On November 19 and 20, 2007, Professor R.P.H. Chang and team members from Northwestern University's Materials World Modules (MWM) Program held a workshop for a group of fifteen administrators and high school teachers from Taft High School in Los Angeles, California. Teachers of various disciplines, including Science, Math, English, Physical Education, and Computer Science attended the workshop. Dr. Chang introduced the Materials World Modules Program and presented how LAUSD can use the modules as a springboard to create a new interdisciplinary curriculum based on science and technology concepts. MWM content developers Matthew Hsu and Sarah Dugan led participants through exploratory activities from two modules: Composites and Nanotechnology.

The goal of the workshop was to discuss ways to infuse MWM units into a Small Learning Community curriculum to promote student engagement, encourage team building, enhance communication skills, and show relevance.

After the first day of the workshop, Los Angeles teachers were eager to test a design project with their students and plan to host a school-wide contest in January 2008.

In establishing a revised curriculum using the MWM Program, Taft hopes to achieve three main goals: 1. improve reading, math, and science literacy, 2. stabilize student retention, and 3. promote career development.

As a result of the two-day meeting, Northwestern University and Taft High School have formed a partnership and will explore ways to begin restructuring the current curriculum. In the process, the school has also begun to procure funding for this initiative.

Special recognition and appreciation goes to science teacher Maggie Ku and Assistant Principal Dr. Ogo Johnson and her team for helping to organize and host the event.

This workshop follows an initial visit to L.A. in the spring of 2007, where various teachers from the LAUSD as well as administrators such as Dr. Shelley Weston participated in a similar workshop about curriculum reform.

Left to right: English teacher Kevin Harlow,
PE teacher Chris Tahan, Computer Science Teacher Sue Brown,
and English Teacher Carol Wise from Taft H.S.

Dr. Shelley Weston leads a brainstorming discussion on
curriculum reform during the initial workshop in April 2007.

Prof. R.P.H. Chang listens to ideas from LAUSD participants
at initial workshop in April 2007.

MWM-Taft High School Workshop Participants

MWM Introduces Four Modules to Educators in Puerto Rico

On February 16-17, 2007, the NASA Space Consortium at the University of Puerto Rico hosted their first Materials World Modules Workshop for twenty-four educators from various parts of the island. Teachers ranged from middle school to college levels. Northwestern University MWM content developer, Matthew Hsu, and high school teachers, Renee DeWald of Evanston Township High School and Diane Riendeau of Deerfield High School, introduced materials science and nanotechnology concepts by teaching four modules: Concrete, Polymers, Introduction to the Nanoscale: Surface Area & Volume, and Manipulation of Light in the NanoWorld. The goal of the workshop was to train educators in Puerto Rico on how to use MWM modules, so that they could incorporate the program into their curriculum.

Teachers were separated into two groups and received training on the hands-on activities in parallel sessions, which culminated into interesting design projects, like creating synthetic opals and designing the strongest reinforced concrete. The two-day workshop ended with the testing of concrete samples made by each group after a one-day curing time.

Participants requested that MWM return for a longer time period to offer this professional development opportunity to more Puerto Rico teachers. Also, educators from Puerto Rico have expressed interest in helping the program translate the modules into Spanish.

This workshop helps promote the integration of materials science and nanotechnology concepts into the curriculum of middle schools, high schools, and colleges in Puerto Rico . As students become engaged in the module activities, the modules are created to promote scientific inquiry and technological creativity among individuals and to foster the ability to innovate and solve problems in teams.

Special recognition goes to Dr. Gerardo Morell, director of the NASA Puerto Rico Space Grant Consortium, and his team at the University of Puerto Rico for hosting the event.

The NASA Puerto Rico Space Grant Consortium (PRSGC) enhances local research and education capabilities in NASA-related fields and contributes to the Nation's Science and Technology enterprise by capitalizing on the institutional and human resources available on the Island.