Nanomaterials in Newfoundland: Designing a Lab Kit for Grades 9-12 to Bridge the Gap Between Science and Engineering

Abstract

Innovation has its fundamental roots in engineering and entrepreneurship. This paper presents primary research gathered from high school science teachers from selected K-12 schools across Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, addressing specifically the gaps that they have identified as being most challenging in defining what Engineering is in the realm of science curriculum in grades 9-12. This paper will also describe the development of a hands-on learning tool, a “portable materials science lab kit” that considers the input from these community educators and uses nanomaterials, to demonstrate what Engineering is and how Engineering and Innovation are relevantly applied to the important sectors of the province. The “portable lab kits” are designed for high school classrooms, in which small groups of students work through hands-on laboratory modules focusing on a specific material in a specific application. The “portable lab kits” can also be used by teachers as interactive demonstrations of specific scientific concepts in engineering applications.