1. Media and Learning Conference
Bruxelles 14th-15th- November 2012
●
Università degli Studi
di Modena e Reggio E.
Videos : a high tech, low cost, hands-on
approach to the Physiscs of nano materials
for high school pupils
Annamaria Lisotti *°#
G.Goldoni°#, V.De Renzi°#
*ISIS Cavazzi sez. Scientifica – Pavullo (MO)
°University of Modena and Reggio E- IT-
Physics Informatics Mathematics Department
#CNR Nano, Modena
annamaria.lisotti@unimore.it
1

2. Setting the frame: Nanolab Project
New ierarchy in forces Atomic manipulation Quantum tunneling Size matters!
selfcleaning smart materials pressure sensors colorimetric sensors
superhydrophobic stents, artificial muscles drugs delivery
superadhesive surfaces conductivity, Light and matter interaction
Phase transition resistance
Forces , friction, adhesion, piezoresistance, colour, spectrometry,
metal dilation, sound
diffusion
 Low cost, simple, safe, robust
From EU  Still teaching fundamentals , strongly link to curricula
input …  Sometimes challenging “school linear physics”
 Can be taylored to suit different needs and levels
… to local  Students as young researchers IBSE
implementation

3. www.nanolab.unimore.it
August 2013
Modena IT
Background
reading +
Seminars
Video PPT
Teacher guides
Video lab
Didactical notes Lab sheets &
Detailed building
guides presentations
instructions
‘Where to buy’ tips

4. 1. Video Lab Tutorials
Teachers
 Preparing for the lab: a preview of
what they have to do  no time
wasted, appropriate questions,
 Support in revising after on site
course
 Distant training tout court
Students and flipped classrooms
 Better comprehension of what they
are going to do  concentrate on
the lab task. Less dispersive .
 Possibility to revise what has been
SMR recorder free done once back at home at their own
software: recording pace.
screen dynamic content
 tutorials, etc…
 They like it! Importance of visual
language for youth

5. 2. Documenting (lab work)
To design and edit a good video students
have to
 activate careful reflection on content,
procedures and the logic behind each
step.
 understand the topic thoroughly -analysis
 decide the focal points - synthesis
 refine communication techniques
(aesthetics)
By doing this they
 make use of extracurricular competences
 appreciate the potential of their ludic
portable technology as powerful working
tools
 become actively engaged: labs too can be
VERY boring too! (motivation)
 Promotional Value
(projects & sponsors)

6. 3. Powerful science tools for high tech hands-on
We often complain of not well equipped
‘up to date ‘ labs BUT
students daily bring in high tech devices at
zero or very low cost which can
 Promote practical skills development
 Stimulate scientific enquiry methods
 Help make abstract concepts visible
Issues
 Teachers don’t feel confortable
 Many schools have rules against the use
of cell phones inside the classroom
 Students are not always aware of the
enormous potentialities of their own
devices for educational purposes. …some examples !

7. 3.1 Superhydrophobics /liquid marbles
Rolling
 1,5 sec
Tracker free software
www.cabrillo.edu/~dbrown/tracker/

8. 3.1. Drops motion
Sliding
Stick and slip

9. 3.2. Application example
 A nitinol spring contracts in  8-10 s :
TOO FAST for hand measurements of the spring lenght.
 Boosting observation sensitivity:
Tracker : 25 frames per sec  measurements allowed each
0,04 sec VS  1 sec average human reaction time
Access to much more information !  steps and stops!
 Alternatively the experiment could be TOO SLOW and time
consuming (equilibrium spring heating + cooling: 2.5 h)
 Monitoring multiple measurements at the same time

10. ‘Microscopio’ acustico
3.3. Acoustic ‘microscope’
Memory metals
Austenite &
Martensite …
44100Hz 8100Hz
Audacity free audio
recording
and sound analysis

11. Frequenze
3.3. Frequency shift
Iron Rod Nitinol Rod
Fundamental
frequency
versus
temperature

12. 3.3. Using data from research videos
Videos are taken in research
labs by researchers
(sophisticated equipment)
but students can work on
them
Calculate :
Work
Efficiency

13. www.nanolab.unimore.it
Food for thought
Open to collaboration …
1. Students should be encouraged to bring
their own devices and use them in school.
2. Making a video of experimental work may
have as much/more/less? value compared Modena
to classical reports
annamaria.lisotti@unimore.it
Thank you for your attention !