Foothill College is developing an innovative program in nanomaterials engineering, based on a novel pedagogy developed at Northwestern University. This ‘systems technology rubric’ is instilled in each of the classes. When a technician enters the workforce they will arrive with a well-rounded/integrative approach to nanomaterials engineering.

P-N-P-A Rubric

Based upon a set of “big ideas” identified by recent workshops and a study report, a broad curricular framework has been developed for degree programs in nanoscale science and engineering (NSE).  The framework is built around four essential areas or nodes in NSE that include—Processing (how nano-entities are fabricated), Nanostructure (how the structure of nano-entities can be imaged and characterized), Properties (the resulting size-dependent and surface-related properties of nanostructured materials/devices), and Applications (how nanomaterials and nanodevices can be designed and engineered for the benefit of society), which can be abbreviated as “P-N-P-A.” - Thomas O. Mason (Northwestern University)

P-N-P-A Rubric

This rubric will be applied in each Nanotechnology class. A different node will be emphasized for each class.