. Adapting modern science topics to the high-school level involves many challenges and concerns that have to be addressed. This chapter describes a 15-year journey of exploration toward adapting the emergent research field of nanotechnology to the high-school science level. It presents the different steps taken, components developed, and various considerations, as well as an analysis of the challenges that this process revealed and that had to be addressed. The discussion engages with the interconnections between scientific content, school science curriculum, teachers’ knowledge and professional development, teaching materials, students’ interest and motivation, and issues of communicating science. By generalizing the findings related to nanotechnology, it will become possible to include other contemporary research fields in school science.