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Virtual Nanoworlds for Learning

The rapid development of 21st century nanoscience calls for the urgent promotion of both nano-skilled scientists and a nano-literate citizenry. However, the conceptual and cognitive challenges of accessing the counterintuitive and imperceptibly small nanoscale remain a significant barrier for learning and understanding. In response to these challenges, emerging nano education research in the last 10-15 years has seen the development and application of interactive visualization as a means for learners to explore nanoscientific principles. In this chapter, we first present selected examples of interactive visualization environments applied to teach nano-concepts in educational contexts. Secondly, we describe our findings from an educational study on students' interactions with a gesture-based immersive virtual nanoworld. Thirdly, we provide readers with access to a personal computer-based version of the studied virtual nanoworld and offer examples for how the content and features of the interactive simulation can be used as a nano education tool in the classroom.