Materials Science and Technology (MST) Course
The MST course was developed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, Washington, under support from the U.S. Department of Energy. Many individuals have been involved in writing and reviewing materials for this project since it began at Richland High School in 1986, including contributions from educators at the Northwest Regional Education Laboratory, Central Washington University, the University of Washington, teachers from northwest schools, and science and education personnel at PNNL. Support for its development was also provided by the U.S. Department of Education.
This introductory course combines the academic disciplines of chemistry, physics, and engineering to create a MST curriculum. The course covers the fundamentals of ceramics, glass, metals, polymers, and composites. Designed to appeal to a broad range of students, the course combines hands-on activities, demonstrations, and long-term student project descriptions. The basic philosophy of the course is for students to observe, experiment, record, question, seek additional information, and, through creative and insightful thinking, solve problems related to MST.
The MST Teacher Handbook contains a course description, philosophy, student learning objectives, and instructional approach and processes. Science and technology teachers can collaborate to build the course from their own interests, strengths, and experience while incorporating existing school and community resources. The course is intended to meet local educational requirements for technology, vocational, and science education.
These links provide you with a brief sample of what is in the MST Handbook.
- Cover (with disclaimer)
- Table of Contents
- Introduction to Materials Science and Technology
- Lesson/Demonstration Example—Crystal Study
