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Posted: June 14, 2010

Second call for schools to participate in NANOYOU nanotechnology for the classroom
(Nanowerk News) During the 2009-2010 academic year 25 pilot schools and many other followers have been teaching nanotechnologies in their classrooms with a wide range of materials, including videos, online animations, games, workshops, virtual dialogues, and virtual experiments based on existing research. We are now looking for the next generation of NANOYOU schools.
The activities of NANOYOU will be based on three main areas related to the theme: Medicine, the Environment and Energy, and ICT. These fields have been highlighted because they generate a high level of public concern, are relevant to young people's interests and are of great social importance.
The activities will be divided into two different age groups:

Students from 11-13;

Students from 14-18
These students will be reached through schools that decide to take part in NANOYOU.
Why becoming a NANOYOU school?
NANOYOU offers schools the opportunity to address European citizen's poor understanding of nanotechnologies as shown in recent surveys. It is a great chance for schools and teachers to receive first hand information on nanotechnologies and to discover the opportunities and risks of this discipline for present and future scientific development.
Schools that take part in the project will benefit from many creative and interesting activities and materials for the whole classroom, namely:
  • An introductory video, (about the effects of nanoscience and nanotechnology and their fields of application) and a poster.
  • A virtual lab that will present current research through virtual experiments.
  • A nanotechnology time machine game (this game will take students on a "time-tour" of human needs and show their past, present and possible future solutions) – age group 10-15.
  • A workshop: "What is nanotechnology?" This workshop will introduce nanotechnology through games like nano jigsaw puzzle among others. A user guide will be provided for this workshop.
  • A role play workshop: This role play game will present different dilemmas, in which students will choose the role of a stakeholder (e.g., worker, consumer, politician, journalist, environmental protection advocate).
  • A virtual dialogue: This online platform will enhance students' discussions on topics related to nanotechnology and they will be able to respond to each other through a forum on the project website.
  • A blog: All schools results can be uploaded in the NANOYOU blog.
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    Teachers will be provided with training materials and guides for all the activities. Materials will mainly be online and free to download.
    Participating in NANOYOU is a chance to teach and learn more about the innovative topic of nanoscience and to have the opportunity to re-vitalise teaching by bringing project-based learning into the classroom. The materials provided by NANOYOU will save time and facilitate the creation of lessons for teachers who are interested in teaching the topic, while at the same time allowing those teachers to decide how to organise their lessons and how and when to get involved.
    NANOYOU is a project promoted by the EU, meaning that the visibility of the participating schools and the results of the project will be recognised Europe-wide.
    All the interested schools are invited to register.
    Why becoming a pilot school?
    Registration also gives the option of becoming a pilot school, these schools will be granted €1000 for their participation as pioneer schools and will have more obligations than other schools; such as take part of the surveys of the programme, undertake to disseminate the project among their peers, attend monthly meetings and post a report on their contribution to the project.
    The selection of pilot schools will consider the best contributions to the blog.
    How to register to become a NANOYOU school
    To become a NANOYOU school you can register online here.
    Schools will be notified about their candidature in one month time. Pilot schools will be selected in August 2010. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
    Source: NANOYOU