Advanced Learner Program

Last Saturday was the kickoff to the Valparaiso Community Schools partnership with Valparaiso University to offer Nanotechnology and Mathematics classes to fourth and fifth grade students that received a Pass + in at least two testing areas on the spring ISTEP+ test.  Dr. Mark Budnik and Dr. Melissa Desjarlais are two VU professors who are working with the Valparaiso Community Schools to recruit Valparaiso University students to help teach these courses.

The students in the Engineering course are learning about these little objects is what is called “nanotechnology”.  These little objects (or “nano” objects) possess amazing abilities.  Nano objects are so small that 30,000,000,000 of them could fit on a penny. In this introduction to nanotechnology, the students will learn how some of the nano objects can be made and how they are already used in some computers.  They will examine how big objects can be divided into small objects, and small objects can be divided into nano objects.  Students will be introduced to topics like transistors, quantum wells, and one-dimensional properties through analogy and play.  They will even learn if it is actually possible to use nanotechnology to walk through walls!

The students enrolled in the Mathematics course will learn to play Poison and Nim, two mathematical games for which one player always has a winning strategy.  If someone knows and uses the winning strategy, they can amaze and astound their friends!  Over the course of the three Saturdays, the students will explore how to develop and describe winning strategies for both games.  While discussing the winning strategy for Nim, students will be introduced to binary numbers.  Having played a game against students after the first Saturday session—I can say they are learning strategy as they beat me two times!

There are two more exciting Saturday sessions for this fall Advanced Learner program.  I can’t wait to see the activities in store for our Valparaiso Community School students!