The Creation of Information Website “Fullerenes” as an Educational Tool

Abstract

Fullerenes are the basis for the rapidly developing science of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is included in the list of priorities approved by Lithuanian Ministry of Education. Fullerenes and their usage, as a new field of science, are not included in either the general or high education curriculum. Following the analysis of e-sourcing, it became clear that there is no Lithuanian electronic source of information, in which there is more than one paragraph describing of fullerenes history, theory, usability and so on. Found information is incomplete, often inaccurate, and completely scattered. In order to determine Internet users’ knowledge about fullerenes, a short questionnaire survey in different education and age groups were conducted. The results of the survey suggest that currently the majority of respondents (more than half of those with university education) do not have a basic knowledge of fullerenes. Created an electronic information tool for teaching Fullerenes is presented. It analyzed and structured educational material about the history of the discovery of fullerenes, scientists who discovered them, the theory of fullerenes, their applications, examples, illustrations, points of interest, simulation. Developing the site relationship with the Nobel Prize laureates who discovered fullerenes Professor Robert F. Curl and Professor Harold W. Kroto has been established. Developed electronic information teaching tool "Fullerenes" (http://www.fulerenai.eu/) can be used as a cognitive tool for educational institutions. Key words: fullerenes, information teaching tool, nanotechnology, questionnaire, website.