Integrating Nanotechnology as an Elective in the Chemical Engineering Bachelor’s Program: Course Design and Implementation of Innovative Assignments

Abstract

Nanotechnology is an advanced materials field with many real-life applications in the chemical engineering industries. While materials at the nanoscale exhibit unique properties compared to their bulk counterparts, there is a need to introduce a dedicated course in the Chemical Engineering program to equip students with specialized knowledge. This study aims to develop an elective course titled ‘Nanotechnology’ as part of the Chemical Engineering bachelor’s curriculum. To enhance engagement, three innovative assignments were introduced as part of the assessment component, namely (i) Finding ‘Nano’ in the Market, (ii) Nano-Hazard Symbol Design Competition, and (iii) Term Paper Writing. The first two assignments were designed to align with the learning styles of the 100 students enrolled in this course, who belong to the late Millennial generation (born in 1996) or the early Generation Z cohort (born between 1997 and 1998). These activities enable students to explore the market for commercial nanoproducts and apply their creativity in designing a unique hazard symbol to represent nanotoxicity. Assessment results showed an excellent attainment of program learning outcomes contributing to the development of essential engineering skills, including engineering knowledge (82.28%), problem analysis (79.46%), investigation (81.44%), and environmental sustainability (82.66%). 86 out of 96 students who took the course strongly agreed that the learning activities contributed to their studies and helped expand their knowledge in this specific area. It is envisaged that incorporating this elective course could equip future chemical engineers with essential nanotechnology knowledge to adapt to its rapid growth in the current and future chemical industries.