Graphene and the Nobel Prize in Physics

Every once in a while, a new technology discovery brings with it the potential to revolutionize the way we live and do business. Graphene matches that blueprint, because its application can improve or overhaul the existing paradigm in so many scenarios.

It's a one-cell carbon film that is the basis for materials stronger than steel, is capable of being transparent and can replace expensive materials like platinum and iridium. Imagine some of that material used for a stronger screen applied to a Kindle, iPad, smart phone, or used to transfer and store energy more efficiently in solar panels.

The story behind graphene starts with two scientists at the University of Manchester, who won the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics for their work: Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov. They began by peeling away layers of crystal with scotch tape and refined the process to create incredibly thin strips of carbon. The process gets more complex from there, but its impact in the energy and device efficiencies space is far reaching.

So far, fossil fuel still owns a strong lead over other sources of energy because it's cheaper to exploit. Despite the difficulty we now have with drilling for new oil and transporting it to locations where it's needed most, it still provides the biggest bang for the dollar, sometimes literally. Graphene could change that to some degree because it creates less resistance to electrical circuits and potentially can store energy more efficiently.

ProQuest has created a BookCart learning activity to help your students learn more about this revolutionary discovery in science—"Graphene--Nanotechnology and the Future."

BookCart learning activities save time and provide teachers with the flexibility to make inquiry-based learning activities at a variety of points in a course when it's appropriate.

Each Cart provides examples of essential questions that help students develop 21st Century critical thinking skills, student directions that guide the research process, an option for call numbers to related print resources, an optional quiz, 21st Century literacy standard, and ProQuest models for written reports and presentations. You won't find this combination of inquiry-based learning activity support in a single spot in any other K-12 database or resource.

• Open the eLibrary TEACHER EDITION.
• Click BOOKCART ADMIN link at the top.
• Click the PROQUEST CARTS tab. (Notice the hundreds of ProQuest models in Science.)
• Scroll down the folders list and click the Science—Technology folder.
• Scroll to Page 2 and find "Graphene--Nanotechnology and the Future."
• Click the COPY icon in the ACTIONS column to the right of the title.
• Click RETURN TO MY LOCAL CARTS tab to end the copying process.

Librarians or teachers can edit this BookCart learning activity to customize it for their students.

To edit this BookCart:

• Click the new BookCart TITLE with the prefix "COPY OF".
• Delete "Copy of" and then type your name in the AUTHOR boxes and your initials in the EMAIL box (required filler info).
• Option: Edit any ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS for your students in the DESCRIPTION box.
• Option: Edit the existing STUDENT DIRECTIONS in the Description box.
• Scroll down and click SAVE.
• Click RETURN TO MY LOCAL CARTS and view your new student learning activity.

The good news is that any and all of hundreds of ProQuest model BookCart learning activities can also be copied using the hyperlinked list by curriculum area.

Assign students a report of at least 150 words or a presentation of at least seven slides on the significance of the research and development of Graphene and nanotechnology to the future of electronic, engineering, and medicine.

Students should cite at least three resources and address the following essential questions for critical thinking (you can substitute or add others):

• What are the properties of Graphene that make it unique?
  
  
• How can Graphene be used to create new technologies that benefit consumers?
  
  
• What is nanotechnology and why does it have important implications for our future in engineering and medicine?

Select Advanced Search option > Type "Graphene" in the Search box > Enter "Graphene or nanotechnology" in the Document Title box > Sort Results list by DATE

Your students can use our custom ProQuest models for written and PowerPoint-style reports.

Teachers may be interested in a ProQuest flexible rubrics model for evaluating inquiry-based learning activities.

Educators may also wish to employ the Quizinator Web tool (free, but registration required) for creating a variety of printed resources, including short assessments.