Asee peer logo

Virtual Reality Implementation of a Scanning Electron Microscope in Nanotechnology Education

Download Paper |

Conference

2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Salt Lake City, Utah

Publication Date

June 23, 2018

Start Date

June 23, 2018

End Date

July 27, 2018

Conference Session

Topics in Computing and Information Technology-III

Tagged Division

Computing and Information Technology

Page Count

18

DOI

10.18260/1-2--31226

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/31226

Download Count

921

Request a correction

Paper Authors

biography

Landon A. Braden

visit author page

Landon is an electrical engineering student at Utah Valley University. As a member of UVU's nanotechnology team, he writes lesson material and participates in experiments involving nanotechnology fabrication. He is also an amateur inventor.

visit author page

biography

Scott Alexander Kaiser Utah Valley University

visit author page

Scott is an undergraduate physics student at Utah Valley University. He is working as a research student to develop laboratory experiments for an associate level nanotechnology program.

visit author page

biography

Reza Kamali-Sarvestani Utah Valley University

visit author page

Dr. Reza Kamali-Sarvestani is an Associate Professor of Computer Engineering at Utah Valley University. He received his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Shiraz University Iran, and M.S.E, Ph.D. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from University of Alabama in Huntsville in 2009, and 2011 respectively. He joined Utah Valley University (UVU) in 2012. He is currently working to develop a Virtual Reality course on nano/microfabrication. Dr. Kamali’s work is supported by funding from National Science Foundation, Utah Valley University, and local/international companies. He is a member of IEEE and ASEE.

visit author page

biography

Afsaneh Minaie Utah Valley University

visit author page

Afsaneh Minaie is a professor of Computer Engineering at Utah Valley University. She received her B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. all in Electrical Engineering from University of Oklahoma. Her research interests include gender issues in the academic sciences and engineering fields, Embedded Systems Design, Mobile Computing, Wireless Sensor Networks, Nanotechnology, Data Mining and Databases.

visit author page

author page

Paul Weber Utah Valley University

Download Paper |

Abstract

We developed a virtual reality representation of a scanning electron microscope to be used as a pedagogical tool to train students in its proper use. This will enable students to have full access to a scanning electron microscope in the classroom and learn the processes of creating a sample, which will help solidify the abstract concepts presented to them throughout their education in nanotechnology. We developed a training session to learn the basic procedure for using the scanning electron microscope. These procedures were practiced and then presented to a team of programmers who created a virtual reality version of the microscope. Several processes were documented to create this pedagogical tool for the classroom: An understanding of the correct procedures and protocol when using the scanning electron microscope, how the microscope images a sample, the processes to view samples, creating biological and non-biological samples, the process of sputter coating nonconductive samples, and what is involved in the sputter coating process. These processes, along with a representation of the machine were created in virtual reality to give students a tool to help see and understand abstract concepts presented to them during their education in nanotechnology. By working with the team creating the virtual reality representation of these processes we developed a tool that instills real laboratory techniques before the students even encounter the physical instrument. This will benefit institutions who do not have access to a scanning electron microscope and better prepare students in advance to work safely and effectively with the scanning electron microscope.

Braden, L. A., & Kaiser, S. A., & Kamali-Sarvestani, R., & Minaie, A., & Weber, P. (2018, June), Virtual Reality Implementation of a Scanning Electron Microscope in Nanotechnology Education Paper presented at 2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Salt Lake City, Utah. 10.18260/1-2--31226

ASEE holds the copyright on this document. It may be read by the public free of charge. Authors may archive their work on personal websites or in institutional repositories with the following citation: © 2018 American Society for Engineering Education. Other scholars may excerpt or quote from these materials with the same citation. When excerpting or quoting from Conference Proceedings, authors should, in addition to noting the ASEE copyright, list all the original authors and their institutions and name the host city of the conference. - Last updated April 1, 2015