PRE-COLLEGE EDUCATION MODULES IN MATERIALS SCIENCE

ALTHOUGH MATERIALS SCIENCE IS A KEY AREA OF TECHNOLOGY, THERE IS LITTLE FORMAL TREATMENT OF THIS SUBJECT IN PRE-COLLEGE CURRICULA. THE PROJECT OBJECTIVE IS TO DEVELOP A SERIES OF TEN STAND-ALONE EDUCATION MODULES IN MATERIALS SCIENCE. EACH UNIT WOULD BE PREPARED AT THREE LEVELS OF COMPLEXITY, SUITABLE FOR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND SENIOR HIGH LEVELS. THE PROGRAM WOULD UTILIZE INTERACTIVE PHYSICAL DEMONSTRATIONS TO STIMULATE SCIENTIFIC THINKING, RELATE THE SUBJECT MATTER TO THE STUDENTS' OWN EXPERIENCE, AND SHOW A RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER SCIENCE COURSEWORK. THE PROJECT WOULD INCLUDE THIRTY IN-CLASS PRESENTATIONS, WITH TEACHER REVIEW AND FEEDBACK UTILIZED IN MODIFYING COURSE MATERIALS. THE FINAL PRODUCT WOULD BE A PACKAGE OF TEN COMPLETE DEMONSTRATION KITS, WITH STUDENT SUPPORT MATERIALS AND TEACHERS' MANUALS. TEACHER TRAINING WOULD ALSO BE PART OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM. A NOVEL ASPECT OF THE PROJECT IS THE PROVISION OF A FRAMEWORK FOR INVOLVEMENT BY PRIVATE SECTOR VOLUNTEERS, AND ESTABLISHMENT OF PRIVATE SECTOR CONTACTS AS PART OF THE MARKETING OF THE MODULES. PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES WOULD BE UTILIZED IN SETTING UP THESE RELATIONSHIPS.