Not just for graduate students
Friday, June 18, 2010 at 9:22AM With almost two weeks completed and several new ideas later, I have found ways to use this fellowship in the classroom. Right now I am basically building large-scale models of microfluidic devices. We, Evgeniya and I, are attempting several different designs. To accomplish these models, we first make the design on Illustrator and then cut the design out on the laser. Yah for lasers! After that we then use PDMS to create a mold. Once the mold is set and dried, we then use several tubes, tube accessories, and our home-made tools to create the fluidic device. I will tell you more about the designs tomorrow. Also, we are starting to build sensors that will be placed in a stream by Lexington.
This year I am teaching Chemistry so the large-scale models will be excellent. Not only can we discuss proprieties of particles/chemicals, we can discuss pressure. These models can be used for demonstration and, if time permits, we could even build our own devices. I would just need to take some laser cut-out pieces from the lab and the rest is simple.
As for the sensors, they do not fit into the Chemistry curriculum, but that does not mean that they cannot be used. There are always hard-working, creative students that will volunteer to complete this project. I already have a list in mind. Dr. Cindy Harnett and I discussed having a select group of students come to the lab to build a sensor and then go to Floyd's Fork to set it up. We then could analyze the data at a later date (after school).
It is amazing how easy and inexpensive it is to do many of these projects. With the help of Cindy, the implementation of this fellowship into the classroom will be successful. The work I am doing may have intentions for graduate students, but it is not just for graduate students if implemented properly for a high school student.
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