A STARS Experience - Claire Kelly
Tuesday 25 July 2005

I graduated from DCU in 2003 with a first class honours degree in Science Education. It was a new course and we were its first graduates. I have to admit that the first few days were a daunting experience - one I never want to repeat! . The simple fact of coming from a school with less than 200 students and entering a university with over 7000, coupled with the fact of not knowing anyone on the east side of the Shannon was very scary! However, I spent four fun-filled years in DCU and over those years I gained invaluable experiences, made some wonderful friends and always think back on my time there with affection.

After graduating from DCU I obtained a permanent Physics and Maths teaching position in St. Mary's Diocesan School in Drogheda. The students show a good interest in Physics, which is evidenced by the fact that two physics classes are run for senior cycle, which unfortunately in these days is unusual. There has been a large drop of the last twenty years in the number of students taking Physics at Leaving Certificate level. This may be a result of the way that it has been taught. The way a subject is taught has a large impact on students' enjoyment and understanding of it. It is obvious in a subject like physics that if the students can physically prove something or they can see the everyday application of the topic they find the theory behind it much easier to understand. For example, some students find the idea of small measurements like micron's and angstroms meaningless and topics like semiconductors difficult. Their understanding can be greatly improved when they realise the relevance of what they are studying.

There are certain aspects of the course for example, semiconductors, which can be explained using more up to date examples than those used in standard textbooks. In this way the students realise the relevance of what they are studying to technology and its advancement in the modern world. From my teaching experience I have found that students become more interested in the topics they are covering if the methodology used develops their understanding and curiosity through use of modern applications and cutting edge examples.

Over the past couple of months I have been involved in nanotechnology research, which is based on growing zinc oxide nanorods on a silicon substrate, sponsored by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) under their STARS programme (Secondary Teachers as Assistant Researcher's). This programme enables secondary school teachers to become involved in SFI-funded research programme, in this case as part of the SFI principal investigator project "ZnO-based material systems for ICT applications" coordinated by Dr. Jean-Paul Mosnier, Prof. Martin Henry and Dr. Enda McGlynn. The aim of my research is to form nanostructure p-n junctions for use in nanodevices, for example potential use in gas and chemical sensing, nanolasers in optoelectronics etc. I joined Dr. R.T. Rajendra Kumar and Ms. Justyna Grabowska on a research team, which is lead by Enda McGlynn, a former lecturer of mine, who has offered me much encouragement and guidance during this programme.

I have been pleasantly surprised by the amount and depth of knowledge I have gained in such a short period of time on this team. Each member of the team has been exceptionally supportive. Through their assistance and training I have gained a wealth of experience of experimental procedures and analysis. I have had the opportunity to use specialised pieces of apparatus, taken part in team discussions, developed an understanding of new experimental techniques and have been given the freedom and responsibility to contribute fully to the research by completing growths and analyses on my own.

The reason I chose to do the STARS programme was so that I could develop my understanding of a rapidly advancing area of physics, which I am very interested in and is also highly relevant to the Leaving Certificate Physics course. In doing this I hope to make the area of semiconductors and electronics more accessible to my students. Through completing experimental work I have developed skills relevant to all areas of Physics, which I hope to instil in my students through my teaching. These skills include:

• Adapting experimental methods in order to ensure reliable and consistent data.
• Having the ability to see set backs as turning points and go back to the start and try again
• Being able to put into practice what you've learned in theory

I sincerely hope to take part in this programme again next year and would recommend it to any other physics teacher as a highly beneficial experience. Taking part in this programme has deepened my interest in nanotechnology and I hope to pursue a Masters in this area at some stage in the future.