Applications Activity: Rocks and Nanobots

Students will discuss technology and the positive and negative social impacts of previous technologies. Following, nanotechnology and some of its applications will be introduced, and students will begin to examine not only how technology affects society, but how society can help shape technology. The students will discuss the proposed incorporation of nanobots into medical care by splitting into five groups, each group representing a specific segment of the population (U.S. Government, Nanobot Manufacturer, Insurance Companies, Health Care Workers, and Patients). Members from each team will roleplay to explain why they believe nanobots should or should not be used.

Full Instructions

Handout: Identify Sheets and Worksheets

Teacher’s Supplement: Suggested Effects of Familiar Technologies

Teacher’s Supplement: Possible Effects of Select Nanotechnologies

Materials

• A large rock, preferably several inches on a side
• Paper and pens for students to record group responses
• Suggested Effects of Familiar Technologies sheet for instructor use
• A grain of sand or salt
• A giant beach ball
• A baseball
• A basketball
• Nanotechnology video clips (included) and VCR
• Nanobot images (included), either copied to hand out to each group or as overheads
• Possible Effects of Select Nanotechnologies sheet for instructor use
• “Identity Sheets” for each group (included), have enough copies so each student in a group receives a copy of his/her group’s identity sheet
• Poster paper and pens for students to record group responses
• Chalk board or projector to display questions for the groups
• “Medical Nanobot Societal Impact Worksheet” (included)

Nanotechnology Pages