I just wish I knew from where to start narrating this summer’s event’s , that I had the opportunity to be a part of.  Starting from the first week which was spend in getting to know the world of nano science, I could imagine going back to school and incorporating some of the experiments in my class when I teach my students the 8th grade curriculum.  One of the favorite activity that I will use is the clothes line investigation that involved scientific notation, scales and sizes of objects , gave me the idea of using the experiment when I had to start the school year teaching students number sense.  The second week led me to a wonderful experience in Cullowee,NC, where starting with ice-breaking activities to all the workshops and strategies that I was exposed to made me think of going back to school the next day and start using the activities.  ‘Kahoot’ became  an easy and quick feedback strategy that felt good, not to mention the lack of paper usage.  O yes! I found a great new hobby, ‘white water rafting’.   I was very impressed by array of workshops, lectures and lectures that were lined for us teachers. They have really empowered me to enter my class the coming fall with new ideas and exitement.  The following week took me to  NCSU university  to the College of Textiles. Here I was introduces to many aspects of Engineering starting from microscopy to engineering designs to sensors etc. I was forced to look  outside of the box and expand my horizons into the field of engineering and science.  As the fourth week approached to an end, I was working on the last phase of my work at the Kenan Fellowship. I am taking a lot with me, and while this sounds like a very weak and general statement, it holds a lot of promise for me and the students that I am going to teach and educate. Thank you KFP!

Ah, Technology! If you can manipulate it, understand it and use it to enhance learning in a classroom it becomes an important accomplishment. Some of the challenges that  we face in a classroom is the ever changing picture of new technologies coming at us , not having time to master them  before  another wave  of technology or certain program or app hits us. An important fact is the vernacular and the ways in which student learn nowadays.  This means we need to have more time to prepare and learn, an element that is missing since most of our planning time is consumed by meetings or coverage for absent teachers.  Another issue is that teachers are given the responsibility  for incorporating technology as means of effective learning, yet the public is less willing to pay for the technology needed. One of the challenges that teachers face is the monitoring of these technological devices, since students are forever tempted to stray from what is expected of them. This lays an added responsibility for the teacher, who just wants learning to take place but has to play ‘police’ thereby, not giving a hundred percent time to teaching. Another important issue to consider is the fact that while technology has been known to promote learning, it has a flip side  to it, which is the convenience of ready made answers that students can access without having to work hard at coming up with answers that require critical thinking. There are so many apps that provide quick and easy access to information. Most of the times I have noticed that when  using technology, something goes wrong and either the internet does not work or the program used malfunctions either before or during the lesson. As a result it is always necessary to have a back up lesson plan.  While technology helps in learning in different ways, sometimes it compromises basis math and language arts facts.  While these are challenges and issues need to be looked at but it would be better to learn to overcome these challenges rather than succumb to the pressures they  present.

Source: University of Miami

Credit: Francisco Raymo, Professor of Chemistry and Director of the laboratory for molecular photonics, at the University of Miami,College of Arts and Sciences.

This article written by Professor Francisco Raymo, from the University of Miami has really captivated my interest in nano technology.  The articles speaks about nano particles having the capacity of being carriers of medicines to specific cells in the body to deliver either medicine to heal the cells or destroy cancerous cells without harming the good cells and their environment.  The article also mentions chemical reactions taking place within the cell, without using transferring energy from other sources.

It is particularly interesting to know that surface area to volume ratios play a huge  part in the  execution of the process delivering these medicines. Common Core 8 EE, has a direct mathematical connection at an 8th grade math level,where students have to study the scientific notation concept since nano is 10  to the negative 9th power.  Common Core G (Geometry) deals with surface area and volume of 3-D figures. Using this nano technology  and allowing students to explore the nature of nano particles will help students to understand and appreciate why these concepts are taught at the middle school level. It makes learning more relevant.

I stumbled into this program just like, ‘Alice in Wonderland’, where I did not know what I was getting into. In the  initial interview I was asked some questions about my style of teaching and what I was going to do.  I still did not have any clue as to what I was getting into. I thought, ‘Oh just another long PD opportunity’.  I was astonished when I learnt what all the program delivered.

I started last week at the NC State Raleigh location, and was exposed to a whole list of terms and terminologies that sounded like a foreign language. I was very intimidated and concerned as to what I had led myself in.  The first week experience was daunting, but challenging.   I was amazed as to what ‘Nano Technology’ meant and its implications on the Health Care industry.  I really felt that I had stepped into the  Futuristic Nano World and I could go and explore and learn, not to mention how little I know about this field of science.

This week I am in Cullowee, NC at the NCCAT facility and I am exited and awed by the information and invaluable information that is presented so far.  What do I expect from the KFP program? Let me see…..,

First and foremost, meet people from different disciplines and experience who will teach me to incorporate all that I learn into my math curriculum, when I go back to school in the fall.

Secondly, how to use cutting edge technology in the classroom effectively  so that students get exited to learn and explore new ideas and information. I really like to ‘Wow” my students about the math that they are learning.

Third, use the information given on Nano Technology, and understand it to an extent where I feel very comfortable talking about it to my students and peers.  I need to know that it is alright to ask questions, and I have a lot, especially, since I am not a Science teacher. So far the Kenan presenters have made me feel very very comfortable asking questions and letting me know that all questions are important to them.  I see the passion in their eyes when they talk about how much they want us to learn and enjoy doing that.

Lastly, I need KFP, to support me throughout this year, when I am actually presenting a lesson, providing resources about the information and technologies that I have learnt here.  KFP is an opportunity that will be an exiting journey to travel on.  Even though I have been teaching for several years,  and have been through various PD workshops, this is going to best PD program that I will ever participate in.  I look forward in anticipation of where all this is going to lead me, inspire me and make me a better teacher.

Welcome to Kenan Fellows Program Blogs. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!