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Durand teacher chosen to craft national nanotechnology curriculum
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Thursday, January 29, 2009 9:51 AM EST
DURAND - A local teacher is helping develop a nanotechnology curriculum for the nation's high schools.
Sue Bentley, a Durand Area High School science teacher, was nominated for the project by Superintendent Cindy Weber at Christmas time.
“It is very exciting and we are very proud of Sue,” Weber said. “She is an outstanding teacher and she will do a wonderful job on this writing committee - I have no doubt.”
Bentley has worked at Durand for 33 years, and also instructs teacher cadet courses at Wayne State University.
The effort is being headed by David Shaw, a University of Buffalo electrical engineering professor, who is working with a grant from the National Science Foundation.
As of now, the team has only conducted an introductory meeting. According to Bentley, the curriculum will not be its own course; instead, they will add nanotechnology sections to current courses.
“We began to identify where we might be able to add some of the nanotechnology information to enrich the curriculum,” Bentley said. “So, what we want to do is to say, ‘This is already what we are doing, but this is how it connects.'”
The team is comprised of about seven teachers and university personnel, and Bentley is the only member from Shiawassee County.
Bentley added the team will meet an additional two times during spring break and once again in June before the project will be finalized in August.
“We will then begin to figure out where we will begin to introduce this curriculum to the teachers of the state,” she said. “From there, we will be doing some in different states as well.”
They also will introduce the material to the Michigan Science Education Leaders Association - which Bentley serves on the board of directors.
Bentley has worked on curriculum at the state level, but this will be the first time her skills will be utilized on a national scale.
She said she thinks the new curriculum will be exciting for students and will serve as a good introduction to nanotechnology.
“When you start getting into something that is that small, you start talking about the makeup of DNA, atoms and how those atoms work together and how they work - which is going to lead to better technology,” she said. “The discoveries that can happen with nanotechnology can make life better, simply because it allows us to look at ourselves at that very minute level.”
Weber agreed on the importance of the project and said she was honored that Durand is able to be involved.
“Nanotechnology is an up-and-coming field and it is very exciting,” Weber said. “We need to expose students to skills that are going to be useful in the 21st century.”
- Contact Michael Peterson at 725-5136 extension 223 or mpetersonarguspress@gmail.com.