Use of flash simulations to enhance nanotechnology education

The numerous developments in the field of nanotechnology underscore a need for educating the technical workforce in nanoscience and technology. Thus, it is necessary that science and technology graduates should be able to integrate the key concepts of nanotechnology into their knowledge bases. Realizing the need for providing nanotechnology education and training at the undergraduate level to technicians and engineering technologists, Excelsior College has recently developed a Nanotechnology Concentration within its on-line Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology Program (BSEET). In this concentration, students are required to complete five online, 3 credit-hour upper division courses. The first one in the above mentioned list of five nanotechnology courses is titled "Introduction to Nanotechnology" (ELEC 305). The course focuses on the conceptual fundamentals of nanoscience and technology and covers topics such as nanotechnology fundamentals, quantum dots, nanosensors, nanomachines, and the nanotechnology applications in engineering, physics, chemistry, and biology. The second core course in the above mentioned list of nanotechnology courses is titled "Introduction to Nanofabrication Processes" (ELEC 310). This course provides an introduction to the basic principles and methods of nanofabrication and the associated metrology/characterization methods used in industrial and research applications of nanotechnology. This manuscript focuses on the use of flash simulations to make instructional enhancements in the content of ELEC 305 and ELEC 310. Both these on-line courses combine virtual reality, graphics, text, and sound.